Being an Aussie family we decided to do what we usually do on holidays – that is, go to the beach. We check the map. We are about 30 minutes or so from the Western coast of Italy. So, with picnic packed and a very excited Hamish we set off.

We arrive at the beach only to find the road we thought we could drive on was blocked. We get fuel and head south towards Paestum, which is an historic archaeological site (not unlike most of Italy). The beach road is lined with one failed tourism venture after another on one side and prostitutes on the other. It seems we have hit the red light district of this coastal section of Italy. Not one to judge, we don’t mind that we have stumbled across this working end of town, but we are not stopping for any picnic lunch at the beach.

Further on, we find a sign ‘Mare’ which leads towards the ocean. The road is wide and newish looking, we decide to give it a go. Jess looks like she has a sour taste in her mouth – Hamish encourages us to leave the safety of the vehicle. He is oblivious. Jess and I stand with arms crossed in a very defensive posture, all the while looking for used syringes and checking our car hasn’t been nicked. Hamish wastes no time to take off his sandals and put his feet into the clear waters of the Mediterranean.

We head back to the car with Hamish asking questions about the proposed picnic. Soon enough we reach the tourist haven of Paestum and have our picnic at the front of the museum. Rod buys us tickets for the museum and the ruins. Jess and I find the toilets and it turns out Jess has used the last of the toilet paper in the entire building. Lucky me.

We spend the next hour or so wandering around the ruins of this archaeological park. It is quite amazing and has the best preserved Greek temple in the world. Those Greeks knew how to build a temple.

The day is topped off by gelato and our car is right where we left it. Winning.