0393 Nürnberg Christmas Markets, Germany

16^th – 18^th December 2015

Wonderful - But no snow !!!

We had booked a trip to the Nürnberg Christmas Markets in central Germany several months ago, in the hope and expectation that it would be at least cold, if not snowy – A real start to our Christmas in Europe.  Our good friends the Skidmores had never been to these markets before either, so the four of us were booked to fly there just for a couple of days.

0392 Winchester Cathdral Christmas Markets

13^th December 2015

Roast chestunts, German sausages and Ice Skating with the family

Every year at Christmas time, my sister’s family of nieces, cousins, grandchildren etc traditionally go to the Christmas Markets held in the courtyards around Winchester Cathedral, where the adults drink mulled wine and eat mince pies, while the younger ones go ice skating in a temporary outdoor ice rink which is erected every year for Christmas.

0391 Brighton and Lotus Things !

11^th December 2015

Brighton Pier and Lotus temptations !

A few days later Janet and I set off down to Brighton.  She had always wanted to see Brighton Pier, and I had never been down there either, so we set off to explore despite the weather being a bit wet and gloomy. 

0390 Around Effingham

28^th Nov – 10^th Dec 2015

Rugby, cycle rides, and country walks

For two weeks we were house sitting John and Di Skidmore’s home in Surrey while they were in Barbados.  More accurately, we were Percy sitting – Their Maine Coon cat which, needless to say, rules the house !  Luckily he is extremely friendly, especially to people who feed him !

 

0389 Milford to Effingham

19^th November plus a bit

Rain, snow, bike rides, and Percy the Cat !

Staying down at my sister’s house in Milford in Hampshire for the past 3 weeks has been a real pleasure.  Apart from just enjoying sitting still in one place for a while, we have had my nieces and nephew and their children nearby, either dropping in on us, or us dropping in on them, which has been an absolute delight – Living on the other side of the world we see little enough of them, so it has been good to catch up with them, even if only briefly.

My erstwhile school friend John and his wife Di live in Effingham in Surrey (not far from Guildford) and are off to Barbados for a couple of weeks at the end of November, and since they have a big furry cat named Percy, they need “Percy sitters” while they are away.  Normally other friends of ours perform this necessary task, but this time we were in need of a roof over our heads during the English winter, so for the next couple of weeks we will be on Percy duty !

0388 Around Milford 2

3^rd November

Some adventures cycling and walking around Milford

We have been pretty lucky with the weather in England so far, and most mornings have been dry enabling us to get out for either a walk or a cycle – Janet usually walks while I go for a cycle !  Some mornings have been absolutely gorgeous, while others have been more overcast.

0387 Around Milford 1

24^th -  October 2015

A good time with family and friends

It was great to finally arrive at my sister Margaret’s house where I felt we could relax in peace after over 3 months on the road.  She is shortly due to head off for 3 weeks in Mexico and Janet and I are house sitting while she will be away.    The weather wasn’t being too “English” when we arrived, and a day after we arrived we were on the touch line cheering on my great-nephew Oscar on the rugby pitch in beautiful sunshine – It brought back lots of memories of our time doing this with our boys !

0386 Herne Belgium to Milford, England

23^rd October 2015

Crossing the Channel again !

The next day, both Fernand and Bart had to go to work, so we had a quiet day around their house, catching up on some of our chores on house and computer.  That evening, Fernand took us over to one of the relative’s houses where we spent the evening conversing with about a dozen relatives in a mixture of French and English. Several of them only spoke Flemish, so it was not always easy, but albums of photographs of Janet’s parents and other family made a centrepiece for discussion, and there was a lot of interest and fun as both sides of the family caught up on news some 30 to 40 years since some of the visits.  

0385 Verdun France to Herne Belgium

0385 Verdun to Herne

20^th October 2015

It was actually warmer when we woke up in the morning than it had been last night – About 6 deg C !  The mist had cleared and it was another fine morning.  We breakfasted and packed up, and headed into Verdun.

Founded by the Gauls, Verdun has been the seat of Bishops since the 4^th Century, and in 843 there was the Treaty of Verdun which divided Charlemagne’s empire into 3 parts.  It has been the scene of many major battles over the years , including against the Prussians during the French Revolution in 1792, and more recently in 1916 where a bloody battle lead to over 800,000 deaths.

0384 Ciry Le Noble to Verdun

0384 Ciry le Noble to Verdun

19^th October 2015

The next morning it was clear but cold and frosty.  After some coffee and hot bread and cheese for breakfast, we hit the road to head north – Next destination Brussels.   However, Joel and Brigitte had recommended that we take time to stop in Verdun, close to the Belgian border. We knew little about it other than the name, but as it was a long drive to Brussels, we decided a break in Verdun was the way to go.  Initially we also wanted to get to Rheims, but we eventually decided this was too far out of our way.

0383 Nattheim Germany to Ciry Le Noble France

17^th October 2015

Drive, drive, drive !

Today was another long driving day, so we did most of it on the toll-free Autobahns until we got to France.  We had breakfast (Ingrid went down to the bakery and got some fresh bread before we got going !), and then set off towards Stuttgart on wet and cold day.  Once again, great to catch up with good trip friends from S America, and it was really good seeing Ingrid and Franz again.  I wonder where we will meet next time.

0382 Zurich Switzerland to Nattheim Germany

0382 Zurich Switzerland to Nattheim Germany

15^th October 2015

Heading north in the rain.

We had a damp and dreary morning to leave Zurich – How lucky we were to have had a fine day to explore the city yesterday ! So we drove out of the city and headed north towards Germany in the rain – We were heading to Nattheim near Stuttgart where we had been invited to stay with Ingrid and Franz – A German couple we first met in Cusco in Peru, and then later down in Montevideo.  We then all travelled to Europe together on the ship to Europe, so I was looking forward to catching up with them and seeing what they were up to now !

0381 Tirano Italy to Zurich Switzerland

13^th October 2015

“When the snow falls you’re found in St Moritz, with the others of the Jet set.

You sip your Napoleon Brandy, but you never get your lips wet…..

Where do you go to my Lovely …….?”

Woke up to a pretty wet and miserable morning at the foothills of the Alps – But at least it stopped raining while we packed up, and had a dry breakfast. It wasn’t far to the “border”, and at 9 am, in the mist and the rain, we came across the old border buildings out of Italy and then in to Switzerland.  Unlike so many of the other EU borders we have crossed, there were actually people in the border post, although they waved us straight through and there were no delays.  Trucks were being pulled over and inspected though – Looking for refugees hiding in the back, I presume. 

0380 Lake Como to Tirano

12th Oct 2015

Lakes, windy roads, and almost in Switzerland.

We ended up staying a second night beside Lake Como because it was just very pleasant, and it is always good to stop occasionally for a few hours.  It was a sunny day, so we enjoyed a cooked breakfast for the first time in a while, and then just lazed about, catching up on things that needed doing.  In the afternoon we went for a walk into the local village, taking our life in our hands as we walked along the narrow road where there is no sidewalk, or even any room for one – You walk along single file and keep your eye on the traffic.  The motorcycles you can usually hear coming, so they are not the problem !  We wandered in the little village, bought a gelati and enjoyed it sitting on a bench overlooking the lake, and then wandered back to the camp site.  A pleasant and quiet day.

0379 Viareggio to Lake Como

10th Oct 2015

Alabaster, Marble, and Lakes.

A pleasant free night down beside the sea, and we woke up to see people off swimming (Brrrr.).  We just had our breakfast and packed up ready to hit the road north.  Once again, not the most exciting day, and eventually we decided to get on the Autostrada and make some miles – The B roads were just too winding and too slow, and the scenery was not that good.  But first we passed through the area where Alabaster and Marble mining has been famous since before Roman times – Massa and Carrara. 

0378 Volterra to Viareggio

9th Oct 2015

An interesting morning, but boring afternoon’s drive !

We awoke to a hazy but pleasant morning, and I felt somewhat better.  By the time we had showered, breakfasted, and packed up, I was exhausted again !  This stomach bug was taking a bigger toll than I either expected or am used to !!  But we got everything done, and then set off to look at Volterra on foot – It was only 900 metres into the centre of town, we had been told……….  But first we decided to explore Le Balze – The big area of erosion that had swallowed buildings.  Not only was it nearby – We were in fact camped right on it, with the remains of the Etruscan Walls not 30 metres from where we had slept overnight !

0377 Rome to Volterra

9th Oct 2015

A short day with an interesting destination

I was still not feeling 100% when I woke up, or even 80%, but I was feeling a lot better than I had yesterday.  I managed to eat just a little breakfast, and then we slowly packed up the car – Always takes longer after a few days in one place because so much stuff has been taken out, and has to be put back in its place before we can head out !  Anyway, eventually we got everything in, said our farewells to Gabriella and Willy, and set off through the narrow streets of Rocca Priora, trying to find the way out and around Rome.  We were heading NW, and as we were on the SE side of Rome, we had to get all the way round the city before we could get going.

0376 A few days around Rome

4^th – 8^th Oct 2015

A visit to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

It was great to see Janet’s long time friend Gabriella and her husband Willy again – It has been a number of years since we last saw them, although Janet has always kept in close contact on Skype etc, and has ever since she met them originally when she was an Au Pair in the region in the early 1970’s. They live in Rocca Priora up in the hills above Rome in their large and rambling house, and it was an ideal spot for us to stop for a while. It was fun to see them again, catch up on each other’s news, and spend some time with a very Italian family. 

0375 Lake Trasimino to Rome, via Cortona

3^rd Oct 2015

Sunshine, an Etruscan town, and coffee in the piazza !

We awoke to heavy mist over Lake Trasimeno – The sky was trying to be blue, but the mist was so thick we could see nothing. But it was not raining, which after the big storm last night was a relief.  We had been told to expect bad weather, so this was a great start, and we decided that although Rome and our friends in Rocca Priora were the target today, we would first go up to the mountain village of Cortona for a coffee in the piazza to see if it had changed at all in the last ??12 years !!

0374 Modena to Lake Trasimeno

2^nd Oct 2015

Rain, fog, mountains……and Tuscany !

Today was a short day interest-wise for us, and therefore a short day for you too.  I was still sound asleep at 8.15 when Janet shook me awake, having already showered and dressed.  So by the time I had showered we were a bit late getting moving, and unfortunately it started to drizzle a bit before we were completely packed up,  Everything was a bit wet and muddy anyway, but that doesn’t really matter as long as you put everything up each night. It is only when you store it away damp for several days that it is an issue.  Anyway we eventually got out of the 2^nd hand caravan yard we seemed to be staying in, and hit the road.

0373 Modena

1^st Oct 2015

Ferraris, Ferraris, and er – a little Pavarotti. 

So if you don’t like Ferraris or Pavarotti, stop reading now and wait till tomorrow’s installment !  In the meantime, today was mostly about Ferraris.  It was grey when we woke up, and soon started to drizzle, so we packed up fairly quickly and set off.  With the rain, there was no point in Janet going off on a Balsamico / Parma ham / Parmigiano cheese tour – So we both headed into Modena to the Enzo Ferrari Museum.  This is totally separate from the Ferrari Museum in Maranello 14 kms south, and is in the old work whop of Enzo’s father Alfredo.  It focuses on older cars, and items that Enzo had more direct involvement in. It is tucked away in a little corner of Modena, and apart from the small signposts, you do not realize you are there until you see the yellow roof at the corner of the street.

0372 Lago di Garda to Modena

30th Sept 2015

Verona brightens up an otherwise boring drive

The target today was Modena, but we planned to stop in Verona on the way because it is said to be almost as beautiful as Rome and was so important in the days of the Roman Empire (thus its name piccolo Roma – Little Rome) – And it has the “Juliet balcony”, as in “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou ?”.  It was cool this morning – Not quite the clear sunshiny day we were expecting from the forecast, but then it wasn’t raining ! So after packing up, doing some last minute banking on the internet, and filling up our water tank, we set of down the narrow road along the edge of Lago di Garda. 

0371 A lazy day at Lago di Garda

29th Sept 2015

One day here is a lot better than none at all !

I might not be able to stay here for the rest of my life, so one day is good !  Woke up to a clear blue sky, and decided to do all the chores while we had good wifi.  Such a beautiful spot, and I think we are the last people left in the camp site – We found out today that they close for the winter tomorrow !  Perhaps I could offer to caretake it for them over the winter ?!!

0370 Bressanone to Lago di Garda

28th Sept 2015

I think I might stay here for the rest of my life !!!

What a night !  While we were parked in a nice big field in a quiet farm in the country, we found out later that there was a train line not 50 yards from our car, and some of those trains make a LOT of noise !  And they ran all night.  I think I heard most of them – Not a good night !

So we were up reasonably early, had time to chat with daughter Sarah in Bangkok and catch up on her news, and then we headed out, through the tiny little bridge that we thought we wouldn’t get through, and out onto the main road south towards Bolzano.  And away from the railway line !!

0369 Schwangau Germany to Bressanone Italy

27th Sept 2015

In Austria  Germany  Austria  Italy !!

Up at 6 am in the dark, and by 7.45 am we were on our way down the road to Neuschwanstein Castle – We weren’t going to be beaten by the coach tours today !!  When we arrived, we were able to drive so far up that we were in Car Park A (as against the far end of car park D yesterday), and there was only one tourist coach already there !  When we got into the ticket office there was a reasonably short queue – But only one of the 5 tickets booths was open !!  And for some reason everyone in front of us decided to have a chat with the ticket operator, so it was over 30 minutes before we got our tickets.  And it turned out that the first English language tour wasn’t till 10.05 anyway, so there was no hurry !  So we went for a walk for a while, and then caught the transfer bus up the hill to NeuschwansteinCastle itself.  It is a 35 minute hike, and because the picturesque Mary’s Bridge (Marien Brucke) is currently under going repairs, we didn’t want to end up there and have to come all the way back down the path, so we caught the bus.

0368 Seefeld Austria to Schwangau Germany

26th Sept 2015

Castles, castles, and more castles !

After our plan yesterday to go up to see Neuschwanstein Castle, we got up in leisurely fashion – It was only 40 kms to the castle after all, and it had been pretty chilly last night – it was 5 deg C when we went to bed, and 4 when I woke up at 7 am, so it must have dropped down even further during the night.  I know my feet were chilly for the first time in a long time – Nothing that a good pair of socks couldn’t fix though !  But when we hit the road, we did change plans slightly, deciding to get straight on over to the castle and not spend any time in Seefeld this morning.  We could always come back this way later if we wanted.

0367 Landshut Germany to Seefeld Austria

25th Sept 2015

I get some mountains at last !

Set off quite early (for us) on a reasonably sunny but chilly morning, with a vague idea of heading towards Innsbruck.  As usual, we stayed for a while on small minor roads, and were crossing some very scenic rolling hills as we headed almost due south past Munich.  In one area we saw railway lines that had shiny tops, so they were obviously used – But there was quite a lot of grass between and along the edges of the track, so it looked disused.  The answer came a few minutes later when a little single diesel engine coach came along the line, carrying local passengers – What a perfect use for the little lines that would appear to be inefficient, but do still serve an important purpose, especially out in the countryside.