Teeny Tiny San Marino

San Marino! I think we can all agree - you are very pretty, with picture-perfect blue skies and pockets of nature vibrating in full bloom.

It was a full on few hours exploring every inch of this small ‘city’, and my newest country, with strolls along the fortress filled cliff edge trails, munching on yummy pizza slices served by a lovely local who declared ‘ you like, you will come back. I tell you this.’

Ok. The San Marino people are as passionate about food as their neighbouring Italians.

The views from the fortresses were unbelievable. To the South, you could see the Italian coastline and the beach at the coastal town of Rimini, then to the North endless fields and rolling hills.

As I gazed out one of the viewpoints I mumbled to myself ‘ You did this, you made it happen. This is country number ninety’.

As I turned back, a dad and son combination asked in Italian if I wanted my photo taken. The son soon became the translator, as the dad spoke no English and was insistent on taking my photo under the fortress tower. I fully went along with this photo opportunity, now a memory of what I achieved - who needs a passport stamp when you have a photograph.

San Marino city is a labyrinth of quiet streets that soon fill as the afternoon tourists arrive, not really sure where from, and when I say fill, it wasn’t actually busy. It was a strange place.

No one actually lives in the city part, they live further inland in one of the settlements - towns really. This part, the city, is really kept for tourism. Narrow, steep streets with shops, cafes, restaurants, and stunning viewpoints. With little tourism in 2020, the shops and cafes stood quiet, waiting for when times became normal again. Most of the tourists appeared to be Italian. You could imagine this place being overrun with package tour trips in peak season - now surviving on only a sprinkle of visitors.

The heat, early morning wake up, and maybe the stress of the chaotic train journey to Rimini resulted in needing an afternoon boost. An espresso ice cream was the chosen vice to give an energy hit for the rest of the afternoon, with more walking planned.

The main square seemed to be the heart of the city. The grand town hall stood guarded with some very flamboyant guards. All very prestige looking, wearing the traditional guard outfits. The building seemed to cling onto its clifftop surrounding.

There were pockets of art with sculpture gardens and fancy statues popping up to grab your attention dotted around the city.

I may have returned to the pizza place for a second pizza slice fix - with all my eager walking I totally deserved those carbs. The man did say if I liked it, I would return. Talk about a mystic.

At 4 pm I was back at the San Marino drop off point waiting for the 4.15 pm bus back to Rimini. The end to country number ninety.

I’m fully grateful for every step I take in this world. That day in San Marino felt I was walking in streets steeped with history, culture, and grandeur. A slice of something special, something call San Marino. I may have only spent a few hours here, but sometimes that is all you need.

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