Euro Tour Day 5

Stupid helicopters flew all night.

Fantastic day today. We got up late (due to Heli-lag) and took a leisurely drive down to Pisa. The leaning tower is as impressive as you'd expect and more so is the Cathedral in whose walled grounds it stands. The traditional photos of us holding up the tower were snapped and a quick stroll through the grounds and we were off back to the van.

Deciding not to explore the town further we headed on to the medieval town of Lucca whose entire city walls still stand. We walked the 3km around the city walls and then dropped into the cobbled streets below. The town is picturesque with high 14th century buildings leaning over tiny shaded alleys.

We stopped for a glass of OJ in the central piazza where we got chatting to a couple from Argentina who were just finishing their lunch, had half a bottle of chilled Pinot going spare and had a cruise ship to catch. They rather generously offered us the remains of their wine as they rushed off. We accepted and the waitress brought us a large glass which we shared.

Then it was off to the top of the Torre Guinigi which rather bizarrely has a tree growing out of the top. From there the views across the town towards the hills of Tuscany are worth the hard climb.

Then it was back to the van and a short drive up into the hills to a peaceful site with great views of the Tuscany countryside and no helicopters.

Euro Tour Day 4

Mixed day today. We travelled some 200 miles through Italy on the coast road and stopped off at the famous Cinque Terre which is 5 small fishing and wine-growing villages clinging to the sides of the Alps as they drop into the Med.

The villages are really pretty and quaint but were spoilt by simply too many people even at this time of year. Monaco seemed quieter.

There are two coast paths that wend their way from village to village. One is an easy low level 12km stroll and one a really tough 38km climb across the ridge tops. Given we were pushed for time we opted for the lower path. Along with everyone else.

It was carnage out there. Hundreds of people and a really hot day did not a happy Blakey make. Add to that we were overcharged for tickets (yes you have to pay) and then found the path was shut after 2 villages meaning we couldn't even walk the whole route.

No doubt it would have been a nice place if it was quieter. The views as we walked down from the van to the sea were simply stunning.

Anyway. We moved on a little and found a lovely campsite with great facilities, gorgeous shaded pitches by a big river. With a heliport as busy as Gatwick nextdoor. Let's just hope they don't fly all night...

Sat Nav - got to love it

This is where our TomTom says we are. Pretty much right!

Camping Card ACSI

Another thing we have to thank Mrs Blakey's parents for is our Camping Card ACSI. This little beauty cost us £11 back in Blighty. It gives you access to a massive number of campsites across Europe, mostly in low season like we are now. These campsites cost exactly €11, €13 or €15 with this card regardless of their base price. You get a book with about 2000 campsites in it and a map of Europe with their locations. The book tells you the cost and facilities in each one. Its basically what we're using to stay in this tour.

Take tonight for example. This campsite (which is stunning) would normally be €30 a night is costing us just €15. That means we've paid for the card in one night alone. And we've used it every night so far - and plan to continue doing so.

Can't recommend it enough!

Euro Tour Day 3

What a cracking day. Today we spent looking around the quiet and peaceful village of Monte Carlo in the little known Principality of Monaco. Oh. My. God. This must be where half the Aston Martins in the world are based.

We walked the F1 track (after a slight detour where I got lost at Casino - all those years of playing GP4 let me down!). Very cool and somewhat bizarre walking around the streets I know from the TV and driving sims on my PC.

Monaco isn't quite as expensive as we'd imagined. €20 for a starter even on the harbour front in a nice enough restaurant - we stopped and looked at the menu whilst chomping on cheese and ham sarnies in a fresh baguette from the campsite this morning. Of course you can spend more if you want.

The Casino is wonderful. We went in but as we're on a budget we didn't pay the €10 to get into the rooms where the tables were. Amazing building though. And Ferraris and Rolls galore parked outside.

The harbour was disappointing. Not as nice as Cannes. They were ramping up for a yachting show though so loads of stuff being put up. A bit of a building site.

Driving around the Riviera was interesting. Its not Sussex! Crazy foreigners. Its the mopeds that are the worst. Still the views probably didn't help the concentration! The alps really do just drop off into the sea here and its amazing.

This evening we've driven a few miles out of Monaco and into Italy and stopped in a campsite by the sea in San Remo. I think we hit a lucky spot judging from our pitch - see the photo.

Tomorrow the plan is explore Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera and then see where life takes us from there.

Time to light the barbie and open a bottle of merlot...

Reverse Polarity

As you might be aware when camping on the continent they do things a bit weirdly.

Because they use 2 pin plugs sometimes they wire them back to front. And sometimes they use traditional camping plugs and sometimes they use continental 2 pin sockets like you get in a house. This means you need 4 plugs! A normal and a reversed polarity 3 pin and 2 pin option.

Fortunately for us Mrs Blakey's father is a keen motor home owner, Mr Practical and very generous to boot. He made us up all the plug options you could possibly need and supplied us with a little socket tester that you simply plug into the 240v socket in the van and it tells you when you have your polarity right. Clever stuff!

This is only our second night and we've already used two of the plugs he made us up!

Thanks Mr. P!

Euro Tour Day 2

We're in Cannes some 420 miles south of where we started this morning. Toll roads were busier today but still has to be better than the back roads.

The approach to the riviera is stunning. First time I've been down this part of France and I'm impressed.

Cannes was much as expected. Beautiful town with a gorgeous marina full of multi million pound yaughts.

We've just parked up, set up camp and are hitting our first beer. A quiet one at the campsite tonight I think. Cheers!