Venice

Thursday 26th. We decided Sophie, Venice, Boats etc would not work so we put her in the kennels found for us by the camp reception. It was OK but not wonderful. Off to Venice. Got there about 11.30 and the boat across was noon. I hadn't realised how far from the mainland the main islan was. It is totally built on a mudflat, who would do that? and how did it beome such a rich and powerful nation state in the old days? I think we saw all the things 'to see' on the main island. The bridge of sighs stuck out between two very large adverts. wWe wanted to go on a Gondoler, but the charge for a short trip was 80euros and for the full tour 120 euros. Gues what we didn't go! We took the water bus up the grand canal though and that was nice. Photos tell all

Wednesday - Boat trip round the lake

Yesterday I decided we should take a boat trip around the lake. The boats criss cross from place to place and it seemed like fun. The trip round the whole lake would take a day, so I thought a half day would be fine and back to the beach for a late swim. It also meant I could go to the computer shop to ask him to down load from the net, the Belkin softwear I needed. We queued for our boat tickets, to be told Sophie could only travel if she was muzeled. No muzzel no local pet shop = no boat trip. So with suitable Anglo-Saxon expletive I deided we would go by car, in any case the rain had left the air very thick and visibility was very poor. The trip was fantastic. Great views where the road could be on the edge of the lake and some incredible tunnel work on the parts of the lake where the edge was shear cliffs. Hope the photos explain. Stopped at Limone, famous for it's styalised lemon groves and its famous lemon liqueur. Once a thriving industrial town now lives on tourism. On to Riva at th top of the lake and then back down the east coast of the lake. Decided of all places we would like to see Lazise with it ancient walls.

Tuesday Desanzano

I'm still really pissed off about the computer. The recovery programme saved loads of progs and drivers, but not Belkin, which I need for WiFi nor Blackberry which I need for my modem connection. So still not able to log on!! The water pump in the van stopped working so I spent 2 hours taking the electrics to bits! Nicky took Sophie to the lake. At last I found a loose connection, which didn't actually need me to strip the whole thing down. So I will know more for next time.

Joined Nicky on the beach, she had been playing with Sophie for the last 2 hours and was not happy. So sun bathing for the rest of the day and a dip in the lake to cool off. Then dinner in the camp restaurant. We should have gone out!

Monday day 2 at Manerba- Desenzano

We had decided today to explore another lakeside town and drove to Desenzano. It promised to be a nice place wi8th loads of shops etc. We managed to park in the middle. The parking charge was 10 cents for the first hour and then 1.50euro after that!! Terrifc for shoppers like me. Anyway walking through the plaza I saw a shop called Megabytes, so I called in to see if he had a copy of Windows XP he would be prepared to download to get my computer up and running. He said he would have a look and to come back at 4pm.

There is an internal harbour and a huge external harbour from this boats go all over the lake. We have decided to have a boat trip tomorrow, probably not the whole lake which would take the best part of a day.

We also found some old Roman remains that are being uncovered and protected.

We then found the promentory that streths for a few kilometers into the lake. Sirmione. The entrance to the old town is impressive with gates and drawbridge. Half a kilometre further are the remains of a Roman Villa right on the waters edge. We excitedly walked all the way to the gate. "Closed on Mondays"

Got back to Desenzano and picked up the computer. The RAM chip was the fault and a new one seemed to solve the problem.

Not quite, most programmes would load, but not Internet Explorer just the one I wanted!! So back to square one. I went for a non-destructive recovery. It seemed to work, saving all the old programs and data before reloading XP.

Internet expolrer up and running, but the driver for th Belkin wireless adapter was not there!! No problem i had copied this onto a memory stick. It wasn't there . So now I have a computer working, but I can't connect to the sites WIFI.

Sunday at Manerba

Woke to high winds, but only a few clouds. The people infront packed up and left and we now have a splendid view of the lake. We tarried around the campsite all day. It is really the first where we feel happy to stay around and the lakeside is a great attraction for Nicky sunbathing and Sophie in the water. Well actually she is quite hard work and we spent all afternoon throwing the ball for her to retreive from the lake. It amused most people I'm glad to say and they smiled when she went up to them to shake off the water and offer them the chance to throw the ball. Well actually no. She tried, but we always managed to intervene. and they smiled, but didn't get a soaking.

End of the day.

Sat 22nd Manerba

It didn't rain over night, but the wind is still quite strong and the temp has dropped to 24deg. We went shopping to Salo it has a market on Saturday. However not knowing the place we parked the other side of town from the market and had to walk miles to find it. When we got there it was all clothes and shoes apart from one large van selling cooked meats and one enormous 40' trailer selling cheeses and one stall selling veg. All semed very expensive too. We walked miles back to the car via a cafe on the lakeside!

A lot of tromp l'oeil here too.

The temperature is rising again and the humidity making us quite sticky. A bit like late on a summer day in the UK. We took Sophie down to the lake and she swam for 2 hrs, Nicky and I both had a dip. The wind got up this evening blowing hard from the north east, there were some big waves on the lake. Dark black clouds formed and swept down the lake and thunder and lightening. I put the cover on the skylight! We stayed dry! Now I bet that surprised you!

Sestri Levante to Manerba del Garda

Friday 21st
Another travelling day. Over the coastal Cordilliera and inland. After we turned off there was a 25km climb over the mountains. The water temp on the car creapt up, but happily stayed under boiling. The temperature and humidity increased too to 35 deg. However the trip was fast, we got to Brescia in 4.5 hours. I was expecting to be on site by 3pm. BUT Trixi took us off the Motorway too soon for a caravan easy route and so it took us 2+half hours to get to the site through lots of interesting bye lanes and villages. WHEN will I learn? The site is on the lake side and terraced above it. We had the choice of down on the lake but I deided with Sophies love of the water that would be a situation impossible. She smelled the water at once and the recepioist took her and Nicky down to the Lake while I unhitched. Sophie came back soaked!! This is Sophie heaven!! She played in the Lake for an hour and a half, finally got her out at 7pm. She slept all evening and night! Had pasta meal in the restaurant. Rain promised for tomorrow so put roof light cover on.

Sestri Levante Thursday

Woke up early, The morning air was cool. We've decided to stay, thoughts of going to Florence were shelved as Nicky says we would need more than a day to do it justice. So back to Calviari. We found an internet cafe and I caught up on some stuff. Nicky found the 'Tourist Office' tucked behind a sign that said 'Tourist Office', but also pointed to an information board. Lunched on Yoghurt Ice cream- lovely. BBQ'd this evening. Possibly not the brightest thing to do the night before moving on, but it was very good. Our mobiles don't seem to be able to call Italian landlines and it's frustrating that we can't call ahead to see if space is available at sites. The Senora called one for us at Lake Garda and they said no problem so we hope there will be a slot for us.

Sestri Levante Wednesday

We had planned to go to Piza to see the famous Leaning Tower, but sorted the washing first, and the Senora said there was only really the Tower and not much else. So we took her word and decided to visit the Cinque Terras. Drove doewn to La Spezia, a military naval town and very industrial. We had heard the promontary of Portovenere was very nice and drove the 11 km out to it. It was nice but the last 4km was one way and cars parked nose to tail on both sides. The only reason we wereable to stop and look at the view was because we followed the Bus and we could jump out when it stopped and not get honked at!! Drove backthrough La Spezia feeling a bit depressed and headed for th first ofthe Cinquterre towns. Riomaggiore. The road passes seveal hundred feet above the sea and each village is served by a steep road down. The first is 5 kms down! We had gone alf a km when we were turned back by the Police who sid the vllage was full. We could walk if we wanted, but we would have to go back and find a parking place. WHAT?? On to Manarola No signs to say it was full and no traffic so we thought our luck was in . After 4 kms we pulled into a car park place to be told it was for locals only!! Back up the hill and on to Vernazza. We got down the hill and close to the residents parking. Nicky indetermined mood decided we should park and walk down! A nice Itilian who had just got back to his car said it was a 20min walk. What he didn't say was it was a 1 in 4 slope, so 20 mins down!! The return pull up the hill gave Sophie a good reason for heavy breathing!! Anyway itis a fascinating old port, with a proper harbour and suprise a railway station. How the line got through that rugged coastline is a mistery to me, but must be worth a trip to find out. The place was packed with tourists and dozens of shops. Sophie had smelled the sea and she pulled and pulled to get in. The air was hot and humid and made walking not a pleasure and so we were pleased of the aircon in the car when we finally got back to it. The journey home was fantastic with views over the sea from the high mountain roads.

Another search for a Supermarket. And do we stay another night?

Hi, It's Wednesday 29th August and finally I have got back on the web after 2 weeks!! Is that sad or what? Well actually I'm amazed tha I manatged it in a country where I only speak 2 words and it seems they don't understand them here. The detail is in the daily reports that follow.

Villa Rocco, Sestri Levante, Tuesday

Clouds gone, but still humid and warm, 34° today. Nicky planned the washing with the Senora 3 loads we had! Then we took off to Portofino. We stopped in Chiavari on the way and found a book shop and bought a camping guide and a dictionary. Nicky needed some cleaner for her contact lenses and we found an Optician . There was a market there and a most facinating town. It seemed all the streets are collonaded. Photos to follow. We stayed for a couple of hours. On to Portofino. Lunch was the left over Pizza. We are both burnt out on Pizza for the moment! We parked in the underground carpark 5Euros an hour - so we had an hour. Back down the coast road to Moneglia through a set of single track tunnels right on the edge of the sea. I guess by now you will know that I have found an Internet cafe.

We had a glass of wine and an icecream at a cafe where Nicky's Nephew worked years ago, when he lived there. Got back to the van at 8pm to collect the wet washing!! Managed to set up a few lines in the tent. Photos to follow. Had call from Polly, good to hear from her. Found I had made two mobile calls to UK for over 20 mins each, because I had not lcked the keyboard!! !??!

El Paradiso to Villa Rocca Monday

We packed up the van, weren't robbed during the night and set off in the car to find another more comfortable site. We looked at two, which were like small townships with permanent placements all packed together and full of people. The third site was open with decent sized pitches, a bit expensive. We told the owner we would be back, she said not until 3pm. We went back to pick up the van and have lunch, which was the remains of the two pizzas we had in the camp 'restaurant' the night before. Clouds loomed over the hills behind and we heard rolls of thunder. A splash of rain. The skylight cover is not designed to protect when driving, well not at the moment so we hoped the rain would keep away while we moved the 6 miles from camp to camp. It did! A few large drops was all we had, but in the mountains the Thunder still raged.

Tried to find a supermarket. Not like France with a hypermarket on nearly every corner. We struggled drove round and round and finally found a COOP. Totally lost Trixi (the SatNav) got us back to the site. It was now quite late so we elected to go to the camp restaurant for a meal. They had lots of choice, but only of Pizzas! Hey Ho! The Pizzas were huge and we took half back to the van. Lovely waiter singing and joking, we thought he may be pissed. Then he filled up his glass for the third time.

Val St. Andre ( Aix en Province) to Chaivri (Italy)

We set the alarm for 7 to get an early start. We got away by 10.30 which was the best yet! There were cross winds and the Van was bouncing a bit. I think I may have got the weight distribution a bit wrong. Roads busy, got to the border about 1.30. Road to Genoa very busy and tunnel after tunnel. some quite steep bits too in places. Trying to find a site was something else. Motorway garages had no local maps and no information. Came off the motorway at Rapallo, but no signs to Tourist Office. Tried to phone sites from the Europe Camping book, but couldn't get through to any. Drove to one to find it was a building site now. Then followed signs to another, which turned out to be through a car park down a narrow lane and on the beach. It was full and very cramped and the road full of people. I had to unhitch to turn round. We saw a sign for a site inland called 'el Paradiso'. The owner said he had one place available it had electric and water so we took it. What he didn't say was it was in the corner of a car park behind the main site. It also was a few very tight turns through an upmarket 'shanty town'. Still it would do for one night. I put the porch awning up for Sophie, but she pushed her way out and slept outside.

Aix en Province Saturday

The plan was to go to Orange and Avignon, but the traffic was heavy so we stopped at Avignon. Had a trip on the river and a walk round the











walled town. The photos when I can down load
them will tell the story.

Used the TomTom to get back to the site. It is good, but does take the most direct route, which meand when crossing Aix it doesn't choose the ring road, but goes straight through the middle. In Fr4ench towns and cities this usually means the very narrow streets of the old town. We wanted a shop for a lemon in one street on our way back I could have put my arm out and taken one off a shop display, the street ws so narrow! Life with a SatNav is not boring!

Aix en Provence Friday

We decided to stay another 2 nights partly to go canoeing and partly because I did not want to travel on a Saturday with everyone else. So I used the morning to knock up the cover for the roof light

The Canoeing was a great laugh, it was only 45 mins away.



































Then off to Lauris on the river. We had an hour and a half. It seemed to take ages to get to the start by their bus and then we launched. Nicky in front me at the back and Sophie in the middle.

50 meters into the river is a rapid and rather shallow and a sharp turn into the stream. We grounded with 14 other canoeists watching and seeming to know just where to go. With the sudden stop and scrape of the bottom Sophie took off into the water. We then floated down the rapid and Sophie walked down, much to the amusement of the others. Sophie swam, walked and rode in the canoe at various times, jumping out to play with the children who were swimming from time to time. They thought it was all great fun. When we got to the finish we were exhausted, but Sophie was up for more and kept rolling in the dust so I had to put her back in the water to clean up.

During the confusion of arriving back a little late and handing back the canoe to the waiting crowd and keeping Sophie under control and handing back the waterproof can etc, etc I had dropped my watch. We searched for it by walking back over our route, but found nothing. All the operators had gone off to the launch 10 kms away with the new crowd, so I searched the office to see if someone had left it there. Nothing! Nicky said there was a board outside the office with a phone number so "why didn't I call it?". Yeh! right. I called- it had been found and one of the canoe operators had it, but they were down the other end so we had to wait.

We stopped at Lauris a very old town with fabulous view

Thursday Aix en Provence

I woke to a bright blue sky through the sky light. We leave it open at night with the mosquito screen cover. I noticed a triangle of plastic on the net. Puzzled I thought I didn't go under any low bridges or trees, but it looked like a piece of the sky light cover. Slowly 'the light dawned' as they say. The pointing cars yesterday were trying to warn that the cover had blown off, (because I had not shut it!!). I hope it did no damage to a car behind, but it does leave us rather vunerable to rain!!The computer is still down and a call to TechGuys couldn't fix it so it's got to be internet cafes now.

We decided to go and see a Special Garden, which turned out to be quite nice but rather small and really a draw to get you into their vinyard for a tasting!! I felt obliged to buy three bottles, much to Nicky's disgust. ( She doesn't drink it anymore) .

Found a Brico marche and bought some wood a saw and a piece of sheet plastic to make a skylight in case it decides to rain in the next four weeks.

Just to rub salt into the wound of failed computer this camp site is WiFi enabled and I could have downloaded all the photos.

Wed Montblanc to Aix en Provence

Got up early and packed quickly we had done a lot last night, but it still took until 11.30 to be ready to leave.

I soon noticed the left hand indicator light was not working! This is the one most used for changing lane here in a right hand drive country. I bought a new bulb at a motorway service station and it did not work! The problem was a loose wire in the connecting plug. All sorted we moved on. Then a couple of cars pulled by and pointed at the van. I pulled over and walked round everything seemed intact and the tyres OK. So we carried on.

We phoned forward to the site we wanted and they said there was room and gave directions. For once we got straight there!! Very nice 4* site, but on a hill! The car pulled it up OK, but backing it into place up hill did use a lot of clutch. The smell lasted for ages. Today is our wedding anniversary and we looked round for a suitable restaurant, but frankly found none. The camp restaurtant is well laid out and attractive the menu plain, but acceptable so we settled for a meal here under the stars. The food was OK, but the service was appauling and spoiled the whole evening. So our special dinner is postponed.

To add to my misery the Laptop has crashed; It happened once before and with help of the Tech Guys (my insurance) I got it going again; - so here's hoping.

The half smile is due to the excellent local Rose wine!

Vet at Pénezes

We had planned to move on today, but Sophie was in distress so we took her to the Vet. She needed some treatment for an allergic reaction to something. The vet has given antibiotics and cortizone, which is fine, but also I have to shampoo her with a special shampoo every morning. Not the best way to stsrt a day exploring the country. We went back to the campsite and chilled out for the afternoon, had a swim in the pool and read books.

This was the first time I had seen Nicky really relax!!

Montblanc Monday-- Montpellier

We decided to visit Montpellier, I had heard it was nice. Montpellier is lovely. An old part that is really interesting and has been kept clean and tidy. One of the lasting memories are the fountains on nearly every cross roads and corner. The first picture above is a building that has been painted with false windows, door and people. "Trompe L'oeil" A lot of buildings here had been done this way. Above right is the Hall of Tribunes.

The Roman Aquaduct. The Arch de Triomphe

Another Trompe L'Oeil on the left. And a splendid fountain in the central square.

On the way home we stopped at Péneses a lovely little village quite close to the camp. I managed to catch up with a few things at the internet cafe and print off some camp sites for the next two stops. Sophie is still scratching and pull out hair so we have decided to stay another night and get her to the Vet tomorrow.

Montblanc Sunday

I was woken early, I mean before dawn! Nicky was sleeping under the open skylight in the van and getting wet! It had started drizzling and of course the Mosquito net did no good. I closed the sky light and checked out side to see if everthing was secure. Fortunately we had put the awning up or Sophie would have been rather soggy.

It was all dry by 9am! We went to Sète a fishing port on the coast, famous for it`s shell fisheries. We cruised along th cost for mile and miles and every parking place on both sides of the road was taken. We arrived at Marseillan a smaal coastal village where Noilly Prat is made you know the `french` in the drink Gin + French!! It was very interesting they make an apperitif sold only from their factory. Great Marketing you just have to buy one!!!

Montblanc

We decided to stay an extra couple of days. It was me feeling lazy really. We put the full awning up and went out, I had to get petrol. There were traffic jams everywhere even the A9 as we passed over was stationary! Lesson do not travel on a Saturday. We went back to the Camp and chilled out. Well a swim and read of the book. First laid back day so far! No pictures again today I'm afraid

Roque de Val to Montblanc

You don't believe me do you? Well I Was surprised too! There is a Montblanc in the country between Beziers and Montpellier. It's not much of a mountain and it's not white, but otherwise very pleasant. But back to earlier.



Friday morning was overcast and as we finished breakfast we heard thunder, so we started to load the car and hitch up; of course it started to rain. Having had years of experience of this sort of thing we naturally morphed into English summer holiday mode- anoraks and umbrellas- It took about an hour to complete everything and then go to say goodbye to Jill and Dave. It also stopped raining.



We hadn't planned where to stop, but we had talked about where to go and it was felt that a place with loads of campsites would be popular, but likely to have the odd placement free. And that the first port of call should be the tourist office. I thought we could reach Beziers by 4pm the time we decided was best to start looking. Tourist offices are usually in the centre of town with parking 3km away, or underground- not much good with a 20ft long 10ft high carapace. Beziers is not much different the T.O is in the centre via some very slender one way streets and tight corners reminiscent of medieval towns, but we found it and two free parking places . I think they were parking places because there was a curb with no cars attached. The T.O was very helpful, we now had a list of local campsites, some with details. We drove to the first one we liked COMPLET they didn't say so at the entrance I had to walk 200m to find out. Bloody annoying. Second choice ditto. We were heading towards Agde and Sete, I was getting concerned because our side of the road was OK , but going the other way was a solid traffic jam for 20 kms. If we couldn't find a place it might take hours to get back out. At the third failure I said we had to start phoning all the sites. Eventually Nicky got a yes 17km away, but back the way we had come!! I have a Tom Tom Sat Nav so I keyed in quickest route and up popped the one I knew was jammed so I keyed alternative missing road block and off we went into the centre of Agde the roads got narrower and eventually there was a warning that the opening was 2.4m The caravan is 2.3m so I had the choice back up down an incredibly narrow and twisty road for 200m go on or cry. 'Big boys don't cry' We got through just fine and then the choice was not a choice; the way the sat nav wanted us to go was even narrower, but we took an alternative, exciting certainly, but possible.



Two hours later we found the site at Mont blanc and it is very nice. Shady with sunny spots. The lanes in the site area bit narrow and I managed to block a French man who wanted to come in and one who wanted to go out this turned out to be a great ploy. I unhitched the van and told them we had site 55; in seconds people appeared and suddenly the van was in place lined up etc. Perfect. I must remember to get in their way again. Stupide Beefteck.

Roque de Val Thursday

When we last visited Jill, she took us to a local town that Nicky wants to see again. After some research we found it was Domme. The local market is the attraction and they usually end at noon in France, so an early start was due. It is a good market with all sorts of stalls from vegetable to artisan and artistic. Full of colour and very busy.



Nicky was suffering from her feet and didn't want to walk too far, so I drove as near to the town centre as possible. We ended up in the middle of the market, completely surrounded by confused Frenchmen and women. I suggested to Nicky that getting to the market was simply getting out of the car and I would find somewhere to park, hopefully, not at the bottom of the hill. Oh! I

Didn't tell you Domme is a fortress town perched on top of a steep hill. It has fabulous views of the Dordogne valley and the hills beyond. Well the only way out for me was down a one way street the wrong way, through an old folks home. I turned a very tight corner to find the road blocked. I reversed into the entrance to a cemetery and then headed back for the centre. After 200 yards there was a car park with one place left AND in some shade!! AND only 100 yards from the Market! We padded round the market for a time and then rescued Sophie from the car. It was still in the shade, just.

We walked round the ramparts admiring the views.

In the afternoon we went to Chateau Miland the one time home of Josephine Baker the great star of the Follies Begere in the 20's & 30's first black film star worked in the French resistance and loads more check out Wikipedia.

We headed back to Roque de Val, Sophie was hot and so were we so we drove through to the beach on the river. Nicky thinks she lost a ring there yesterday so while Sophie was swimming for her ball we were scouring the stones on the riverbed. Pretty daft really, but I did see something metallic just behind a stone, too far to reach; so out had to come the swim suit. The water was fantastic, sadly I didn't find the ring.

Then a rush back to shower and change for a Mexican evening at a local pub. Very well attended and the group were marvellous. We danced til they gave up before midnight :-( We could tell this was not Spain! (would have been 5am!) Any way thoroughly enjoyable and a great way to spend our last night with Jill and Dave.