Long time no write!!

Hey everyone!

I've been pretty much cut off from the world for the past few weeks, but I must admit that might have been a good thing. It has certainly been a very fruitful period for study - in 2 weeks I've managed to collect and interpret almost all the available concrete data I needed, and after days of locking myself in a dark room with only my computer for company, playing with thousands of numbers and excel spreadsheets, I have managed to end up with some pretty pictures and graphs which appear to represent the entire southern 10km of the TIber River Delta in a 2D profile! I may have been staying in the middle of nowhere with people I'd never met before, with no firends anywhere nearby nor any chance of meeting any, but my hosts have been absolutely adorable, making me feel so at home, and besides Civitanova and all my "family" and friends there are only a few hours away.

For now I am thankfully blessed with full wireless access for the entire week, thanks to the Hotel Dory in Riccione. Mum and Dad flew in very early thismorning, and the entire journey from Sydney to here via Rome has gone without a single hiccup... except that mum appears to have left her beautiful brand new camera at the changeover station and is really devastated. I am bewildered that I was unable to get a hold of a single person that worked for the whole Italian rail network ANYWHERE in Italy in any department, to see if it had been handed in (which I doubt, but how can I not at least try???). Now they are both tucked safely into bed after a very, very long journey (44 hrs all up???) to let their puffy ankles go down and regain strength for the ride tomorrow! I felt a bit like a parent at times today, with my packed lunch and constant advice... but it was also so exciting to relive my first impressions of Italy though mum's eyes! I hope I can show them all the beauty and fascination I've found in this country - we should get a pretty good taste of it! Can't wait to see how teh various dinners with host families etc go, should be hilarious!!

The hotel, although a little squishy, is lovely. We're going to be very comfy here this week! We have buffet breakfast, a packed lunch and dinner included every day, and lots of interesting bike rides to do around Emilia Romagna, including castles and wine tasting and BBQ lunch out in the country. Should be wonderful! Plus I get to catch up with even more people who I haven't seen for years.

You will have to put up with daily posts from me, since I am making the most of this internet access, so look forward to cycling anecdotes and updates on my poor physical health after 2 months of drinking and sleep-deprivation ;-) Just kidding, it will be a bit f a shock to the system but the "Capuccino" level shouldn't be too taxing overall.

Please write me (and mum and dad, where applicable) emails, I promise I will reply if I get them before Friday! Would love to hear what everyone is up to!

Lots of love to all

Kellie