Thursday, 28 June 2012
28th June 2012
Thursday 21 June and we have
travelled to the end of the Romantische Strasse (Romantic Road) in Germany. We
are at the end because we are going from the end at Fussen in the south to the
start at Wurzburg in the north. We have stopped for the night at Hopfensee just
outside Fussen at an all singing all dancing campsite which cost 38€ a night.
This is the only campsite in the area and we had to use a washing machine for
the wet clothes and carpets etc.
Friday we visited the fairy tale castle of
Neuschwanstein and in true Griswald style the turrets are covered in
scaffolding so sorry no pictures of the beautiful castle. We took the tour of
the castle after walking a mile uphill to get there. The castle is actually
only around 140 years old and only four rooms were ever completed. The building work started in 1869 and King
Ludwig 11 moved into his completed rooms in 1884 and only lived in the castle
for 172 days when he was declared to be mad and sent to a mental hospital where
he died two days later. The building works stopped the day he died so the
castle was never completed. We stopped for the night at a stellplatz (freebie)
in Friedburg.
Saturday we headed for Munich and
on the way we went to Dachau Concentration Camp. Don’t know what to say here as
I still can’t get my head around it all. This was the first camp built and was
an SS training ground. The camp was built and in use from 1933 until 1945 and
there were 27 Britons held at the camp. In total the records show that more
than 200,000 people were held here but there were many more which were not
recorded and the total of deaths is unkown. We had an excellent guide who was born in the
town of Dachau and has met many camp survivors and was able to relay their
terrible experiences to us. The sheer horror of what went on here is felt
throughout the camp as you walk amongst the buildings and the crematoriums. The
purpose built killing place is hard to describe and is hard to believe that
somebody thought up all these punishments and means of killing people. I am
still quite upset writing this and still can’t believe what I had seen. We carried on to Munich city to
the campsite and I managed to programme the sat nav twice to the wrong place
but got it right the third time. Couldn’t think straight.
Sunday we headed for the city.
When we arrived at the centre there was a fun run on so a lot of the streets
were closed off. We watched the Glockenspiel clock strike at 12 noon on the
carillion tower in Marionplatz then we went to a Greek/Austrian festival and
then passing a few more sights we ended up at the Hofbrauhaus beer hall where
pork knuckles and dumplings were ordered along with some black beer, yummy. More
sightseeing and on to the English Gardens. There is a river runs through the
gardens and as it passes through a bridge the speed of the water is so great
that there are people surfing on the wave caused by the turbulance. More beer
at the Chinesisscher Turm beer garden whilst listening to the brass band
playing, then the day is over all too quickly and we head back to the campsite.
Monday we stopped at a
stellplatz at Sulzemoos which was right next to a huge motor home dealership.
We spent the afternoon looking round brand new Concord Motorhomes, which cost
around 200,000 €. Pity we haven’t won the lottery. Tuesday we head off to
Donauworth and again stop on a stellplatz and have a wonder around the town.
This was described as having the most beautiful road along the
Romantischstrasse, still looking for it! Wednesday we have arrived in
Rothenburg ob der Tauber now this is a place worth visiting, it is really
pretty. The buildings here are so oldie worldy and the whole town is enclosed
within medieval walls and ramparts which you can still access. Today we have only gone 13km to Geslau to a
campsite to do the washing and have a proper shower and tomorrow we are going
back to Rothenburg to a folk and beer festival.
TTFN
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Dooms Day
Monday 18 June and we are
travelling to Salzburg. The quickest way to Salzburg from Innsbruck is to cut
through Germany. We had a small panic because we kept seeing signs to get a vignette
for the motorways, which we thought meant the German motorways, so we stopped
at a big service station that was advertising them for sale. We then realised
that it was the same vignette that we had already bought and that you don’t
need them in Germany, they just fleece you at the toll booth instead. Arrived
at Camping Sam in Salzburg quite late in the afternoon, as we had had to sit in
a traffic jam for over an hour. First thing we did was book the Sound of Music
Tour for the next day. Kev had not seen the film the whole way through so we
borrowed a copy from the site owner to watch in the evening. After watching all
the extras Kev is now an expert on the Family Von Trapp. I’m going to put him
forward for Mastermind.
Tuesday we had a really good day,
in the morning we did the Sound of Music Tour and in the afternoon we went down
a salt mine.
Wednesday started out good, the
sun was shining and all was well with the world. I spotted a black squirrel
looking so cute and called Kev over to have a look, you can hear the soothing
music playing as we watched the little squirrel nibbling his nuts when out of
nowhere came a big ginger cat which killed the squirrel. That was the start of
the day of doom when I nearly died, that may be a slight exaggeration. Anyhoo
off we went for a nice cycle into Salzburg, only 4k along a lovely riverside
cycle path. Went to more Sound of Music sights and a wander round the old town
then onto the highlight of the day the Augustiner Bier gardens. The beer was
great and the selection of food available was from whole trout to pork hocks, rotisserie
chickens, prawns in batter 40 different salad accompaniments, various sausages
and so it goes on. After our second beer the thunder started and then the
heavens opened. Salzburg had the worst rainfall in an hour since records began. Most of the cellars in Salzberg were flooded and water was coming back up the toilets. Funnily enough I had asked at reception where we should go should we get lost “no
problem there just follow the cycle path” I was told. We waited an hour at the
beer garden with no sign of the rain stopping so we decided we would just have
to get wet on the cycle home. Off we set laughing to start with at how wet we
were and how funny it was cycling through huge puddles of warm water. We got so
far on the cycle path and then we came to a barrier blocking the path but
because we didn’t know any other way to get back we thought it couldn’t be that
bad so we started along the path. Now I know you’re all saying “that was a
stupid thing to do when the barrier was down”. Well yes I do agree with you in
hind sight it was really really stupid. When I had cycled up to my waist in
water and then couldn’t peddle anymore, and also couldn’t see the cycle track,
I decided that we might be in serious danger of being washed away, so I quickly
turned my bike round shouting to Kev not to come any further. Yes notice I had
to go into the water first. As I got off my bike to turn it round I lost my
flip flop but managed to catch it as it came to the surface and floated by.
Still lashing rain, thunder and lightning we continued onto a road but had no
idea where we were or how to get back to the campsite. Now remember I did ask
in case we got lost how to get back. We stopped at a hotel and dripped puddles
all over the reception and a really nice carpet, there were 3 people telling us
different ways which was not very helpful. So we carried on, in the rain,
thunder and lightning until we came to a service station where again we dripped
puddles everywhere. Again their directions seemed to be useless to two people
on bicycles. We made a decision to leave the bikes at the garage and get a taxi
but a very nice lady gave us a lift back, also the nice man at the garage gave
me a dry t-shirt as I looked like I had just won the wet t-shirt competition.
And no it doesn’t end there!!!!! I had left a roof window open when we left in
the morning as the temperature was 32 degrees but that was the least of our
worries because when we got back to the campsite where we were parked was
flooded. It was about 18 inches deep and almost into Blossom. So we unplugged
the electricity cable in all that water and moved Blossom to higher ground. I
have a basin which I keep my plants in and it was floating about the pitch. We
then had to mop up all the water inside put the soaking carpets outside and
eventually have a cuppa and off to bed. That was some day.
TTFN
Sunday, 17 June 2012
17 June 2012
Leaving Italy behind we crossed the border into Austria at
Brenner and headed for Innsbruck. The weather was again really unkind to us and
as we were heading through the mountains Kev had to tape up the roof light to
keep the torrential rain out.
When we
arrived at the site at Natters the staff couldn’t have been more helpful
providing us with silicone and a ladder to repair the roof light. This site is
fantastic, I think I have been away too long now as I get excited about really
nice shower blocks and if there’s a good washing machine. The showers are the
nicest we have seen, so far, so nice you want to stay in them for ages instead
of the usual hurry in and out again.
There is a cinema room which opens up so that it is open air, a viewing
deck where you can sit and watch the sunset over the Alps also a free bus
service to Innsbruck. Our pitch has a view over the lake which is stocked with
huge carp, catfish, terrapins, tadpoles and other fish. There is also another
swimming lake but it is also full of tadpoles and not sure what else so I won’t
be going for a dip here.
On Thursday we took the bus to Innsbruck and went to the old
town for a wander about. The most famous landmark here is the Goldenes Dachl, a
building with a golden roof, but of course it was covered up for renovations,
typical. For lunch I had to try the Wiener schnitzel and Kev had the pork hock
accompanied by some really nice beer.
After lunch we took a cable car to the top of Hafelekarspitze, a mere
2334m above the city of Innsbruck. The views were stunning. There was still
some snow at the top so I didn’t manage to go right to the top as my trainers
kept slipping. Kev carried on up to the summit in his crocks, shorts and
t-shirt after all it was like a summers day in Aberdeen at the top, 15degrees.
While I was waiting for Kev a glider came round the corner of the mountain only
about 50 feet away at the same height as I was standing. The sound it made was
really weird as the wind passed over the wings, quite earie as that was all you
could hear up there apart from the bells on the mountain goats.
We had only planned to stay for 2 nights but we are enjoying
the peace and quiet and facilities on this site and have decided to stay until
Monday and then we are heading for Salzburg. The weather has changed and it has
been about 30 degrees on Friday, Saturday and today so we are topping up the
tans.
TTFN
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
12 June 2012
Saturday 2 June
Moving north again we travelled to Casenuove, near to Osimo,
and stayed on another vineyard, Monte Torto.
Our hosts were just on their way out but told us to park beside the
vineyard and to make ourselves at home and to use the garden area if we wanted.
The workers had all gone home and we had the place to ourselves. The vineyard
is at the top of a hill, so peaceful and with stunning views. Firstly we had
tea in the courtyard and then I lazed about in the hammock, well you only have
to tell us once to make ourselves at home.
Sunday, another MotoGP, so we headed for Urbino the
birthplace of Valentino Rossi, Kev’s hero. Urbino is a small hilltop village
with some beautiful architecture. We had some lunch and watched the race. There
was a farmers market in the square where I tried some ice cream with cheese on
top. Sounds weird but actually tasted quite nice. We found out that the
Official Rossi Fan Club was in the town where Valentino now lives at Tavullia,
about 40K away, so off we went to Tavullia. Well where else would you join the
fan club but at the head office. Kev is
now a member of the Valentino Rossi Official Fan Club, he looked so chuffed. Of
course we then had to go next door to the shop and buy some merchandise. We
carried on to Montecolmbo, near to Riccione, and stayed on another
farm/vineyard which had a restaurant so we decided to eat there. The food was
delicious. There were 4 tables, us a table of 4 a table of 9 and the family
table and we all ate the same meal and drank the wine made on the vineyard. I
bought some wine and some home produced honey from the cantina (farm shop).
Monday we headed towards Venice, it was quite a long drive
and there was torrential rain again. We headed for a site at Sottomarina, next
to Chioggia at the other end of the bay from Venice. We found out that you
could catch a ferry from the port at Sottomarina to Venice and we were told the
journey would only take an hour so rather than drive further up the coast we
opted for the ferry. Tuesday we went for
a cycle around Chioggia and on Wednesday we took the ferry to Venice. The ferry
left at 9am and we had a 20min cycle to get there, bit of a shock to the system
because we don’t normally get up until about 9am. The trip took 2 hours so we
arrived in Venice at 11am. The ferry journey was good though as it stayed close
to the coast there was plenty to see and of course the sun was shining. Firstly we went for a look around to get our
bearings and then went for a gondola ride, well you have to don’t you. We decided
to share the gondola as it worked out a good bit cheaper. We then walked round
St Marks square and had a look round the shops. I had wanted to go to Murano to
get a small piece of glass as a souvenir of Italy but we opted to look for a
piece in the shops at St Marks as we didn’t think we had time to go to
Murano. When I say I wanted a small
piece that’s what I got as the glass is so expensive. We then took a Vaporetto,
water bus, up the Grand Canal and back down again and that was all we really
had time to do as the queues to get into the tower, basilica and palace were so
long we didn’t have the time to queue. I didn’t think that Venice was as dirty
and smelly as people have said but maybe in the height of summer it is.
Thursday, headed for Lake Garda and stopped overnight at
another vineyard, Costodoro at Bardolino, west of Verona. We drove through
Verona, as I had wanted to go to Casa di Giulietta to stand on Juliet’s
balcony, but we were unable to find a parking space so we carried on to the
vineyard. When we got up on Friday
morning we went to the cantina and had a wine tasting and ended up buying 12
bottles of wine, well it was really nice and a bargain.
On Friday we moved to Camping Bella Italia, at Peschiera and
our pitch is about 20 meters from the lake itself. We got the second last
available pitch and there were still people queuing up after us. The site has
1200pitches, Restaurants, shops, you name it they’ve got it, it’s like a small
village.
Saturday we cycled to Peschiria and had a look around and
tried to get information regarding a trip around the lake by boat. Amazingly
there are no such trips. You can get a ferry to Riva at the other end of the
lake but it costs about 60€. The weather here is really muggy and visibility is
hampered by the haze so if we took the trip we wouldn’t see much of the scenery
anyway so we decided not to do this today.
Sunday the rain was on again so we just stayed on site.
Monday we travelled to Roncegno, just east of Trento, and
stayed at Agriture Montibeller in a cherry orchard. The cherries were within
picking distance of where we parked so of course we picked a small basket of
fresh cherries. The farm also produces apple juice, herbal tea infusions, jams
and cider vinegar. These are all sold in the farm restaurant. During the night
we had another thunder storm and it rained the whole night and was still
pouring when we left. We were told that the rain has ruined most of the cherry
crop as the rain splits the cherries and then they can only be used for jam.
Today it has rained all day. We have travelled further north
of Trento through the Dolomites passing through Bolanzo then Brunico and ending
up at Monguelfo. The drive was really nice, the countryside changed to steep
hillsides covered with vines and dotted on the hillside are alpine style
chalets. The churches all have spires instead of domes and there were some
spectacular castles on the tops of the hills. Once we got to the site I
discovered that the rear roof light was leaking all over the duvets. As there
has been no let up in the rain we have put a tarpaulin over the roof until we
get a dry spell to re seal the window. When I get home I am going to apply for
a job selling lucky white heather.
Next blog from Austria, I hope.
TTFN
Thursday, 7 June 2012
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