June 2016: Italy

We are bloody good at packing up now, doesn’t take long and we are off again, must admit love being on the move. We have an issue with our wind out awning and it wont close properly, I think its twisted from the storms. The girl at the campsite was so helpful and rang  a few places before finding one that would help the next day. We headed off and found our camper service man after a few missed turns. Took him( Fabio) about 2 hours to sort it out and it was about 12 before we headed off south towards Puglia, an area I’ve always wanted to see. Although I did go to Brindisi 30 years ago on the train from Rome and caught the ferry to Greece but didn’t really see much. We head through some very ordinary territory, think middle of Australia and abandoned towns, houses in ruin and not much farming around. It does change and we arrive at our campsite opposite Lago Di Verano, we stay one night, pretty ordinary site although I do meet a very nice British man who gives me 2 books after I complained about not being able to get Amazon to down load, bless him. Our trip today is not far, about an hour or so and we eventually arrive at Perschici and a campsite made within  an old olive grove by the sea. The trees are at least 100 years old and according to the main man could be up to 1000 years old. Not sure about that but its old. This is a really nice spot, we have a big site, not many around and its bliss, we stay 5 nights. The beach is nice, plenty of Italians and the ubiquitous umbrella stands, we carry our own sun beds and enjoy the sunshine. The town of Perschici is in the hills overlooking the bay and we decide to walk up the steep hills rather than catch a bus. It’s a gorgeous spot, views are incredible and worth the walk. It’s the sort of town you could hang out for while and enjoy, maybe not in tourist season though. We can’t believe we have been here 5 nights, the time has flown so must be a good spot. Anyway its time to move and we again pack up and head south to Manfredonia and a site south of there on the coast. It’s a small site, close to the beach and mosquito’s, bloody millions of them,the little f..rs. The beach is nice and abandoned, well just about, must be 20 people on a 3 km beach. We walk for miles along it never passing a sole, totally different from where we had been only a short distance away. The mossies drive us away after 2 nights and its time to head inland and Trulli county. See you then…

The beach at Perschici and the beach sellers

Part of the old fort looking out over the sea

View of the beach from the top of Perschici

Our camp site among the olive grove

June 2016: Italy

Well we are off again and head down the hill from our campsite towards the motorway, heading south to Alba Adriatico and a campsite named Eucalyptus. After a while we need fuel and best to leave the motorway as it’s a lot cheaper, at least 30%. Also its easier to find a Lidl or large supermarcato to stock up with all your weekly shopping. We spend the rest of the trip on the super-strade rather than the motorway, passing through old towns in need of some love and the others that are thriving. Our camp site is nice, big spot to camp, cheap and covered in eucalyptus trees, hence the name. But where are the koalas? Only one and its on their sign out the front, mind you I did have to tell them as although they knew we where Aussies they didn’t mention it??. Alba Adriatico is a bit of a concrete jungle, 4 and 5 storey flats/apartments everywhere, nice long pathway for bikes that goes for miles along the beach which we enjoyed but really a mini Gold Coast sort of?  Maybe not, but the Italians do LOVE a beach and the noisier and  more crowded and garish it is the better. Not really sure those nonas should be wearing those bikinis, oh my god can someone sell them some Balinese wraps to put on. No offence to any Italians reading this, it could well have been some Germans, who knows, I  wasnt about to ask. We stay 3 nights here, its nice and quiet, quite a lot of semi permanent Italian people that mostly come for the summer I think, their well set up for sure, so its relaxing and the weather has been OK. Not much to say really, we chilled out a fair bit, rode through the streets but it really wasn’t much more than a stopover unfortunately. We are still searching for our Italian sea side resort we will stay at for longer. We know it’s too hard for this monster van to head to the Amalfi, our favourite spot to this date so maybe Calabria or south Puglia will. Not sure we will make Sicily this time see how we go.

 

Not much space unless you pay!

It’s a beautiful beach, goes for miles

June 2016: Croatia

We take the motorway from near our prevous campsite, the traffic is minimal, perhaps they dont want to pay the toll? Anyway makes for an easy drive and we head towards the island of Krk. Its connected to the mainland by a massive bridge with another toll. Amazing views from here as we are high above the ports looking down as we cross the bridge. Our campsite is at Klimno on the east coast, situated in a large bay. Its a new site, small and compact so it seems everyone is on top of you, still we like the spot and manage to find some Poms to chat to. The weather is not so good, massive storms through the night with thunder and lightening seeming to be metres above the van, at some stages the whole van shook and its 4 tonne. We reassess the next morning, decide to stay another night to contemplate our choices rather than just head further south. Eventually we decide to cross over to other side of the island and stay a night at Njivice. Wow this site is massive, the position perfect on another bay but it really caters for the masses and lucky ? for us the rain has kept them away. We did take a walk in the afternoon once the rain had stopped and enjoyed the views without the crowds. One couple camped near us invited us over for a drink and we had a good old chat over a few wines. They where German but from the north of Germany and it seems they are much more approachable and open to other nationalities and certainly dismissive of other parts of Germany, not mentioning any here. We decide the forecasts are too bad for continuing south, we will head back to Italy and continue Croatia another time, maybe next year. We pack up and are off by 8.30 the next day, say goodbye to our new neighbours and hit the motorway. We cross the bridge again, its free this way,ha, back through Slovania and into Italy. 8 hours later we make camp just south of Ravenna  but up in the hills. Its one of those sites you just cant get comfortable in so we head south again in the morning.

Beautiful bay at Njivice

Created for sunbathing, perfect on a hot day

June 2016: Croatia

We leave our campsite near Rovinja and head further south below Pula. Originally we where going across to the islands but like it here so best to check it out further. Our destination is near Medulin and a camp site off the beaten track but on the coast and a superb bay amongst towering pines and rocky coast line. The coast is amazing, to have a boat would be incredible, there are a lot of big yachts that come in during the evenings and anchor. Again we find some people that want to chat and help us find the right spot. The weather is nice and we drag our sun beds down to the water. Positioned on the rocks, inches from the water and no one else around it is perfect. We both swim after buying appropiate foot wear and the water is cold but refreshing. We need the foot wear as the sea bed is rocky and has heaps of sea shells attached. In Aus and NZ these would have been stripped clean. Its very nice here and we stay 3 days soaking it in, the only issue it seems is that Croatia is more expensive than where we have been and the produce is ordinary. Seems strange considering the landscape looks rich and suitable for farming, maybe we are looking in the wrong spot. The weather again comes in and the forecasts are not great but we head off hopeful of fairer weather further south.

 

 

 

June 2016: Croatia part 1

We make our way from the top of Italy, stopping first at an Italian supermarket to top up on essentials like Gin and Wine. We pass through the border with Slovenia and head across to Croatia. Not sure if I’m supposed to buy a motorway pass called a vignette or not so I buy one anyway at 15 Euro for 7 days. I work out in the next 10 minutes I’ve bought a car one not a motor home one even though I asked is this for a motor home, of course he nodded. We toss-up should we change it? how much hassle is that going to be? Who is going to check? Bloody hell the stress of travelling, oops sorry, best to chill out and see what happens. We pass through the passport control and cruise through the toll gates which are closed and reach Croatia realizing I didn’t need one at all, bugger 15 Euro wasted there. We drive past Trieste on the motorway high above the city and the bay, amazing views from the road. Following the coast we head towards Rovinja and a site just past there, about 20km. Croatia so far seems more rustic and there is less traffic. Our site is off-road a bit and we make camp at a nice spot, many trees and a gorgeous bay, rocky but with pebble beaches. It’s a really nice spot, we make friends quickly, even though it’s a nod and a laugh once they know we are from Aus. Funny how some people just want to say hello and chat, it’s not normal unfortunately. We have many chats with this group of older Italians and Austrians and feel welcome for it. Some of you will know through Vics posts that this is where I saw more than I needed to. There was a track that left the camp site and headed along the coast so I figured I would see where it went, hoping it was a short cut to the town of Rovinja. It was a rough track more for mountain bikes really and after a bit I entered another camp site. I’m sure it was about 100m or so and I looked to my left at the water and thought did that person have a top on? Another 50m and there are 4 older people having a chat on the path, no bloody clothes on and a lot of flesh showing, oh crap it’s a nudist camp, need to turn around quick and get the hell out of here pronto, which I did with my eyes closed. We head into Rovinja the next day, via taxi as there is no bus apparently. Rovinja is a very old port and the original old part is stunning. We watch a cruise ship and its ferries streaming towards us and before you know it we are surrounded by them,all poms I think. Still its a beautiful spot and well worth visiting if you get the chance. The rain came just after lunch so we grabbed a cab back to the site. We have been here 4 nights and the urge to move is on so we pack up and head off further south, but not far only an hour with a Lidl (like Aldi) stop on the way. The header picture is the town of Rovinja looking back from the north side, it is magnificent and the views from these houses are to die for. The campanile that you see proudly stands at the hills peak with a magnificent church below.

Our first view of Croatia coast at dusk

Just need a sunbed and I will be right

The water is green and clear, but cold, perfect though

Rovinja, a beautiful village.

World War 2 machine gun bunker

 

May 2016: Italy, Sistiana

We make our way from Chioggia on the motorway, skirting Venice to a spot perched above the cliffs at Sistiana, not a long drive, generally a maximum of 2 hours is enough, were not in a hurry. It’s an easy drive on the highway and Vic falls asleep as no navigating is required for an hour or so. I have to admit that it’s a lot less stressful driving on the motorway, plenty of room for a big van. I am used to driving all over and in different vehicles but the big mirrors on these throw you out with dimensions and its taking a while to get used to it. The weather is not great but does clear a bit in the afternoon so we can get outside. As all would be aware Europe is enduring a lot of rain and it is dampening just about everywhere we can go. Just as well we are not in France, the Poms that arrive tell us the French have gone on strike and no petrol. We walk to the port of Sistiana and further to a new development literally built into the rock face and containing a new harbour. First impressions are amazing but realize its a bit clinical and stark and made for money and a bit elitist. Check the photos out. We stay 2 nights and then head off to Croatia via Slovenia.

haircut done and dusted!

Built into the rock face with natural rock from the site

All set with BBQ fired up

 

May 2016: Choggia Italy

We head off from Lake Garda on Monday with our immediate destination a Hymer service affiliate near Vincenza. We needed a micro switch for our kitchen tap and not being in Germany we searched for Italy resellers. Sent them an email but no response so it’s a trip with fingers crossed. Its bloody closed, on a Monday, why are we surprised, it happens in Italy with regular occurrence. Not much we can do, no idea when they will open again, so we head off to Chioggia and sort this minor problem out later. I’ve always had an urge to come here to Chioggia, I think somewhere I read its like Venice but without the tourists. Sure it has minor similarities with Venice but no it’s not a small Venice. We camp on the beach side at Sottomarina in a really nice site, family owned for 50 years and it shows. Across the road the beaches are all private, you pay for the chairs, umbrellas and change rooms…. really people pay? Hard to take when you have millions of miles of free beaches at home. This place must be mad in summer, you can tell by the number of car parking areas, huge empty restaurants and of course the millions of umbrellas on the beach. My advice is don’t come here in summer unless you love 2 million Italians going crazy all day and night. We get an unexpected bonus as Vic finds a hairdresser and comes out happy with the result, happy days. Still Venice calls and we head off one morning with a slow ferry across to the minor islands, then a bus along these islands and another ferry, still on the bus and arrive at Lido. Probably should have stayed here for the day but instead we ferry across to St Marks and regardless of the mass tourism it’s still one of the great spots on earth. Trouble is we are not used to being one day tourists and prefer stopping and immersing ourselves in a place so feel a little disappointed as we walk through the streets and eventually catch the bus back to Chioggia. Next morning we can’t decide whether to go or stay. Black clouds loom on the horizon so we quickly pack up and head off, a site near Trieste is calling on our way to Croatia.

A crowded gondola area

Chioggia beach 

What you pay, a lettini is a sun chair.

Nice camp site

May 2016: Italy Lake Garda part 2

Our travels take us along the road edging the lake, through narrow tunnels and small towns plus the standard stop at a Lidl or Simply supermarket. The cost of living here is a lot cheaper than Aus so we stock up.  Our destination is Toscolano Maderno on the lake, an old area with roman ruins, spectacular views and a perfect promenade for a passagiata. We end up staying here a week it’s so perfect. We visit the roman ruins and imagine the huge villa they built here, walk to the top of Maderno and its spectacular views plus generally discover a place we have never been to. Sometimes when you travel you need to stop and absorb the area, some places just draw you in and if your lucky you can stay and chill. Even though we are travelling, normality sets in and we do the normal grocery shopping, washing, cleaning and domestic stuff. That takes us to 10.00 am and then we lie in the sun! Or if its raining we read a book. We do spend many hours walking the amazing pathways around the lake with views to die for, an incredible place. After a week we move on to another part of the lake at Padenghe Sul Garda, a campsite hidden down a vertical road, but once there again superb with its vista. Another place with a great passagiata which we use morning and night for a walk. I am in need of some more camping gear and ask directions to the nearest shop, about 13 km away so I head off on the bike, make some wrong turns and its about 20km by the time I get there. Anyway I think this time I have the right connections for the BBQ? It’s a shorter trip back and I stop at a hardware store and Lidl to get stock. Bugger the connection doesn’t fit our gas, this BBQ seems to be jinxed?  We leave after 4 nights and head further to the south end of the lake past Sirmione. We find a great enoteca and stock up on wine direct from the vats, $2 a litre can’t go wrong. The rain is back after a day of sunshine and we hunker down in the van plotting our next move.

Magic camp site

What a view!

Sun worshippers

View from Roman ruins

May 2016: Lake Garda Italy Part 1

We head through Germany from Munich, past Innsbruck and the towering alps, through a small section of Austria and into Italy. We hit the motorway and sunshine is in our site. Unfortunately also the police are too, they pull us over and a fine eventuate’s from not having a sign over the bikes on the rear as required in Italy, pay now its 60 Euro, OK no problem. We buy the sign and attach it straight away. Did wonder why we saw these at times through Germany and France. Anyway we move on and head towards Lake Garda, it’s a Sunday and the roads are packed as we drive through the amazing Dolomites, winding our way to the top of the lake. It’s a crawl but allows us to view the incredible views down from the mountains to the lake. We arrive at Linfano and camp at a packed site that is a bit above our budget, but no more driving so this will do. It’s obvious that wind surfing is big here, we are surrounded by wind surfers and their gear and the crowd is a lot younger than we are used to. The views are amazing and check out the photos attached. I feel its a bit like being in St Kilda or Bondi, too cool for me but Vic loves the shops! We love the spot but best to move on to a cheaper and less crowded area.

Magical

and again… magical

view from our site

want to move there?

May 2016:Germany the Alps

deanandvicsblog

The weather was turning as we left Rothenburg and made our way further along the German romantic road heading south. We were given a tip on a place below the alps that was set in an idyllic campsite at a bargain price. Mention bargain and I’m off there, so we headed off to Obertsdorf in south Bavaria. Once we reached the start of the alps the scenery was amazing, snow-capped mountains surround us as we made our way through the myriad of small ski towns along the way. Found our site ok, special price didnt eventuate so we stayed the one night. Unfortunately the weather caught up with us and rain started again as we left and headed towards the famous town of Fussen. When its pouring with rain there is not a lot you can do, shop for some groceries I suppose, not too exciting but you have to…

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