Gailo and Rob's European Adventure

24th August, 2011

After being home now for just on 6 weeks and after much encouragement from Elise it is time to do a wrap up of our holiday. I actually find it difficult to believe that we have been home for that long. I have to say that our feet have hardly touched the ground since.

So back to Frankfurt and handing the van back over to the rental company (Friday) we headed straight to the airport and flew to London where we were picked up by our friends, Jim and Maggie, from Northampton who we thought were wonderful, driving 2 hours to pick us up and then driving 2 hours back to Northampton. We stayed with them for the weekend and it was wonderful to catch up again after 10 years.

We headed back on the train to London (Tooting Broadway) to stay with Elise’s friend, Sally who was house sitting a 2 bed apartment for a couple of months. Sally had been back in Sydney just before we left and suggested we stay with her, so we took up her offer, with the intention of catching up with a number of people but we found we were missing the family and decided home was where we wanted to go. We were very anxious about our flights (remember we’re travelling standby/staff travel) and when planning our holiday we didn’t take into account that we finished smack bang in the middle of the northern summer and UK school holidays. So when we checked, the flights were chock-a-block. After being at Sally’s for 1 day there appeared to be a very small window of opportunity to get on a flight out of London to Hong Kong on Tuesday night so we took the gamble and headed out on the tube 1hr 45m to Heathrow fully expecting to get turned down and have to head back to Sally’s but someone was looking down on us and with 15mins to take off we were called up and given seats………albeit not together…….my name was on the Business class seat and Rob’s on Premium Economy….. so that’s how we sat…..I sipped on Chardy and dessert wine after dinner………Rob got something but he reckons not as good as me………he was offered the opportunity to swap but didn’t take me up on it…. ???? Arrived in Hong Kong and a three hour layover and again going through the same process of hanging around, knowing that the seat availability was just as tight as at Heathrow and again with about 20min to take off we were called up again ‘Hallelujah’ only economy seats this time but at least we were on and heading HOME.

We arrived in Sydney to horrendous weather……. rain, rain and more rain, wind and freezing cold but great to be home. Our welcome by our little ones was just precious. Jessica, Emily, Charlotte and Sophia were at preschool so we went to pick them up and we were greeted by 4 very excited little girls. Isabella was only momentarily daunted by our arrival but warmed up very quickly, but little Lucy wasn’t sure about us and little Alexander, well we were unknown………but it hasn’t taken long to re-acquaint ourselves again and all is back to normal with lots of hugs and kisses and big smiles.

Elise has said we have to fill out our ‘BEST OF’ list. So here it is:

Best Campsite - Kranebitten, Innsbruck
It had to have the best amenities that we have seen anywhere ever, even including Australia….plus it had one of the best views.

Kranebitten campsite

Best Scenic Drive - The Verdon Gorge
but closely followed by the drive through Switzerland from Lake Como to Innsbruck
Grand Canyon du Verdon in south-eastern France, is a canyon formed by the Verdon River that is often considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful and is named after its startling turquoise-green colour. It is about 25 kilometers long and the river has cut a ravine up to 700 metres deep down through the limestone mass. The most impressive part lies between the towns of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where, at the end of the canyon the river flows into the artificial lake of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon.

Verdon Gorge

Verdon Gorge#2

Verdon Gorge#3

The drive from Lake Como to Innsbruck through the Swiss Alps was really spectacular although it was a very hazy day and I guess we really didn’t see it in its best light. Still impressive though!!!

Swiss Alps

Swiss Alps#2

Swiss Alps#3

Swiss Alps#4

Best Day Tour - Winemakers tour out of Bordeaux
We came upon this tour by accident. We actually went into the tourist office to casually enquire about traditional wine tours to St Emillion and this tour was recommended to us. Just a small group (6) we were picked up and driven to the Medoc area north of Bordeaux to a winery where we had a hands on experience of blending a wine to our own taste, then bottling it, corking it, capping it and then putting our own label on it. Good fun.

Bordeaux winemaking

Bordeaux winemaking #2

Bordeaux winemaking #3

Bordeaux winemaking #4

Best View – Again a hard decision.
1. From Seegrube, 1905m up on the mountain above Innsbruck

Innsbruck view

Innsbruck view#2

2. From the cliff walk along the Cinque Terre

Manarola Cinque Terre

Vanazza Cinque Terre (2)

Vanazza Cinque Terre

Monterosso

3. From the mountaintop at Branderschrofen in the mountains adjacent to Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen
All wonderful sights and pleasing to the eye.

View from cable car on way to the heights of Branderschrofen

Best Memorial – WW1 Memorial to the Missing Canadian Troops
Vimy Ridge is a sacred area dedicated by the French to the Dominion of Canada. Here, at the height of the ridge on Hill 145, stands the Canadian National Vimy Memorial with its great twin pylons rising up into the sky. Around the memorial are twenty sculptured figures representing such ideas as peace, justice, mourning and grief. Like the Australian National Memorial at Villers–Bretonneux, Vimy carries the names of Canada’s ‘missing’ soldiers, those with ‘no known grave’ who died in France between 1914 and 1918. Quite unbelievable to see the number of names inscribed around the memorial, I believe about 11,000 were killed and placed in un-named graves but about 60,000 Canadians in all, died.

Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge

Best Castle - Neuschwanstein Castle
One of my ‘must see’ items and it certainly measured up from the outside – fairytale material but unfortunately the inside was not as magical but still nice.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Best Village – Dinkelsbuhl – closely followed by Cesky Krumlov
Dinkelsbuhl is found mid-way along the Romantic road. A very quaint typical historical walled Bavarian (German) village. Lots of towers, turrets and half timbered cottages.

Dinkelsbuhl

Dinkelsbuhl#2

Cesky Krumlov also rates as a ‘best village’, a UNESCO world heritage village, restored to its original state, very quaint.

Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov#2

Best Walk – Cinque Terre
With out a doubt!!! It took us 2 days to walk the Cinque Terre and even that left out the section between Manarola to Corniglia which was closed because of a landslide. The walk was very much like a bush walk and very exhaustive and taxing in the heat but we feel a degree of satisfaction having finished it. As mentioned before the view along the way was magnificent.

Cinque Terre

Steps Cinque Terre

Best Toilet – As Public Toilets go there were not many to mention but certainly the one at the road stop along the mountain road through Switzerland took the prize
As toilets go the German ones on the whole were not too bad, the French not quite as good but last by a long way were the Italian. The Best certainly was this one in Switzerland, a block with separate cubicles and each one stainless steel and the configuration just too difficult to explain but unusual to say the least and clean and had toilet paper and hand wash solution, such important commodities but I don’t think the French or Italian think that they are needed!!!!!!!!!!! (No Photo)

Best Chateaux – Chenonceau Castle in the Loire Valley
Another place on my list of ‘must sees’ and again measured up completely. The gardens were in full flower and manicured the castle itself looked magical and the interior was just as special. All rooms were furnished perfectly and wonderfully presented. Just loved it.

Chenonceau Castle

Chenonceau Castle Garden

Chenonceau Castle#2

Chenonceau Castle internal

Chenonceau Castle Garden #2

Best Cruise – Here again we did a few and they all rate
1. Cruise off the coast from Marseilles to the Isle of d’If and Isle of Frioul, the weather for the day was superb, the scenery great and just so relaxing.

Isle d'If

Looking to Isle du Frioul

2. Even along the canals in Venice was exciting.

Canals of Venice

3. The 2 hour ferry ride on Lake Como to Bellagio in perfect weather was a special time and the 2 hour ferry back mixing with a family from Coogee who were St George supporters was up there too.

Lake Como

4. The 4 hour cruise of the lakes of Potsdam was wonderful and relaxing.

On board MS Sans Souci on Potsdam Lakes

On board MS Sans Souci on Potsdam Lakes#2

Best Cathedral/Church/Monastry – Again a couple line up
1. Mount St Michel has to be right up there in the spectacular sights stakes. Quite a dramatic and very impressionable sight.

Mt St Michel

Mt St Michel day

2. The little church in the small village of Wildsteig also leaves a lasting impression for being so ornate inside for its size.

Little Church Wildsteig

3. The Duomo in Milan which is the worlds largest Gothic Cathedral. Besides being in awe at the architecture we were treated to an impromptu recital.

Duomo Milan

Recital Practice Duomo Milan

Best people we met – Ido and Cecile from Netherlands
Rob was speaking to Ido and Cecile within 5 minutes of pulling up at the Pont du Gard camping place and was sitting having a beer within 30 minutes. Very lovely friendly people and like us happy to talk about their family and grandchildren. We dined both nights at the camp restaurant with them. It was Ido who suggested that we take the route through the Verdon Gorge, a good recommendation.

Ido & Cecile

Best Meal - We had a number of ‘Best Meals’
1. On the harbourside at Honfleur
The weather was not the best but did not spoil the atmosphere under the umbrellas along the harbourside where we found a new delicacy – whelks (sea snails very similar to abalone) yummy!!! followed by whole white fish for Rob and Coquilles St Jacques for me followed by the French traditional Crepe Suzette

Honfleur

2. Lunch along the marina on the Isle of Frioul off the coast of Marseille.
Atmosphere just magnificent. Perfect day, great position beside the water, great food and nice bottle of wine……what more could you ask for, we wondered what the poor people were doing!!

Lunch Isle du Frioul

3. On the harbourside in Monte Carlo for our anniversary.
Now here we were at the place of the ‘rich and famous’, we found a lovely restaurant overlooking the harbour with all the maxi-yachts and the palace in the background, to celebrate our special day.

Monte Carlo

4. Beside the canals in Brugge.
While in Brugge, do as the locals do, dine along the canals and eat mussels and fries followed by waffles, strawberries and ice-cream. Earlier we had tried the traditional hot chocolate where they drop beautiful Belgium chocolate set on a stick into a cup of hot milk and you twirl it around and mix it in as it melts……….mmmmm

Mussels & Fries beside canal in Brugge

Best Wine – Moet and Chandon Champagne
After touring the cellars that form part of the 28kms of underground tunnels beneath the estate in Epernay, we had a tasting of the lovely Moet and Chandon Champagne and yes I had to buy some from the original source.

Ahhh Moet & Chandon

Best Gelato – We had too many to peg it down to just one
Everywhere

Best Coffee – A little café in Milan
One thing the Italians do well is to brew coffee. The best was at a little café where we stopped for lunch in Milan, just a little non-descript café but obviously popular with the locals as it was bustling over lunch, the meal was pretty good too.

Best Dessert – I have to put my think cap on here, we had a few nice desserts
1. The Waffles, Strawberries and Ice-cream in Brugge figures pretty highly.

Yummy Dessert In Brugge

2. Crepe Suzette at Honfleur was yummy.

3. Crepes, fruit and cream in the square in Cesky Krumlov were lip smacking too.

Crepes in square in Cesky Krumlov

So there it is………….still can’t believe we did so much, saw so much and had such a wonderful experience. We now look forward to our next holiday !!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday 6th
We packed up and left Prague today and it wasn’t long and we were back in Germany again and you could tell by the condition of the roads. This is only one area of infrastructure but it certainly shows that the Eastern Block countries have a long, long way to go to get back, if they ever will?? to any wealth of past centuries after being raped by the Communist philosophy. (Does that sound like a political statement – maybe!!)

Arrived at a lovely camp just outside of Dresden just after lunch and decided to chill out for the afternoon.

Thursday 7th
Up and off into Dresden today. The bus stop was just out the front of the camp which is adjacent to a residential area. When we walked out we realised we’d just missed our bus No.66 and thought ‘O damn’ and another bus was approaching No.63 and a lovely German lady came up to us and indicated speaking in German to follow her and get on, then after 3 stops she indicated to us to get off and change to No.11, we got off and thought ‘O God’ where to from here and thankfully another lady indicated that we needed to go around the corner and catch the No.11 TRAM which took us right into the Alstradt which was further than the No.66 bus would have taken us, so we were thankful to the German lady.

Dresden is a city that has had to be rebuilt after being virtually flattened during the war with over 35,000 people dying during the bombing. A number of buildings particularly public buildings and churches have been rebuilt using what could be resurrected from the original buildings and rebuilt to the same design as it previously had been. The 1st building we went into,

The Kreuzkirche

The Kreuzkirche (a Protestant Church, not Catholic – amazing!!) totally looked like a centuries old church from the outside but very austere and lacking the usual elaborate interior. This poor church has had a chequered existence having previously been extensively damaged and then destroyed in fires over the centuries and then WW11. It was then a short walk to the town square and the Frauenkirche, another rebuilt icon.

the Frauenkirche

We decided to venture up to the dome to have a look out over the city. Being a rebuilt building it had a lift at least half way up. We then had to walk up a spiral walkway until the last section where there were a further 127 steps (no worries, a cinch for us fit people!!!)

At the top

The view was quite nice looking out over the city of over 300,000 with the River Elbe running through it. Walked along the riverfront and looked at a number of important buildings which, it is obvious to see that a lot of the original stonework was re-used as they are quite black from the damage received during the bombing raids in contrast to the new work and appears that it has been done on purpose as a stark reminder of this era in time.

The Theater or Opera House

After this it was then, of course time for lunch. It might seem that eating out is more important than visiting museums etc but we find it’s good to try out the local cuisine and beverages to really get the feel of the place we are visiting.

Back to the camp on a hot day and it was time to try out the pool, I put my feet in and said ‘eh no not for me, too cold’. Rob braved it though and a number of others came in and took fright at the temperature too although I was the only piker.

Friday 8th
It was on to Berlin today, our last city to visit. I had earmarked a camp place just outside Berlin at Potsdam at the ‘Sans Souci Campingplatz’ which is on The Promenade, I felt quite at home!!!!!!

Our Campsite at 'Camp Sanssouci'

There is a huge estate here called Park Sanssouci which contains the Neues Palais (new palace) and the Schloss Sanssouci (a huge stately residence) Apparently this is where the Potsdam Conference was held in Aug’1945 and split the capital, Berlin and the rest of Germany into 4 zones to be occupied by the British, US, France and the Soviet Union. It was only after we were in Berlin that we realised that West Berlin was actually completely surrounded by East Germany the Soviet sector and after the Soviets in 1961 blockaded their sector to exclude the exodus of people to the west that the only way the West Berliners could travel outside their city was to fly in definite flight zones. It was like they lived on an island.

Saturday 9th
Into Berlin today to join a 4 hour walking tour. Our guide was Finn an Irish guy who’s been in Berlin for quite some time studying the language, culture, history, I think a brainy bugger he was like a walking encyclopaedia who talked like a thrashing machine!! But as you would imagine very informative. He intends to write a book on the Third Reich. We covered all the important areas of history, The Berlin Cathedral, The Brandenburg Gate, Gendarmenmarkt, The Memorial to the Murdered Jews (a most unusual memorial), the remnants of the infamous Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and much more, needless to say when it ended we were well informed but exhausted and happy to head back on the train to camp.

the Brandenburg Gate from the East side

Another view of the Memorial to the murdered Jews

Part of the Memorial to the murdered Jews

a photograph of the real Checkpoint Charlie

Rob at Checkpoint Charlie

The Berlin Cathedral

A city of contradictions - old and new

On the walk we came across this ugly ultra-modern building and I thought what a blight on the environment but was informed by our guide that it has only recently been unveiled and its purpose is to help raise money to build the former palace that was on the site. Apparently the project was supposed to have been finished but they couldn’t raise the money needed so they have built this, obviously to raise people’s awareness that they don’t want this ugly monstrosity to stay and for people to donate to the rebuilding of the former palace.

I felt this was a blight on the area but it there for a reason see blog for explanation

Sunday 10th
We had planned to take a cruise on the lakes at Potsdam today but didn’t realised it left earlier than we thought so decided to have a rest day and get the chores out of the way ie the washing and also get on Skype to the family.

Monday 11th
We woke to rain today so put off the cruise again and headed back into Berlin to look a bit more in depth at some of the places we’d been on the walking tour and to check out a couple more things. Eg. The Reichstag, the permanent seat of the German Parliament. It is just around from the Brandenburg Gate and just inside the Gate is the Adlon Hotel, the most expensive place to stay in Berlin (top suite 17,000 Euros a night) and made more famous by Michael Jackson when he dangled baby Blanket over the railing.

Hotel Adlon MJ was at the window above the open window

Unfortunately a couple of museums we were interested in were closed as a lot do on a Monday.

The Berlin wall from the East

The Berlin wall from the West

At the Berlin wall on the western side there is an outside exhibition of photographs and storylines about the times during the War. This area has been excavated to reveal the lower or basement floors of part of the German SS headquarters. A newly constructed museum stands nearby called the Museum of Terrors.

The outside exhibition

I have to say here that even though the German people have acknowledge the perpetration of horror that was wielded by the Third Reich during the WW11 and they fully lay the blame on the Nazi Party and Hitler and his henchmen plus they also talk of the restoration that has gone on since, we found no reference or memorials to those Germans, mostly civilians, I would imagine, women and children, who lost their lives during the air raids and bombings, particularly of Berlin and Dresden. We did see a couple of cemeteries along the road on our way out of Potsdam today with lots of similar headstones and wondered if these might be the graves of people lost during the air raids. There was mention of raping and pillage particularly by the Soviet troops when they finally overtook and occupied Germany but that was about it.

The weather cleared up by lunchtime and came out quite hot so on returning to camp Rob decided to take a dip in the lake with a number of other campers/holiday makers. He reckons it was ‘alright’.

Tuesday 12th
Finally we got on to our cruise of the Lakes of Potsdam a 4 hour leisurely time atop a long boat called ‘MS Sans Souci’ again I felt right at home.

Very nice thank you

A beautiful boat and such a relaxing time. The cruise did a full circuit of the lakes returning through a couple of, I would say, man made canals. We cruised past our camp site which gave a different perspective to that from our van in the camp. From the camp we appear to be in a national park, the only other buildings we could see were those directly across the lake from our camp but from the cruise we were astounded to see that nearly all around the lake system there was residential areas to be seen with a number of very impressive resorts, churches and stately homes. Such a surprise. After returning to Potsdam we walked around the old town, another quaint historical township.

Wednesday 13th
We left today for our final destination, having done a full loop, returning to the place where it all started, Frankfurt Am Main.
We have a full day tomorrow to clean and sort out the van before returning it on Friday morning and then heading to the airport and hopefully getting on a flight to London before heading through Hong Kong and home.

When we arrived here this afternoon, we weren’t sure how we felt. Sad that it’s all over??? Thrilled to have had the opportunity to see, experience and do so many things…….but also at the same time happy to think that we will be heading back home ……..as everyone who has travelled will understand…….to sleep in your own bed and have a shower in you own bathroom……yeah………and finally to see our loved ones. Talking and seeing them on Skype is wonderful but to be able to kiss and hug them is something else……we just can’t wait.

• **** See Photo gallery for more photos

Saturday 2nd
After leaving Cesky Krumlov we headed straight to Prague, unfortunately the weather followed us and we arrived to quite cold (needed our winter woollies on again, the few that we have) and wet conditions and located our camp on an island in the middle of Vltava River which flows thru the centre of Prague.

The view across the river from our van
View of the city from the ferry

Sunday 3rd
We caught the ferry along the river towards the centre. It couldn’t go all the way up the river to the centre as there are a couple of spillways between here and the Charles Bridge.

Charles Bridge and Castle in the background
Another view of Charles Bridge and Castle
Spillway along River Vltava

By now we had to don the umbrella but hey this is Europe and we have considered ourselves very lucky so far not to have been effected by rain elsewhere.
We decided to walk on up the hill and explore the Prague Castle,

Courtyard'Square to the rebuilt castle
Guards on duty

Stained Glass window in St Vitus Cathedral within the Castle
Ceremonial Hall in the Castle Changing of the guard

Statue of much interest - can you see why- we were looking to find him and was the last thing we saw on leaving the castle

View of Prague from the Castle

a huge area described as being the biggest castle complex in the world and feels and looks like a small town itself. After taking nearly 2 hours to explore our feet were starting to scream so of course it was lunch (v.late lunch) time to take a break. As the weather was cold and yucky we found a little restaurant and had to have the local speciality. Rob had a Goulash soup and I had an upmarket Goulash soup in a damper roll which included venison, so nice on a cold day. After this we scarped back along the riverside to catch the ferry that only runs every hour and the last one being 7.00pm from the city. It’s a long trip back if we miss the last one, as being on an island when you get to the point of our camp which would be about 3klms we would still have to go back a further 2kms to get over to the island and then walk the nearly 2kms back up again. No thank you.

Monday 4th
Again the touring was catching up with us and we were feeling a bit exhausted so decided to have a rest day, catch up with the family on Skype, do our blog and van maintenance (filling up water, emptying toilet cassette, all the exciting chores!!!) and just chill out. Much appreciated.

Tuesday 5th
Our little Sophia’s birthday today, so had to Skype her and sing Happy Birthday and then we headed back out on the ferry up town again. Today we were ready to explore the old town. Took a right turn at the Charles Bridge and walked our way up through the narrow streets till it opened up to the Staromestske nam – Old Town Square which is dominated by the Tyn Church, St Nicholas Church and the Old Town Hall Clock Tower with the astronomical clock. It was just on midday so we thought we’d join the rest of the throng standing around for the magical happening of the astronomical clock. I couldn’t believe how short and un-spectacular this event was. On the stroke of the hour a couple of doors opened and the 12 apostles slid by and a rooster sort of crowed and 4 figures representing vanity, greed, death (a bell ringing skeleton) and ?? and it’s all over in 30 seconds no where as good as the clock tower in Munich but for Prague it is special for its history and mechanical movement.

the clock tower and Astronomical clock

Crowds milling to see the Astronomical clock
In the Old Town Square

St Nicholas Church Chandelier

We joined a (supposedly) free 3 hour walking tour. Our guide was very theatrical about his storytelling and did not fail to inform us that although it’s a free tour he would not be against receiving a tip at the end and also at the conclusion again mentioned that he’s a professional tour guide and would accept tips but not of the coin type.

Our tour guide

I have to say the tour was very enlightening and filled in a lot of the gaps of knowledge that we needed. We did the Stare Mesto (Old town) Novo Mesto (New town) and the Jewish Quarter even though it was 3 hours it was not too exhaustive. We visited the Old Jewish Cemetery which you don’t actually go in, you look at it from the street but it is in a very evocative corner of the Jewish area.

Jewish Cemetery

It is only about 100ft long and 30ft wide and the first bodies were supposedly buried there from about 1439 but its mentioned that it has over 12,000 graves buried in it and our guide says that those who know reckon there’s over 100,000 (so who knows??) and as they ran out of room and the Jews were not given any other land to create another cemetery they then covered that layer of graves, raising the headstones and started a new layer till there are about 12 layers of graves each time raising the headstones to the top, consequently the headstones on top now are so chock a block they look like sharks teeth standing upwards right next to each other with the ground level now about 4 metres above street level. It ceased being used in about 1787.

At the end of the tour and 400 Kronas (about $22.00) later we took our leave and headed back to the marina where there is an old ferry boat permanently moored there as a restaurant. We’d earmarked it earlier that it would be nice to dine there to finish off our Prague experience so it was Veal knuckle, a Czeck specialty washed down with a lovely cold local chardonnay and a local black beer for Rob. Also we could keep an eye out for the ferry to make sure we didn’t miss the last ferry back to camp.

Enjoying veal knuckle
The ferry boat restaurant Our last supper in Prague
Our ferry transport and captain

PS: while waiting to join the walking tour we came across my favourite store ‘Cartier’ and spied the diamond ring I’d like to take home with me worth $½Mil-AUD……..very nice.

Found my piece of jewellery I'd like in the Cartier store worth half a mil

Wednesday 6th
Off on our way again to our 2nd last port of call on our European Odyssey, Dresden.

On the road to Dresden

Sunday 26th June
Packed up and left our camp and thought we’d better do a bit of grocery shopping before we head to Lake Como, followed instructions which are always very vague in Italy, from the camp to the local supermarket we still managed to take a couple of wrong turns and then when we got there we realised it was Sunday and no shops are open. So plugged in Tom-Tom and headed off to Lake Como along the motorway

Leaving Venice - mountains looming behind Verona

skirting around Milano and arriving at our destination – Camp Internationale. I don’t know how they justify the name, it wasn’t too bad but ??? it had a pool maybe that’s it. Anyway we had a lovely time while there, our neighbour from the Netherlands entertained us each night. He was into Bob Dylan, The Eagles etc of that era and played guitar and harmonica and sang, consequently a few late nights.

Lake Como Marina
On Lake Como heading to Bellagio
Village along the Lake Como

Monday 27th
We were up for an early start today to catch the train. Again instructions to the station and even a map from the camp were totally vague again and of course that bloody Murphy was at it again....we found out later that our walk to the station was the long way, I wouldn’t have minded but it was extremely hot. Anyway, we caught the train into Lake Como, what a pretty sight that greeted us as we got off the train, a lovely town right on the water’s edge. Then we caught the ferry on the lake to Bellagio, a 2 hour leisurely cruise on a beautiful day with spectacular scenery all around, lake, mountains and little village after little village all along the lake, so relaxing.

Is this George's house
Or maybe this is George's
Hazy day but lake and scenery spectacular

Walked through the little village and as it was lunch time we were ready to sit and eat, our choice, a lovely restaurant near the quay and ate local Lake Como fish.

Bellagio passageways
Pineapple mint drink ??

We had to laugh, we thought we’d have a cool drink before the meal and they had a drinks menu and I asked the waitress about them, they looked like nice fruit drinks and said we’d like a pineapple with mint in it because it looked like it was on the menu anyway when they arrived, here was these green icy drinks and when we tasted it, it was like pure crème de’menthe with a licorice stick, it was very icy but not what we expected but delicious anyway.
After a 2 hour leisurely lunch and a short walk along the waterfront we headed back to the marina for our return trip.

Lake Como from Bellagio

As we were lining up for the ferry back, I overheard a couple of guys talking about the footy results saying the game had just finished and Saints beat Manly, so of course I couldn’t contain myself said ‘Up the Saints’. They were a family of 5 from Coogee but were huge Saints supporters so we talked the whole way back, it was good to have familiar conversation for a change.
Back at our Camp Internationale and seeing as the larder was bare we decided to eat at the alfresco bar……€15 got us 2 beers, 2 wine and a large pizza……bargain.

Tuesday 28th
Didn’t rush to get out today but we walked the shorter way to the station and caught the train into Milano. We wouldn’t rave about the place. The woman in the info centre at the castle had to be the rudest person we’ve come across so it didn’t start off that well. I would have liked to get into see Leonardo Da Vinci’s last supper and was told not much chance, you have to pre-book days in advance and only chance is on cancellation, so we walked (again in the heat) to the church……but no go……never mind, I’d usually say ‘Oh another time’ but I don’t think we’ll be back this way again.
We then walked through the city to the Duomo (Cathedral) and was pleasantly surprised to find, as it’s described, the worlds largest Gothic Cathedral - Gothic - being the key word, they all seem to be the largest this or largest that.

Duomo Milano
Inside the Milano Duomo

The front façade and the sides look like they have recently been cleaned, how much of a difference it makes. It was commissioned in 1386 and took 600 years to complete (unbelievable). It’s able to hold 40,000 people, has 3400 statues, 135 spires and 155 gargoyles on the exterior. The interior was much different though to the outside, quite dark with lots of fresco paintings, hanging between the columns. It had 5 colonnades and while we were there we were treated to some beautiful music. A violinist and harpist practising for a concert played a number of pieces so we just sat, rested our weary feet and was serenaded, very peaceful.

We were treated to beautiful music in the Duomo

Wednesday 29th
Off to Innsbruck today and again chose to take the motorways and the route took us up through Lugarno and Switzerland and the scenery from here on was just fairytale stuff. We travelled thru the Arlberg Tunnel 14.5klms and a number of other tunnels over 5klms but the view that greets you each time you emerge from the tunnel is breathtaking.

The mountains of Switzerland
Roadway thru mountains and valleys
More mountains of Switzerland
Mountains and valleys

Again, had a campsite plugged into Tom-Tom and another painless arrival. Well this campsite gets a 12/10 as far as campsites go. It is the nicest campsite we have ever stayed in and that includes Australia. The facilities were re-built only 4 years ago and are so large (larger than our bathrooms at home) and modern, frameless showers, one even had a bath that Rob decided he’d rest his weary body in; just exceptional. The sites also were very nice and it was difficult to decide which way to park the van as it was amazing views all round. Just behind us the mountain rose dramatically straight up and across the valley (which had the airport and every so often a plane would come sailing down or go soaring up) were little villages perched on the rise of mountains.

Our campsite in Innsbruck
The backdrop from our campsite

Thursday 30th
Unfortunately we woke during the night to hear rain…..and when we got up it wasn’t real pleasant

we woke to this

but by midday the weather had started to clear, so caught the bus into the Altstadt (old town), one of the main attractions is the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) with 2657 gilded copper tiles built by Emperor Maximilian I in the 16th century as a show of wealth. (I think it was a bit over-rated) it was a roof or building hood about 20ft wide and 10ft deep on a 4 storey building between other buildings and was viewed from a small square.

We wondered what all the fuss was about

The highlight for me and really what was one of the reasons to come to Innsbruck was to go up the mountain and I thought I was going to miss out, the cloud overhanging the mountain was quite thick. After lunch and with eyes peeled to the mountain it started to look a lot better and by 3pm we decided to challenge the elements. There are 3 stations up the mountain. The 1st is reached by a much updated version of the cog railway. We then transferred to a cable car to the next station and lastly another cable car to the peak. The view from station 2 was just superb, you could see the whole valley with the city of Innsbruck and the River Inn flowing very fast through it with lots of little villages scattered all around the countryside. As the cable car approached station 3 we knew it was going to be a white out and there would be no view to be had from here today, we walked out the door from the station and nearly got blown away with a blast of wintery wind and it was about -8C consequently, we didn’t stay outside too long so headed back to Station 2 and hopped off to take a cool ale in the restaurant. My wishes had been fulfilled.

The River Inn flowing thru Innsbruck
Too cold to stay too long at the top
Looking down on Innsbruck from 2nd station
Ay 2nd station
enjoying the refreshments

Friday 1st July
Off and away again today heading to Cesky Krumlov. We were going to stop off at Salzburg but as we have been there before we decided to by-pass it this time and particularly as we drove on today the weather closed in and got much worse the closer we got to Salzburg. Only thing we were particularly interested to see was Eagle’s Nest but nothing would have been seen from there today. We have now reached the Czeck Republic and gee how the road quality has changed!!! We are now travelling on virtually a 1 lane road, no line markings through a forested area, very pretty though.

We have now reach the Czech Republic and the roads have dimished

Along the way getting closer to Cesky Krumlov the road follows the Vltava River and we couldn’t believe the numbers of people that appeared to be setting up camp along the river, we thought as there were so many people that it must have been a scout’s jameree. When we reached our destination just outside the township this campsite was also alive with people setting up camp, we were amazed. After a while we came to the conclusion that it was just a spot where many of the locals come for the weekend to have fun canoeing and rafting on the river.

On reaching our campsite at Cesky Krumlov and all the camping activity along the river
Looks like great fun for families of all ages

Saturday 2nd
Time to explore the quaint Unesco world heritage village of Cesky Krumlov. What a charming place, not very big only has 14000 inhabitants but double the number of tourist every day. The river has a huge status within the town as it winds its way nearly encircling the town and plays a big part in bringing many local Czechs’ to enjoy its unique offering. Many of the buildings have been restored and we walked around for a couple of hours before taking off to Prague.
We loved Cesky Krumlov
Enjoying Pancakes and Coffee - big in Cesky Krumlov
Rob after inspecting the castle cannon

• ****** See more photos in the Photo Gallery

Saturday 18th June
It was Au Reviour to France and Bongorno (??) to Italy. We decided to take the motorway for the 300km jaunt (which still took over 5 hours) all the way to our next port of call, Levante in readiness to tackle the Cinque Terra.

Arrived in Levante to a change in the weather which had deteriorated as we drove today. Colder temps, windy, low cloud over the mountains and drizzle rain and we thought this is not going to be very good to walk the Cinque Terre but on waking up Sunday morning the skies had cleared and it was a beautiful day. Our plan of attack was to catch the train to Riomaggiore. We had a good look around the town and then did the easy walk 1st to Manarola which was an even walk around the cliff face which took us about half hour. The seas were still a bit rough from the weather the day before but the view, magnificent. The section of walk between Manarola and Corniglia was closed because of a land slide so we had to catch the train to Corniglia and as opportune allows there was a bus waiting at the train station to take people up to the town which is perched on top of a plateau overlooking the sea. We decided it was time for lunch and to build up our energy to tackle the next section - Corniglia to Vernazza which we’d heard was difficult but not too bad. Well off we took, the weather had warmed up and yes it was reasonably difficult, lots of steps and more steps, up, up and onwards but we got to Vernazza after about 2 hours. The images that Elise had had on our computer screen saver for a few years came flooding back, it was great to actually be there ourselves. 1st, Manarola with all the houses (many being 2, 3 and 4 storeys high) of many colours built on the cliff face. The view of Vernazza that greets you as you come around the point is out of a storybook. Again houses perched one on top of each other, brightly coloured and hugging the cliff face right down to the little harbour. We stopped here right at the little harbour to re-energise ourselves with some refreshments before heading back on the train to our campsite.

# 353 our start for Cinque Terre

# 354 Rob along between Riomaggiora to Manarola

# 355 township of Manarola

# 356 Manarola

# 357 in the street of Manarola

# 358 Around the cliff face

# 359 along the walk

# 360 That's the way we're heading

# 361 gave just left Corniglia heading to Vernazza

# 362 Firefighting plane on practice

# 363 Dropping his load with Corniglia in foreground

# 364 Corniglia perched on hilltop

# 365 Along the walk

# 366 Vernazza coming from Corniglia

# 367 We've made it this far today

# 368 Vernazza beachfront on a hot day

# 369 Township of Vernazza

Monday
It was up and off to tackle the last and hardest section of the Cinque Terre. We had decided to catch the train to Varnazza and walk back to Monterosso as the sun would be on our backs but boy it was still hot again and if we thought we’d climbed some steps yesterday, today there was, I’m sure 3 times as many. Lots and lots of people going both ways, some girls though, you just wonder about, we saw some in thongs and others even in heels. We thought it was one of the hardest walks we’ve done because the ground was uneven the whole way often with rocks or stepping stones and as I said steps and steps and more steps, up and down. At times the path was only wide enough for 1 person to navigate so when you met up with someone coming in the opposite direction it was a bit difficult. It took us 3 hours but again well worthwhile. The Mediterranean had certainly turned it on for us today, it was like a sparkling sea of diamonds glittering away on a bed of blue velvet, just beautiful. To say that we were pooped when we got to Monterosso was an understatement. We then got the train to La Spezia, and as if we hadn’t walked enough we walked down to the marina probably 2klms. Unfortunately, after the Cinque Terre, La Spezia left us cold. It was Monday afternoon and a lot of shops were closed, not many people around and the place just has an uncared for dirty look about it, so we were disappointed that we hadn’t had lunch at Monterossa.

# 370 Next day start of big walk - Vernazza to Monterosso

# 371 Famous view of Vernazzi

# 372 Start of the ascent.......arrrrrrh

# 373 View back to Vernazzi

# 374 Coastline

# 375 Coastline back to Vernazzi

# 376 Monterossa in view not far to go now

# 377 Private beach - umbrella parade

# 352 Monterossa

# 351 Beach front Monterosso

Tuesday
On the road again (that reminds me of a song!!!) We are heading to Firenze (Florence) and have just stopped off at Pisa and tried to hold up the leaning tower just like every other tourist there too. It really is quite amazing and the lean is astounding. They have done a lot of work over the last number of years to stabilise the ground so that it doesn’t sink any further.

# 380 My version of holding up the leaning Tower of Pisa

# 379 Rob pushing up the tower

Arrived in Firenze but had the address mixed up in Tom-Tom, often difficult as sometimes addresses are similar and it gives you the option to pick one and of course MURPHY was at it again (I keep saying ‘that bloody Murphy’), if you’ve got 2 to pick from you’ll always pick the wrong one, so after ending up in the city centre in tiny narrow streets with cars parked anywhere and at this stage not realising we were at the wrong location, I eventually got out and had to ask, luckily 1st person spoke a bit of English but didn’t know the address but 2nd guy didn’t speak English but knew the address and sign language and a bit of lingo we worked it out.
After setting up camp and as the sun was setting we walked the 100metres to Piazzale Michalangiolo to view the setting sun over the city and watched as the city lights came on. In the square was a bronze copy of the Statue of David, 1 of 2 copies in the city as well the original

# 386 Bronze copy - Statue of David

Wednesday
Time to hit the streets of Firenze. We caught the bus right outside the camp area our map said it took us to the centre but when we got down near the river it turned off well before where our map indicated and started winding its way around the outer streets. Well that thru us, didn’t know whether to get off or stay on. Took the second option, we thought well it’s got to return back to where we got on at some stage. Eventually it stopped at the main railway station and we where able to pinpoint where we were so got off and started to explore. The main attraction was the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo and Giotto’s Bell Tower all of which are completely covered with green, white and pink marble in true Renaissance style architecture. There were people everywhere and queues and more queues. We lined up and went into the cathedral and had thought we’d like to do the Duomo (the dome section of the Cathedral) but the line was really long and was not moving and after reading that there were 463 steps to climb we decided that we weren’t up to it as we hadn’t quite recovered from our exhausting walks of the Cinque Terre. The queues for everything were off putting and in typical Italian style you could jump the queue if you paid more but that wasn’t the problem, often to a number of sites they didn’t sell the tickets there you had to buy them elsewhere. . I’m glad I saw the bronze copy of David as I was disappointed not to get to see the original which is in the Accademia Gallery as again it was queues or reserving a time but that was always a couple of hours later which didn’t suit. Never mind. The Palazzo Vecchio was another attraction we went into which is viewed as the most important civil building in the city and has some of the best ceiling frescoes to be seen anywhere. They certainly were impressive, every room’s ceiling was decorated with frescoes by the grand masters.
We walked over the Ponte Vecchio, 1 of 3 bridges in the world occupied by shops and every one of them, jewellery. It reminded us of the bridge in Bath, UK. Then it was back to the camp and a cold beer and wine…Oh just to sit down……bliss!!!!

# 387 In front of Giotti's belltower & Duomo

# 382 Florence - The Cathedral the Duomo & Giotti's Bell tower

# 392 Rob with Leo at the Uffizi Gallery

# 393 Ponte Vecchio

# 394 Jewellery shops on the Ponte Vecchio

# 391 Frescoes in Palazzo Vecchio

# 390 Frescoes on the ceilings in the Palazzo Vecchio

# 389 Fresco on the dome

# 388 Crowds queuing

# 385 Night lights

# 384 Santa Croce Church

# 383 Dusk along the River Arno with the Ponte Vecchio in foreground

Thursday, 23rd June
Left Firenze and travelled the motorway just 300klms to Venezia. Have camped at the “Jolly Campsite” as named; in Mestre which is just outside of the Island of Venezia.

Friday
Took the bus to Venezia and then the Ferry bus the entire length of the Grand Canal finishing up at Piazzia San Marco and yes, tourists and pigeons everywhere. After taking some pics all around decided we’d seen enough Cathedrals with ornate interiors to do us for the moment and couldn’t be bothered joining the throngs on the queues. To us Venezia is all about the canals (others might disagree) so it was much more fun exploring the canals than queuing to see another cathedral. As typical tired tourists we sat down in the most expensive area to have a coffee………..cappuccino €8.50 each……..we need our heads read (was nice though)……. lunch from the same place from their take-away window was €4.50 for a lovely toasted chicken snitzel burger. Hard to understand the comparisons.
From the Piazzia San Marco we weaved our way around the laneways with canals running beside them with heaps and heaps of Gondolas plying there way thru the city. Couldn’t contain myself, browsing a number of shops selling Murano glassware and buying a couple of little pieces. We eventually came out to the Ponte di Rialto the most famous bridge crossing the Grand Canal. Then back on the ferry bus and bus back to our camp and a welcome swim as summer certainly has arrived.

# 410 Rob on the Ponte di Rialto

# 409 Busy canalside cafes

# 408 More Gondolas

# 407 Gondolas manouvreing in the canals

# 406 Gold inlay tiled frescoes in the Basilica

# 405 Rob on Bridge

# 404 Gondolas

# 403 Along the Grand Canal

# 402 Pigeons in Piazza

# 401 Basilica San Marco

# 400 Entrance to Piazza San Marco with Campanile (belltower)

# 399 Palazzo Ducale at entrance to Piazza San Marco

# 398 Ponte di Rialto

# 397 Gondola and Ponte di Rialto

# 396 Typical house fronts on canal

# 395 Grand Canal Venezia

Tomorrow we head to Lake Como for another change in scenery.