Italy - East Coast to West Coast

Yep it’s that time again but we know you haven’t had enough of us yet as the blog views are still climbing and we have now had well over 9,200 hits which for us is fantastic.

Our first stop back on mainland Italy was at Lago Trasimeno which is sort of in the middle and is the 4th largest Italian lake which covers 128 square kilometres.  We only really picked this spot as it was a handy mid-way stop between East and West on our route to Livorno to catch the ferry across to Sardinia but we were really pleased with this lovely little site called Camping La Spiaggia situated right on the lakes edge and within walking distance to the village of Passignano with it's castle ruins up above.   We got a great spot right at the edge of the lake too.

There are 3 islands on the lake, Polvese, Minore and Maggiore, Maggiore is the only one that is inhabited with roughly 30 people and also the one that we decided to catch a short boat trip to while we were there. We had a good walk around the island which didn’t take that long as its only very small and while waiting for the ferry back we found a nice spot to have a beer in the sun and to support the local residents (well that’s our excuse anyway).  

After 2 nights here we then hit the road again to a little site as close as we could find to the ferry port at Livorno which also happened to be a stones throw from Pisa and it’s famous leaning tower.  The campsite was well off the beaten track and tarmac roads come to mention it with just gravel/dust tracks for the last mile to the reception and this site was an agri-tourism site which basically is a farm or house with the facilities to camp and usually family owned.  We were made very welcome by the lady and told we could go anywhere we wanted so after a quick walk round we picked a pitch overlooking a lovely fishing lake owned by the farm (as you should know by now we are always by water of some description).  Once the van was all set up Julie piped up with “I wish I had a fishing rod” which she had mentioned a few times while in Croatia but it was one of those things when packing the van up back in January that I think we didn’t need.  So after a quick search for the nearest Decathlon on the sat-nav it was on the XT and off to buy fishing gear for Julie.  We opted for a simple whip style of set-up as it’s quick and easy and packs down small so with whip, hooks, floats, disgorger, lead weights, line and a few different baits it was back to camp and to catch us some fish!!!!! One thing I must add is although Julie does fish she doesn’t touch the fish nor the hooks or the bait so really she loves casting and catching and leaves the rest to me!!  After trying various different baits (sweetcorn, bread, cat food & some soft lake pellets) it didn’t take long before we started to hook into some small bream (we think that’s what they were anyway), but they all seemed to be about the same size and we never did catch the elusive big one….

The next day we said that we would shoot into Pisa and have a look round so back on the XT and a nice ride through the countryside until we got into the centre of Pisa.  One thing that we love about having the XT is that you can park basically anywhere and also if you spot something that catches your eye you can just pullover and stop and grab a photo etc etc.  We parked the bike right at the entrance locked the helmets up and strolled in through the City walls and were amazed at the three beautiful buildings before us in this lawned area, and you just can’t miss the huge Bell Tower leaning 14ft one way that it shouldn’t.  It’s quite strange coming from my background (Construction/Demolition) and looking at this thing thinking OMG how has it not fallen over or crumbled to a heap of stone so after all the photo taking we went and found out some interesting facts.  Back in 1991 it was at a point so close to collapse that something had to be done so a team of specialists came up with an idea to build a concrete collar around the base but with no concrete actually coming into contact with the stone work and then putting 60, 10 tonne lead weights on the collar on one side to try and sink the high side a little to straighten it up a bit but that wasn’t enough so they added another 27 weights making a total of 870 tonnes of lead, they then dug underneath and buried the same lead weights which did actually work and brought the tower back into a safe position, once this was completed they then did some remedial work on the foundations with huge ground anchors and drilled 47m down into the ground to almost peg it down, they then removed the collar and lead weights completely and so far so good it’s still leaning but it’s safe.  Like any project it wasn’t without it’s problems though as at one point when carrying out the works it’s tilt actually accelerated to a point where all work was suspended until they came up with the final method.

Our time on mainland Italy was now coming to an end with another ferry trip imminent and as the last one was a bit sketchy getting the van on and off we were a bit worried what this one was going to be like.  We left our lovely little campsite and found our way to Livorno port and waited for our ship to come in, well when it docked right next to where we were queued up it was huge and with the name of The Mega Express you could see why!!! Julie had booked our crossing prior via the good old internet and was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of this Ferry Company (Corsica & Sardinia Ferries) replying straight away via email with our tickets etc etc, a vast improvement on the last lot (Blue Line Ferries). This time we knew what had to be done to get the van on safely but much to our liking this company took great care getting the vehicles on.   Julie went walk about while I waited in the van and found a little Italian chap who was in charge of the loading/unloading of the vehicles and explained to him that our van was pretty low on the back end to which he replied, “don’t worry” well our turn came to load and with that he waved us forward and guided us on the ramp but this time they took you on at 45 degrees to the ramp not straight up plus Julie was also out watching at the back and the big difference was that they put us on the bottom car deck so the ramp was only shallow thank god - it’s funny that the small things can make such a difference and the other good thing with the Mega Express is that you drive right round to the far end of the boat so you are then pointing in the right direction ready to unload the other end so no 10 point turns needed!!

Once onboard we went for a walkabout around the ship, again we were like two excited kids on an adventure, but I guess that’s what we are I suppose.  The ship was just amazing and so much better than the Blue Line one, we couldn’t believe it, it was like a mini cruise ship and really quite posh.  It had a couple of different restaurants, the usual self-service type and then another one, a proper sit down jobbie with all the bells and whistle, best crystal glasses and fine bone China and there was even a dance floor too.

You then went up an elaborate spiral staircase to the upper deck with an open-air beach bar area with a small swimming pool and cocktail bar, it had everything from funky music, disco lights and a bamboo & grass roof, the only thing missing was the sandy beach but we knew that was to come!!! 

We then went down a couple of decks and found a nice piano bar with a young Italian lady playing some chilled out tunes so we found ourselves a comfy corner and relaxed with a drink which was delivered to us by a waiter along with some complementary snacks, it was like a cruise I guess, but for us for one night only.

This time Julie and I had decided to treat ourselves to a cabin rather than try and get a good nights sleep in a so called “comfort reclining seat” so we retired to our cabin for a glass of wine and then settled into our comfy beds for the night, it was well worth the extra £55. It was amazing and really spacious too, we thought so anyway after living in the motorhome for over 9 months now, and as we were on the upper deck it even had a huge rectangular window and not a tiny porthole.  The whole cabin was immaculate and the bathroom even had a full size shower, to be honest it was better than some of the campsite toilets/showers we have experienced and we have done a few now!!

We arrived at Golfo Aranchi in Sardinia to a beautiful morning feeling quite refreshed after a good night’s sleep and made our way to the van ready to unload.  Our little Italian chap was again brilliant and waved us forward, again telling us to cross the ramp at a 45 degree angle with him watching carefully along with Julie at the back, they even had rope mats that they threw under the rear wheels just to give you that vital bit of clearance, not just for us but for other motorhomes/caravans/artic lorries etc.  So once we were back on terra ferma Julie shook him by the hand and thanked him for being so helpful and then jumped back in the van ready for our 40 mile trip to our first stop on the Island of Sardinia.

It’s funny how you get a feel of places and straight away we knew Sardinia was going to be right up our street.

Arrivederci for now.

J&J
x

Farewell Beautiful Croatia

Hello once again,

We spent a couple of nights on a huge campsite called Zaton Holiday Resort just outside Nin, thankfully it’s now low season again as the site was just absolutely massive.  The lady at reception told us that they have approx 1,500 touring pitches with a capacity of 6,000 people plus another 3,000 people in separate apartments but as it was closing for the season at the end of September it was nearly empty.  It was just a stones throw from Nin itself which is the oldest Croatian royal town and is located in a shallow lagoon 14km away from Zadar, it is only 500m wide and can be accessed by one of two old bridges, the one in the picture below is the lower city bridge with a bronze statue of Duke Branimir to the right before you walk over it.   It’s full of history which we won’t bore you with but for such a small place it has much to see, so we had a walk around and just took some more photos.  

 Bishop Gregory of Nin

Church of the Holy Cross which apparently is the smallest cathedral in the world and dates back to the 9th Century

After leaving Nin we headed South to another National Park, Krka which is located in the Sibenik-Knin County and covers an area of 109 square kilometres.  It was quite funny as we had chosen a campsite from our ACSI book, Julie also has the app on her phone which has been a great tool as it gives the same info as the book but with the added  bonus that you can read reviews from other campers/motorhomers in English and various other languages and after 8 months on the road we have now become quite skilled in the art of reading between the lines and sieving the wheat from the chaff as they say! It said Camping Marina was a family owned & run campsite and it had a couple of reviews,  one of which said “the campsite is a huge disappointment not because of it’s location or facilities but because the staff are blatantly rude and unfriendly……..the owners are your best friends until they have showed you to your spot but after that they do not care about you…….save your money and go to Camping Krka instead which is right next door….”  So as we arrived sure enough there were the two campsites literally side by side both with huge signs saying only €12 a night, it looks like they were originally houses/farms with land at the back which they have now turned into small campsites to make money from the visitors to the Krka National Park.  As we pulled up there was a large bus stop/layby outside and with that the lady from Camping Marina was waving us into her site and then came running out with a clipboard under her arm and said “come in, come in” sure enough she was now our new best friend.  We said we would have a look around so she herded us around like a sheepdog showing us the pitches and the toilets/showers etc and we said thank you and then made a dash for the exit and casually walked into Camping Krka next door.  Again a lady welcomed us but she was far more laid back spoke perfect English and showed us everything we needed but wasn’t at all pushy but did ask about the lady next door so I guess they aren’t the best of friends either! The sites were almost identical under small pine trees but the facilities were far superior at Camping Krka with a brand new toilet/shower block.  I tip toed back to the van, jumped in and drove the few metres into Camping Krka without a backward glance but I am sure our new best friend was now our new worst enemy…….!!

We grabbed a leaflet from reception about the Krka National Park and it seemed very different and more spread out than Plitvice as it has several different areas/gates that could only be accessed by catching a number of different boats, or by coach both at an additional cost, or by yourself using your own transport so we opted to explore using the XT as the area looked lovely with scenic winding mountain roads and lovely views.  The park has 7 waterfalls at various places along the vast Krka river, the main and most famous ones being the SKRADINSKI BUK falls, again they have all been formed over thousands of years by the travertine process just like at Plitvice. So the next day we took the bike down to the little village and marina of Skradin where we bought our ticket which included a free return boat trip up along the river Krka directly to the most famous part of the park the SKRADINSKI BUK falls. 

As we approached the landing pontoon all we could see was the mist rising above the trees and all we could hear was the almost deafening noise of tumbling water so we knew it was going to be a spectacle to see.  

Usually you are allowed to swim in the pools under the the falls, but this year earlier than expected there is so much water now that it’s far too dangerous. You might just be able to make out the swimming area marked by a rope & buoys in this first picture - at the bottom in the centre just above the wooden handrail.

We had a walk around this section which also has old watermills that were built back in the 19th Century and used for milling grain and grading woven woollen items.  Some of the old mill buildings are now coffee/souvenir shops but it’s amazing as the water just tumbles along next to the stone walls, bridges and mills.

We carried on round the paths and boardwalks until we reached the other side and got an impressive view down over the SKRADINSKI BUK falls to the boardwalk we walked across when we arrived.

We got the boat back to Skradin where we had left the XT and then headed off to the ROSKI SLAP part of the park.  Again it was different altogether so we had a walk round and then spotted a wooden staircase.  The sign said there were 517 steps up to a cave so we started to walk up the steps but it was quite hard going but “mad dogs & Englishmen” and all that, we kept going and said these caves better be good.  We got to the caves which to our relief were really quite impressive so it was well worth the effort, hard to believe stone age man had actually lived there, I can just imagine him saying to his wife "right I'm off down the mountain to get some water, I'll be back tomorrow" as obviously there wasn't a convenient staircase there then!!.  From the staircase you also got a great view of the ROSKI SLAP which was more like a huge set of rapids.  We carried on exploring other parts but to be honest some areas were so far apart and you could only view them from the road so we decided to call it a day and head back to camp.  We did enjoy the Krka National Park but for us Plitvice had more of a WOW factor with stunning waterfalls and lakes at every turn although I guess it would be the icing on the cake if we had had the opportunity to swim under the SKRADINSKI BUK falls but there’s always next time!!!!.

From there we headed further South along the stunning coast road to our last stop in Croatia the island of CIOVO near a beautiful place called Trogir that we passed as we crossed the small bridge onto the island.  

The campsite was small and had a really nice beach where we had a chill out and also went paddle boarding to some coves on the opposite site, again in crystal clear flat waters. 

We had a day out exploring on the XT too and found some amazing tracks that gave us breathtaking views over the many islands.

We decided to go into Trogir to have an explore on our last night in Croatia and treat ourselves to a meal. It really was a quaint little place with many small narrow side streets which again reminded us of Barcelona & Venice.

This was the same sailing boat that we had seen in one of the coves when we went out exploring on the XT.

And this was moored up outside the restaurant, it was absolutely huge and called "Forever One", Julie could have stowed away in the stainless steel anchor housing!  We looked it up on Google and it is owned by an Italian charter company is 54 metres long and was only launched back in June this year.   While we were eating it got dark and there were pretty LED lights all over it and along the undersides too which lit up the aqua blue water around it.  It had a huge under deck locker in the bow area and while we were there the crew opened 2 massive electric garage doors that opened just like tower bridge and put all the leather sofas and cushions away.

We scoffed a huge pizza each with a side order of french fries washed down with a very large rose wine, half a litre of beer and some crepes filled with chocolate and vanilla ice cream which came to the grand total of 206 Kuna so about £22 amazing, and the best thing was no cooking or washing up!!!!

As planned we had decided to book our ferry ticket from Split to Ancona for 30th but as usual nothing is ever simple.  When we looked a few weeks ago the tickets were about €250 euros but when we went on-line to book the best price we could find was over €500!  Julie spoke to Blue Line direct on the phone and got it down to €438 but then I remembered seeing a special offer on their website so Julie rang back and got it down to €242, what a result.   Great we thought so we got it all sorted after a few more calls and sending them and email confirming everything and making a payment which again wasn't simple but to cut a very, very long story short we got a sort of confirmation email back and after chasing for a ticket they said don't worry just quote the booking number when you get to the Blue Line office at Split.  So off we went to Split, but as the ideal world we live in doesn't exist when we arrived Julie went in and quoted the booking reference but they couldn't find it.......after 15 minutes or so it turned out they had booked us onto the Ancona-Split boat which left at the same time.....they said it was their mistake so after about an hour it got sorted and Julie re-appeared with a ticket, what a relief.

One thing that was now on my mind was what the loading ramps were like as our 7.5m+ fully loaded motorhome complete with trailer is just a tad low on the rear end so any sharp inclines can cause problems (as they did back in May).  So it was off towards the loading ramps and OMG it was like a ramp to the moon at a 45 degree angle to the top cargo deck where they were pointing for us to go with a step about half way up, it just didn't look camper van friendly at all.  We crept forward and with a few scrapes of the tow bar and a few layers of paint removed from the ships ramps we were on, but it didn't end there as these aren't roll on roll off ships and we were then told to then turn round on a deck space less than the length of the van, so it was off with the trailer and then a 10 point turn ready to dis-embark in 10hrs time,  oh joy!  We found some  so called comfort seats and got our heads down for the night exhausted from van manoeuvring and nerves but as we keep saying it's all part of the adventure.  

We waved goodbye to Split, we were quite sad to leave as we had fallen in love with Croatia but there's always next time

And 10 hours later waved hello to Ancona

The time came to unload but we were just as nervous as we knew what was coming but we decided it would be best if Julie drove and I could keep watch over the van, well we came down from the top cargo deck this time with literally millimetres to spare but while checking the underside of the van as Julie descended I noticed that we had caught one of the small jack legs that support the van which we must have done the night before on the way up but a quick adjustment got it sorted (only 2 more ferries to go) but one thing we learnt was that they can adjust the ramps and help you get some clearance as they did it for a large number of very fancy looking lorries.

So back on Italian soil again, a couple of stops here on the mainland including a visit to Pisa and then it's off to sunny Sardinia, we have an overnight ferry booked for the 6th.

Ciao for now.

J&J

Waterfalls, Brown Bears & Bullet Holes!

Hi there it’s that time of the week again,

We have now settled into Croatian life, it’s funny how after about 10 days you get to grips with new territory and it’s not so daunting and you start to enter your comfort zone again.  We forgot to mention in our previous blog that even the currency here is different, it’s the Croatian Kuna and to start with we didn’t have a scooby what a Kuna was or it’s value so  when we went to the cash point for the first time we didn’t really have a clue how much we were withdrawing but like everything you work it out and 100 Kuna equates to roughly just over £10 so really simple to convert once you get used to it.

We left the lovely site at Njivice with Plitvice National Park being our next destination and headed back across the Krk toll bridge (which is free when you leave, just like the Severn Crossing back in the UK) and as we felt more comfortable now decided to take the national road along the coast before heading inland and what a road it was too.  The views out over the coast and surrounding islands were just breathtaking and the Adriatic was just like a mill pond.  When we flew to Egypt in October last year we remember looking out of the window and seeing beautiful islands, mountains and turquoise waters below and said that it most have been Croatia or somewhere, we must have been spot on as we were now looking at it in the flesh, so so beautiful words cannot really describe.  It’s so nice having all the time in the world as that way we avoid the boring tolls roads and get to see so much more.

There aren’t that many sites that close to the Plitvice National Park, just one really, a Camping Cheque site called Camping Korana and what a perfect place too.  Although it’s a campsite there are no designated pitches you just check in and are told to go and park up anywhere, a mixture of grass or hardstanding but as the pitches are not marked some vans just park up together in line just like being in an Aire.  We found a nice little spot to ourselves away from the regimented vans and got set up.

The sun was shining although rain & thunder was forecast for that night and the following day so we went for walk around the site and as usual went exploring.  Along route we somehow acquired a little dog that at first we thought belonged to a fellow camper, it started to follow us and we took it back to the van where we found it but the guy said it was the “campsite dog” so that was that, it adopted us for the next hour or so while we went exploring, it actually took us for a walk to be honest as it knew exactly which path to take,  stopping every now and then with a glancing look back to make sure we were keeping up, we decided to call her JJ!!  From the back of the campsite there was a path down to an old water mill, JJ seemed to know exactly where we were going and happily trotted along in front leading the way.  The water mill was down in the valley of the Korana River and it was there that we got our first glimpse of the crystal clear waters.  From there we walked back into the campsite and followed another path again with JJ showing us the way, we came to an open area with a small wooden bridge and a large pool/lagoon which eventually flowed down to the mill, again the water was just crystal clear.  We sat just watching the world go by on the wooden bridge for a while and in the meantime JJ decided to head off so she had obviously got fed up with waiting for us I guess!

The weather forecast was spot on as that night we had an almighty thunder storm, first just constant lightning flashes in the distance and then it arrived directly overhead, we opened the blinds to see fork lightning illuminating the sky all around us and then the sound of mother nature flexing her muscles, the cracks and bangs were scary and even the cutlery in the drawer was rattling, we were so glad to be tucked up in the van and not the poor souls that were being lit up in their 2 man tents!!!  It must be a regular occurrence in Croatia as we have noticed that most buildings are laced with lightning conductors along the ridge tiles and guttering and we even noticed earth straps on the shower cubicle doors on the last campsite.

The weather was again stormy the next day which again we knew had been forecast so we planned to go for a cycle and there were a few routes directly from the campsite.  We went into the information centre on site to ask about the cycle routes, with that the lady promptly gave us a map with a few routes on but then in the next breath gave us a bit of a warning and said "not to go out on any of the long routes too late in the day as there are wild brown bears here" and on checking even on some routes they advise to go in groups not alone!  With warnings taken on board we headed off on one of the local routes early in the day not wanting to be bear bait!!! We set off along the trail following the Korana river below and came across this restored tower and many other lovely views and buildings.   One thing that I had also noticed was some of the older buildings were peppered with bullet holes and when you think where we were it was so close to the Bosnian border where it all kicked off back in 1991, The Crotian War of Independence.  We came across a Church which was derelict and had had it’s marble name plaque basically shot down and scenes like this where everywhere, pretty scary really to think what it must of been like back then, and in reality not that long ago.

We carried on our cycle and then the heavens opened so we found some shelter under some large trees but once they had given up their cover we thought we are going to have to carry on regardless, funny as while we were under the tree I said to Julie I bet there’s a bus shelter around the corner but we both said no not out here but bugger me 100m round the next bend there was a lovely large wooden bus shelter, sods law I suppose as we could have sheltered there and stayed dry!! We did sit it out there for the hell of it for 20 minutes or so but it showed no sign of stopping so it was head down all the way back to camp.  We were soaked through by the time we got back but knew a nice hot shower was waiting for us as the facilities at the campsite were fabulous.  We did see JJ again that day going from camp to camp making new friends and getting some fuss made of her but we also adopted a cat that afternoon too, a young female which we called Pickle due to her colouring and after our shower we put the heating on in the van as it was really quite cold but after all the site was about 1,279m above sea level so not surprising that it got a bit chilly without the sun making an appearance.  We had a nice cup of tea and Pickle decided that she too would settle in for the afternoon with us!!

After a bit more rain overnight we woke up to a beautiful sunny day and were looking forward to going to Plitvice Lakes & National Park just a few kilometres down the road.  The National park is world famous for it’s lakes arranged in cascades.  Currently there are 16 lakes which can be seen from the surface which are separated into an upper and lower cluster formed by the run off from the surrounding mountains, they are all interconnected and follow the water flow.  They are separated by natural dams of travertine which is deposited by the action of moss, algae and bacteria.  It is the largest of Croatia’s eight National parks and was proclaimed a National park back in 1949 making it the oldest National park in Croatia and in 1979 was included in the UNESCO list of World Natural Heritage sites.  We also found out that their was an armed clash here on 31st March 1991, Easter Sunday, which marked the beginning of the Croatian War of Independence, they called it “Plitvice Bloody Easter”, so surreal to imagine that such a beautiful and tranquil place had been a scene of such tragedy too.

So as it’s such a major tourist attraction we had read that it was best to arrive early as it can get very busy with day trippers that arrive by coach so we jumped on the bike just after 8am.  It was a bit chilly to say the least so we put our waterproof trousers on over our shorts and our cycling wind jackets to keep the chill off which was definitely a good move.  We arrived well before the coaches and sailed straight in via entrance one and OMG the first thing you see is the VELIKI SLAP, the big waterfall, which is 78m high and as you can imagine is absolutely breathtaking.  

We set off long the main footpath and headed down towards the VELIKI SLAP.  Once you are down at water level the whole park is made up of  a series of pebble footpaths along the edges of the lakes and wooden boardwalks across them, it’s been really well done and ensures that you can get up close to the lakes and cascading waterfalls.  As there had been heavy rain about a fortnight ago and we had the the big thunder storm too some of the paths were actually closed off.  If you didn’t mind getting your feet wet it wasn’t a problem so we said come on let’s just walk through the water as we had our walking boots on and it was only water at the end of the day and our boots would dry out in the sun, to come this far and be denied of what this place had to offer wasn’t an option so we walked across the first boardwalk across the last lower lake and then followed it round very carefully towards the VELIKI SLAP as in places the water was literally rushing over the boardwalks.  I followed it round carefully to check it out first and then beckoned Julie to follow, it was amazing we were right underneath the falls and getting sprayed with the water mist (we now appreciated our waterproof cycling jackets even more!),  something we will never forget.  

We then headed back round and carried on up another boardwalk, again a flooded one, we had only been there 10 minutes and our boots and feet were soaked through but it was well worth it.  We followed more flooded paths (the flooded paths were great as there was no-one else on them except for a few other hard core explorers & crazy people like us!) until we ended up at a large lake, JEZERO KOZJAK, where you jumped on an electric boat to the far end which took you up to the remaining upper lakes and falls again criss-crossed by boardwalks with literally a waterfall around every corner.  The water was so clear and full of an array of fish that just hung around on the surface.  There was also a shuttle bus option that you could use too, both the boat and the bus were included in the price of the ticket which was real value for money at 110 Kuna each so just over £11 each for the day and worth every penny.

We walked around the upper lakes stopping only to tip the water out of our boots and wring our socks out every now and then before finding a lovely spot for lunch tucked away on top of a rock off the beaten track overlooking the lakes and falls. 

After lunch we carried on walking around the upper lakes along more flooded paths and decided not to take the boat back but to follow yet another flooded path next to the lake.  It was a truly fantastic day and after 6 hours we made our way back to camp for a very well earned beer or two.  It really is a place to tick of the “bucket list” so if you are ever in Croatia put it on your list, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

We have now moved further South and are at a place called Nin which we will tell you all about in our next blog as I am sure you are bored to tears by now.  We are then heading to the Krka National Park which again has lakes and waterfalls but is apparently different again although they have the SKRADINSKI BUK falls so it will be nice to see them and compare notes.  We then have a couple of nights on the island of CIOVO before getting a ferry from Split to Ancona (Italy) on 30th.

Before we go, one story that we forgot to mention in the last blog was about a elderly couple from Germany who turned up late afternoon with an estate car and small caravan.  After  they had walked round and picked a pitch (just opposite us) the wife stood on the pitch while the elderly husband went back up to reception to fetch the car & caravan, well with that he came flying down the tarmac access road straight past his pitch & wife (who was looking a bit confused) and came to an abrupt stop at the end as the road then turned into the beach footpath. What came next we just couldn’t believe, he carried on and tried to turn the car/caravan combo round half on the footpath and half in the entrance to the beachside bar.  The large lamp post was the first thing that he hit with the caravan, then with the wife shouting STOP, STOP, STOP he then proceeded to put the car in reverse and hit the opposite caravan corner on a low stone wall again with the wife shouting STOP, STOP.  With that into 1st gear and you guessed it he hit the front corner of the caravan on the opposite low stone wall, so by this time the caravan was wedged in-between two stone walls with the car at a jaunty angle.  We just couldn’t believe what we were seeing as the car/caravan were almost new.  After all the shouting it brought out quite a crowd of fellow German campers who then proceeded to unhitch the caravan and man-handle it to their pitch, I think to save any more damage to the campsite and caravan and in fright of him hitting anybody else’s campers.  It really was taking people watching to the extreme and entertained us no end!!

Anyway that’s it for now.

J&J

x