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.