Buona Sera to All,
Today we left Italy, but not intentionally, we ended up wandering across the border into Austria so we thought we might as well stay a day or two, then roll back over again back to Italy. We found a campsite, then hopped to it, (this is also in the DOLOMITES region) and after a bit of research we found that we could get on our bikes and ride 25 klms into LIENZ, in Austria.
Mind you it was just about all slightly down hill coasting, fantastic. We then, after a snack for lunch, caught the train back to Tassenbach, our campsite, 4 euros for the bikes,11.40 euros for us, great. T .Lee, in keeping with tradition had a Bratwurst sausage & Pommes for lunch!
The campsite we were in said at the entry GUTE FAHRT CAMPING, worth a giggle seeing our German wasn’t all that good.
While on this subject, I forgot to tell you that to use the toilet at the Venice station costs 1.5 euros! What a way to make money, the queues were unbelievably long, great business venture, the bladder pays.
Next day we rode 26klms in the opposite direction - we actually rode back over the border again into Italy, the only reason we knew were the flags on people’s poles had changed again, and Terry’s phone beeped to let us know. No train back this time, the chain came off Terry’s bike once again, it doesn’t like changing down gears (anyway a breather, and everything covered in grease,) chain back on and off we go again, (disposable gloves do help when you remember to put them in the backpack along with your own toilet paper). We made it back to H.H..
The following day I rode into a town called SILLIAN to Aldi, as I was riding through some back streets to find the bike track again there is an almighty LOUD siren going off, it actually frightened me as there was no one around, I peddled quickly to see if anybody was about, it was deafening, it sounded like (the movies) an AIR-RAID SIREN ! Honestly, scary! I turned another corner and found people just strolling about, so I took a couple of deep breaths and cycled back to H.H. There are a few different languages spoken in this area, also dialects which are very hard to try an understand. It’s also a bit of disappointment driving along when you change countries, as you only see a small E.U flag which is mid blue with yellow stars in a circle and the countries name in the middle.
I would like to have a bit more pizazz and fanfare, saying welcome, you are now entering e.g. Italy. Austria, Germany etc. with their national flag flying, the E.U keeps this very discreet, I would like a “Kodak” moment especially for us tourists.
After a few days of pottering around we end up at ANDOLA, a ski resort town.
Climbing a couple of thousand feet high in H.H., with narrow winding roads. Yikes!
We end up at a lake, the view is beautiful, but we can't get to our destination as the entry gates are malfunctioning so no access, all is not lost, we end up parking in a unopened ski resort (in-between seasons) for the night F.O.C.
Heading South we arrive at VERONA - Shakespeare set Romeo & Juliet here. This is supposed to be Italy’s romantic city or otherwise known as little Roma. We had a look at the Arena, it’s the 3rd largest Amphitheatre still in existence, it’s wonderful for the Opera lovers, we had great walk around the town. Even the local Police drive Alpha Romeo’s.
Moseying on down to TUSCANY - Florence, whoever put this motorway together must of been drawing doodles on the surveyors chart, we have never been in so many circles! Around and round we go and finally arrive in Firenze. We park and leave H.H. Poor old boy is looking a bit weather beaten, we parked in a Sostas under a tree - he’s stained all over with leaf dirt after raining all night - he needs a bath/shower urgently. We walk for a couple of hours around the city and back over again on the PONTE VECCHIO, the extraordinary amount of Jewellery shops and tourists was mind boggling.
Most of the bridges were destroyed in WW 2 bar this one, it was built in the 14th century ( quite old don’t you think) and I cannot go without talking about the statues …….in the piazzas……incredible.
I don’t think anyone kept there clothes/toga's on in those days….most had them draped precariously around some parts of their bodies or maybe they were just a load of exibitionists, but seriously, a georgeous city full of life, traffic, fashion and naughty statues. The Medici family ruled here for along time their history of course is unbelievable.There are countless Museums, Galleries with long queues, you have to prepare for a long wait or pre-book. It was 27 degrees today Autumn in Italy hot & humid.
And of course being in Florence, we had to have a Pizza!
H.H. finally got his shower today, trouble is finding a Lovaggio for his height, he’s all shiny again and looking loved again (it was a bit embarrassing to see him like this).
All the campsites are slowly closing down and we were the only ones there for the night and had the place to ourselves. Along with the beach!
I also forgot to tell you (see all these little snippets keep coming back to me when I least expect it - so here goes), with Prosecco wines, the tradition is to plant a Rose Bush at the beginning of the row of vines, this apparently imparts a flavour to the grapes, da dah!!!! It’s true……I’m not sure about all the weeds that we have seen in other vineyards in passing, anyway I will let you know. I was given a bottle from a very nice Italian man, Amos, which I will chill & open for my birthday.
CORTONA - A classic hilltop town about 1000ft above sea level. Gorgeous touristy region full of Olive Trees in abundance farmed and wild along the side of the road, lots of local cars with scrapes & dings, if you saw the alleyways the locals have to negotiate its no wonder, lots of restaurants, local produce,local wine tastings & clothing, we ate some walnuts that we picked up from the ground, yum!!
On the road again, and over the last couple of weeks, I wish I had counted the amount of Tunnels we have been through, Italy is full of them, as a lot of the areas are very mountainous. These are not my favourite part of the road, I do take my mind of them by giving them a rating, e.g. bad lighting, shabby inside, not enough escape exits, I just cringe when I see water and broken down cement on the road, and some are very new, I guess that's what we pay lots of tolls for our journey.
GROTTE DI FRASASSI - Wow!!!! This area is where a 30 klm length of limestone caves were discovered in about 1971. This has the most extraordinary Stalagmites & Stalactites We went on the 1hr English speaking guided tour, but her Italian accent was so strong we could hardly understand a word. Hopefully the pictures will tell the story.
I would highly recommend this site, it beats Disneyland, Fantasyland. Your imagination runs wild with all the shapes & massive sizes, the calcium carbonate just glistens and sparkles. If there is a breeze down there the constant drips of water take on many shapes. It’s a constant 14 degrees. We were wondering what it would be like if the power went down. LIGHTS OUT!!!! ( not my ideal situation, as you know my thoughts on tunnels). But, I did happen to have a little torch in my bag, I could have sold it to the highest bidder…..anyway I digress!!!! Once you walk inside there are 2 huge electronic doors that seal the inside to the caves. I guess to stop any birds flying in, or people who haven’t paid. I think I might be a tad claustrophobic, don’t you !!!!!!!!
Most campsite are closed/closing now for the season. Most coastal & touristy ones are like ghost towns, no one around, shutters closed. We have been the only ones there, it’s like everybody has gone to another planet and not told us.
Today is my B. Day so we started off with all good intentions, and a plan, i.e. the day did not go to the original plan !!!! I enjoyed the ride, T. Lee was just a little frustrated. H.H. well, he just did what he was told!!. The plan was to end up at a hilltop location, with a restaurant and parking for the night. First of all the G.P.S. took us to a private house on a hill, at least the lady was quite helpful ( I don’t now what she thought was going on, when we pulled into her driveway). We were on the wrong side of the HILL !! Finally we find it and IT”S CLOSED !! Anyway I won’t tire you with all the details, but after many attempts & consulting with our camping books ( 4 more locations) which all were closed, we had to give up and ended up down at a beach promenade, got the chairs out, the drinks had chilled, and had a lovely end to the day.
Editor’s Note: This was a “no makeup day”!
Terry cooked Paella (not very Italian), we sat outside with the mozzies and watched the sunset - what more could an old girl want?????? End of story. P.S. we had 31 degrees today, HOT!!
We are now moving on and have reached the “instep” of Italy on our way to Sicily.
Ciao from the H.H crew. XXXX
