Sat in Dunkerque ferry port composing this final blog.
On Sunday evening we arrived in Belgium in the pouring rain again…our holiday joke, we’re in Belgium, it must be raining! Our campsite was very close to the Luxembourg border. At 6.00pm on Sunday evening we went out to get some bread, having been given directions by our campsite owner. We drove through farmland, through a couple of small villages and suddenly came to an out of town retail park just inside the Luxembourg border on the edge of a small village. It was quite a surreal experience. As well as bread and fuel we could have bought watches, cameras, clothes…a complete duty free shopping experience!
Monday morning and rain again as we packed up and drove up through Belgium to Bruges. This is a major European lorry route (from the ferry ports at Dunkerque, Oostend and Zeebrugge down into central Europe) and the Brussels ring road motorway was like one giant lorry traffic jam…worse than the M5/M6 interchange at Birmingham.
Finally arrived in Bruges at 4.30 and had a pleasant few hours there wandering around and having a spot of dinner of course! We know the City quite well having spent a long weekend there before and it was good to see the sights again…a very pretty place (but no photographs, we have so many from last time).
A short final drive to Dunkerque and a stopover for a couple of hours at a service station. Bit scary as a prospective illegal immigrant was wandering around trying to see if there were any open vehicles he could get into. The French police having coffee nearby weren’t at all bothered…not their problem!
Anyway, Ferry is just pulling out now and we’ll be back in Cardiff by lunch so a final Auf Wiedersehen!
A & H
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Sunday 29 August 2010 – 10.45 am
Enjoyed two nice days in Germany alongside Lake Constance. Weather has been a bit mixed, rain and sunny spells…quite a contrast to Thursday….but it hasn’t stopped us enjoying ourselves.
On Friday we took a boat trip across the lake to the small town of Uberlingen where we had the most fabulous afternoon ice creams in a very fancy tea house. Lots of very nice hotels, restaurants and cafés along the waterfront and a pretty tourist town.
Then a fish supper from the village (Dinglesdorf) fish shop…beautiful pink trout to follow herrings in dill. We are both very impressed with the quality of the food here, fantastic meats, fish and the wine is pretty good as well.
Yesterday we did some cycling around the local villages (there are miles and miles of cycle tracks through woods and across open farmland here) and then dinner at a local guesthouse restaurant with lots of local dishes to choose from.
Today we are on the road again, driving up through South West Germany (Stuggart, Karhlsrue, Saarbrucken) and into southern Belgium where we are staying the night. Tomorrow we will have a short drive up to Bruges and then spend the day there before getting the 2.00am Tuesday ferry back to Dover.
On Friday we took a boat trip across the lake to the small town of Uberlingen where we had the most fabulous afternoon ice creams in a very fancy tea house. Lots of very nice hotels, restaurants and cafés along the waterfront and a pretty tourist town.
Then a fish supper from the village (Dinglesdorf) fish shop…beautiful pink trout to follow herrings in dill. We are both very impressed with the quality of the food here, fantastic meats, fish and the wine is pretty good as well.
Yesterday we did some cycling around the local villages (there are miles and miles of cycle tracks through woods and across open farmland here) and then dinner at a local guesthouse restaurant with lots of local dishes to choose from.
Today we are on the road again, driving up through South West Germany (Stuggart, Karhlsrue, Saarbrucken) and into southern Belgium where we are staying the night. Tomorrow we will have a short drive up to Bruges and then spend the day there before getting the 2.00am Tuesday ferry back to Dover.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Thursday 26 August 9.45 pm
And so we are in Germany and it is sehr gut!
This evening we have discovered a new culinary delicacy while cooking from the van...rice and pickled red cabbage with pork. This was my attempt to inject a German flavour into our cooking and it was surprisingly good.
We are staying at a village called Dinglesdorf on Lake Konstanz (Sundersee in german) and have had a superb day. Our regulation 65m camping pitch is very nice and the campsite facilities are (as you would expect) very clean, ordered and efficient...you have a 3 minute shower with 1 minute timed intervals so you can wash in and organised and timely way!
We are right alongside the lake and a public beach which is actually more like a public park with sports areas, changing facilities, bar etc, again all very ordered and well presented. There is a lot of sailing here and several marinas with biergartens alongside so Adrian is in his element.
Today has been nicely hot (29c) and sunny. Having had an interesting shopping trip on our bicycles this morning (lots of bicycle paths, cycle racks outside all the shops etc) we have spent the day lazing around, swimming, eating and reading (see pictures below).
Tomorrow all will change. The weather forecast is for rain and for the temperature to drop to 16c for the next two days, so time to get the jumpers out and to do some sightseeing (Konstanz or Uberlingen) we have hardly done any this holiday.
We are here until Sunday and then travel up for a final day in Belgium on Monday before getting the ferry home.
See you soon.
This evening we have discovered a new culinary delicacy while cooking from the van...rice and pickled red cabbage with pork. This was my attempt to inject a German flavour into our cooking and it was surprisingly good.
We are staying at a village called Dinglesdorf on Lake Konstanz (Sundersee in german) and have had a superb day. Our regulation 65m camping pitch is very nice and the campsite facilities are (as you would expect) very clean, ordered and efficient...you have a 3 minute shower with 1 minute timed intervals so you can wash in and organised and timely way!
We are right alongside the lake and a public beach which is actually more like a public park with sports areas, changing facilities, bar etc, again all very ordered and well presented. There is a lot of sailing here and several marinas with biergartens alongside so Adrian is in his element.
Today has been nicely hot (29c) and sunny. Having had an interesting shopping trip on our bicycles this morning (lots of bicycle paths, cycle racks outside all the shops etc) we have spent the day lazing around, swimming, eating and reading (see pictures below).
Tomorrow all will change. The weather forecast is for rain and for the temperature to drop to 16c for the next two days, so time to get the jumpers out and to do some sightseeing (Konstanz or Uberlingen) we have hardly done any this holiday.
We are here until Sunday and then travel up for a final day in Belgium on Monday before getting the ferry home.
See you soon.
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Wednesday 25 August 12.00pm
We're on the road again!
Left Feriolo (lake Magiore)this morning and had a lovely drive along the lake shore in glorious weather. We have had a fab time in Italy and are sad to leave. Great meal last night in a classy restaurant where we were shown photos of Richard Burton and Liz Taylor visiting for dinner in the 1960s. Then I managed to offend the owner when I said it was a nice restaurant for locals (I think he wanted me to say that people must come up from Milan to eat at his superb restaurant but it got a bit lost in translation or the Grappa or both).
Anyway we're now in Switzerland up in the mountains about to go into the St Gottard tunnel we'll be in Germany in time for a spot of afternoon tea?
Arrivideci Italy
Left Feriolo (lake Magiore)this morning and had a lovely drive along the lake shore in glorious weather. We have had a fab time in Italy and are sad to leave. Great meal last night in a classy restaurant where we were shown photos of Richard Burton and Liz Taylor visiting for dinner in the 1960s. Then I managed to offend the owner when I said it was a nice restaurant for locals (I think he wanted me to say that people must come up from Milan to eat at his superb restaurant but it got a bit lost in translation or the Grappa or both).
Anyway we're now in Switzerland up in the mountains about to go into the St Gottard tunnel we'll be in Germany in time for a spot of afternoon tea?
Arrivideci Italy
Monday, 23 August 2010
Monday 23 August 2010 - 8.00 am
Well, a very full day yesterday! Swimming and shopping and reading in the morning, lunching, sleeping, canoeing and cycling in the afternoon. Weather was absolutely stunning yesterday, nearly 30c and no clouds in sight.
We caught up with our local water rat yesterday and my fears of water rats (at least have been partly resolved). We were paddling back into our little creek after canoeing and there he was sat on a tree branch. He looked quite cute for a rat! Helen would have stayed there all afternoon watching him but after 4 pictures and 5 minutes I got bored (nature was never really my thing!)
Had supper "in" last night, a superb sausage pasta dish if I say so myself! (Gino D'A Campo style) Afterwards walked into Feriolo to get an ice cream. This is starting to become a regular night time treat. They have a superb ice cream parlour on the front with an amazing selection. Last night it was chocolate and amaretto - yummy.
Have a nice day (Buona giornata)
P.S. from Helen.
With typical British timidity I finally plucked up courage to erect a washing line and display our drying clothes to the world, set of to the laundry and when I came backn a half hour later some Germans had put there towells on it!!! Outragous.
We caught up with our local water rat yesterday and my fears of water rats (at least have been partly resolved). We were paddling back into our little creek after canoeing and there he was sat on a tree branch. He looked quite cute for a rat! Helen would have stayed there all afternoon watching him but after 4 pictures and 5 minutes I got bored (nature was never really my thing!)
Have a nice day (Buona giornata)
P.S. from Helen.
With typical British timidity I finally plucked up courage to erect a washing line and display our drying clothes to the world, set of to the laundry and when I came backn a half hour later some Germans had put there towells on it!!! Outragous.
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Saturday 21 August 5.00pm
One day seems to be slipping quite happily into another here by the sunny shores of the lake. Last night there was a flurry of wildlife activity in the creek next to the van, Adrian fascinated to begin with at the thought of an otter swimming nearby, until I told him it was a water rat!!! Amazing how a 6’ 4” man can blanch even under a healthy tan – rattaphobic or what! Never again will he be allowed to criticise when I plead for the removal of a spider from the bath.
Today we have swum in the lake near some swans and paddled the canoe across the lake (about 6 km) in order to build up an appetite for a spot of supper and the inevitable carafe of vino – biggest decision of the day rosso or blanco?
Today we have swum in the lake near some swans and paddled the canoe across the lake (about 6 km) in order to build up an appetite for a spot of supper and the inevitable carafe of vino – biggest decision of the day rosso or blanco?
Friday, 20 August 2010
Friday 20 August 2010 12.00pm
The canoe has had a couple of outings and has worked very well. Yesterday we went swimming from it (bit quieter than the very busy small beaches) and also canoed across a rivermouth (very cold mountain water!) to a small beach on the other side. Here are some photos:
Slight language problem - last night arrived at a pretty local and ordered beer, wine and olives....this is what we got (they weren't even olive flavoured)! Obviously the Italian needs improving.
A little cloudy today and it may rain later but still very warm.
Ciao
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Thursday 19 August 10.30 am
Eating, drinking, cycling, canoeing, swimming, reading, sleeping.....all pretty perfect here.
Weather today lovely and hot and sunny. Fabulous spot of dinner last night
The Italians seem to like british tourists, mainly because there are very few of us and because we're not German or Dutch!
Not much else to report. If you reading this please post a comment so we know your'e out there!
Byeee
Weather today lovely and hot and sunny. Fabulous spot of dinner last night
The Italians seem to like british tourists, mainly because there are very few of us and because we're not German or Dutch!
Not much else to report. If you reading this please post a comment so we know your'e out there!
Byeee
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Wednesday 18 August - 10.00am
What a difference a day makes!
We’re waking up alongside Lake Maggiore to a beautiful sunny day which promises to be nice and warm (26c forecast).
We got here about 6.00pm yesterday evening having travelled down through France and Switzerland (where the scenery was stunning as ever). Helen very amused in France when she saw a sign - “Risque de Bouchon” followed by an unnecessary comment that there was a higher risk of running across a wild pig in the van than one running across the road!!!, & what’s the difference between a Welsh pig and an Italian pig etc. (Adrian ignored these).
The weather got steadily better as we travelled south. It started out very grey at Strausbourg (but at least it had stopped raining) and got brighter as we drove through Switzerland. We went into the St Gottard tunnel (17kms long) and came out into brilliant sunshine. As we drove down from the very high mountains (20 miles of downhill motorway through tunnel after tunnel) it got warmer and warmer.
Italian campsites come as a bit of a shock to the system – very crowded and public, but we have settled in well and have a lovely spot alongside a small creek off the lake. There is a small village nearby and it is quite beautiful with bars and restaurants along the waterfront (we have planned at least 5 meals out already).
Anyway, time for a spot breakfast now!
Ciao
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Tuesday 17 August 12.00
Major technology result. I've managed to get the blog site hooked up on my iPhone so I am sending this from the van while Helen drives. How cutting edge am I? Ade
Monday, 16 August 2010
Tuesday 17 August - 7.00 am
I’ll pleur beaucoup, et beaucoup et beaucoup!!!
Yesterday it rained a lot and we drove through Belgium, how nice!
A long day but we covered a lot of miles. Southern Belgium is the Ardennes and its just mile after mile of rolling wooded hills and deep valleys, pretty in the rain for about 10 mins but after 2 hours a bit boring. Not my idea of the place to launch a major tank offensive in winter to try and rescue the Third Reich, but hey I’m no military genius!
Spent a short time driving across Luxembourg (you couldn’t spend a long time). We congratulated ourselves on filling up with the cheapest petrol in Europe (eur 0.99 litre) but desisted from copying the French and other drivers who had come to fill up rocking their cars from side to side to try and get more petrol into the tank!
We camped overnight in a lovely campsite/small town to the North West of Strasbourg….and it rained all night!! But now its stopped and we’re packing up. Today we drive down around Strasbourg and Colmar, into and across Switzerland and into Italy. We should be at our campsite alongside Lake Maggiorie by 5.00. Photos tomorrow
Ciao
Yesterday it rained a lot and we drove through Belgium, how nice!
A long day but we covered a lot of miles. Southern Belgium is the Ardennes and its just mile after mile of rolling wooded hills and deep valleys, pretty in the rain for about 10 mins but after 2 hours a bit boring. Not my idea of the place to launch a major tank offensive in winter to try and rescue the Third Reich, but hey I’m no military genius!
Spent a short time driving across Luxembourg (you couldn’t spend a long time). We congratulated ourselves on filling up with the cheapest petrol in Europe (eur 0.99 litre) but desisted from copying the French and other drivers who had come to fill up rocking their cars from side to side to try and get more petrol into the tank!
We camped overnight in a lovely campsite/small town to the North West of Strasbourg….and it rained all night!! But now its stopped and we’re packing up. Today we drive down around Strasbourg and Colmar, into and across Switzerland and into Italy. We should be at our campsite alongside Lake Maggiorie by 5.00. Photos tomorrow
Ciao
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Monday 16 August 6.00 am
So off for a 'spot of breakfast' and then outside to see the French coast.appear in the distance. Bonjour.
A&H
Sunday 14 August (10.00pm)
Dear reader
Just arrived outside Dover after a peaceful trip down from Cardiff. We decided to share the driving, then decided to go the Hollybush in Draethen for a spot of lunch on the way (obviously important to have frequent stops on a long journey but stopping after 5 miles might have been a bit premature). Anyway after a good lunch and a couple of pints of Tribune (one of the sailing boys favourites!) Helen ended up doing all of the driving. Result!
Anyway we're all set up for a short night in a motorway service area, leaving here at 4.30 to get the 6.00am ferry.
Goodnight.
A&H
Just arrived outside Dover after a peaceful trip down from Cardiff. We decided to share the driving, then decided to go the Hollybush in Draethen for a spot of lunch on the way (obviously important to have frequent stops on a long journey but stopping after 5 miles might have been a bit premature). Anyway after a good lunch and a couple of pints of Tribune (one of the sailing boys favourites!) Helen ended up doing all of the driving. Result!
Anyway we're all set up for a short night in a motorway service area, leaving here at 4.30 to get the 6.00am ferry.
Goodnight.
A&H
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