With the demise of the minibus tours, more and more dancers are making their way to events in Europe by car. One of the most memorable for me was an event organised in northern Italy. Couples were coming from France, Germany, Poland, Russia and 2 cars from England. The journey started off OK, the trip down to Dover and across on the Ferry uneventful (except for a little sea sickness). It went down hill from here on. The two cars became separated from each other, but we had previously made plans to meet-up in Lucerne in Switzerland if this happened. Unfortunately it was a hot day and the front seat passenger fell asleep, with the window open, suddenly the maps were picked up by a strong gust of wind and blown away across the fields. My car stopped for a picnic by the lake as arranged, the other car did not find us, so made for a local cafe. They were very pleased by the size of the meal but not the bill !

The remainder of the run was fine other than an insect swarm covering the windscreen of the car leading to zero visibility. My car arrived first (at about 8 p.m.) and after waiting for the other car for an hour I went ahead to the "Hotel". Eventually the other car arrived (at about 2 a.m.), not having a map they had asked directions from locals, fairly unsuccessfully, including an unexpected tour of the Red Light district. They were very surprised to find the Hotel in that area ! It was the kind of Hotel that most residents booked by the hour, not the night. Each room had its own bidet but no sink. There was mildew on the walls, exposed wires, threadbare carpets, a moth-eaten dog with a cough, and a very strange old lady in charge who was always looking at you when ever you opened the room door. There was only one shower for 10 people. We moved hotels the next day.

In moving we found that the French Couples car had been broken into overnight and the radio stolen. However, the new hotel was much better, apart from the Australian couple's room. They made the mistake of leaving their suitcase open, in the bottom of which was a banana. By morning there was a solid black line from the open window to the suitcase, a moving train of ants.

The events were also a little different to normal dance competitions, one of which was on half of an outdoor tennis court up in the mountains. Linoleum had been laid down and the local radio station was in attendance to record the event. It was nighttime and the spotlight attracted insects, which bounced off the dancers. Half way through the competition the whole of the mountain was struck by a powercut and everyone was left in total blackness. After 15 minutes the power came back on and the event resumed. The audience loved it.

It's one of those things that sound funny now, were a frustrating at the time, but an experience that I'm glad I had.

Last Updated Sept 2006

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