Meeting up with The Petrillo's on the Isle of Alba

Port Piombino on the Isle of Elba

Saturday, 11th July, it was time to meet up with A&R at Pisa before heading to the Isle of Elba for a week of camping on the island.

Crossing over from the mainland

Pisa was a central point to meet the Petrillo's travelling down from Switzerland and where the much promised Super Stores were that Bill was hoping to finally get his much researched / sort after (thank you both Owen & Rico for having so much patience with Bill)

First BBQ at camp

barbecue. And he did! Plus a much needed fan to help us sleep at nights, and restock our larder before travelling to the island.

Approaching Port

We made the ferry half an hour before departure, whose timing was as efficient as the Swiss, leaving on the dot of 6.30pm. The surrounding waterways were very busy with lots of different shipping lines. We arrived on the Island just over an hour later after travelling on very calm warm water. Port Piombino was picture book perfect as the sun was setting on the hills behind the town. Another 20 minutes later we made it into Camp La Foce.

A&R's camp site

And what a little surprise that was.

A&R a bit surprised at site

Our camp sites are side by side along the main entrance into the camp - and not a blade of grass in site. Quite different to our NZ camp sites. We are just over the road from the beach which is beautiful, very warm water, with very little tide differential being a Mediterranean beach.

Bill with one or two others!

The beaches here are different to home, in that a lot of them are private, so it will cost you to use them, but they do provide chairs & beach umbrellas.

But the view across the road is perfect.

Of course we are on the public sections of the beach. Same water, same sand, just

Private beach to the left

Private beach to the right

different spot! The weather is consistently hot, over mid 30's every day, great for swimming morning, noon and night if needed.

Lovely cold wines & beers are helping us to cope in such conditions. Plus a gelato or two!

Caio having enjoyed his gelato

The start of our camping in Italy

Bill & I left Switzerland last Tuesday for our camping holiday in Italy,

Devils Bridge on the Gotthard Pass

travelling over the Gotthard Pass from southern Switzerland into northern Italy. For those of you that may not know, there are two routes into Italy this particular way, one through the Gotthard tunnel (16.9 km - the 3rd longest in the world) or more scenic is over the Gotthard Pass climbing up to 2106m high over the Alps. Of course we took the scenic route which I didn't find too difficult climbing up, but a different story coming down the sharp decent on the other side!

The top of the pass at 2106M

We had an almost perfect day to travel, just a little cloud at the top, but still very hot.

Bill playing in the snow at 37 Deg C

It was surprising to see so much snow still lying around with the heat wave that we had been experiencing the past week. At the top of the pass, where everyone stops for photo's of course, we visited the museum and learned a little more on the history of the pass and the people who have travelled over it since the 13th century. I hate to think what sort of track it was then!

The descent into Italy

Then it was a sharp descent down, still in Switzerland, and an almost non existent boarder into Italy, after many tunnels. The roading is just incredible in what we have seen so far of Switzerland and now Italy with so many roads kept high with bridges and tunnels.
At times I keep my eyes shut as my acrophobia tries to kick in, Bill telling me to take photo's as he's driving & getting grumpy with me for not opening my eyes, so I have learnt just to hold the camera up to the window & snap away on the camera (eyes shut the whole time of course so you can imagine the resulting photo's - those ones wont be making it into the blog!)

Top of the Lagoon from our camp

We eventually made it down to Verbania - Lake Maggiore where we were to stay the next 3 nights in the lovely little camp of Le Quiete on the lagoon just off one of the arms of Lake Maggiore. Our views once we came down out of the hills were very hazy,  heavy humidity restricting how far we could see. Early that evening a bit of a breeze came up, rapidly getting stronger, then bringing rain, lots of lightning & thunder.

Hail the size of golf balls

Then! Hail, the size of golf balls, we were a little concerned about our sunroof, the noise was deafening. Then as quickly as it all came, it went. The air a little clearer and slightly cooler, but still in the 30's.
The next morning we rode our bikes into Verbania to catch a boat across the lake to Luini, which is well known for it's huge Wednesday markets. Unfortunately we had missed the two boats that went there that day, but the helpful  lady at the information centre then told us of another place that holds a Thursday market, which we could catch a bus to as it was 30 minute drive away.

Lake Maggiore

So we changed our plan, and spent the day riding, walking around the old parts of Intra & Pallanza on the side of Lake Maggiore. Very pretty, very old, very hot. That high humidity was there again, restricting our views with haze over the lake once again. We found a lovely little cafe by the waters edge for lunch and two very cold beers. Perfect.

Along the Lake front

Half way through, in came the little breeze again, the sky darkened slightly, down came the rain, lightning & thunder, but luckily no hail! All while we sat under a canvas canopy enjoying our meal and watching it pass over. We were a little concerned about having left our sunroof open, but why worry. It was still very hot and would dry out in no time.

The old town of Inter

Bill managed to find another church

Back at camp later in the day, all was good, and time for more swimming in the lagoon on our door step. Our camp didn't have all the children attractions like the camp next door, so when we went into the water from our camp, there was only one or two of us but right next door was crowds of noisy children and families. Amazing side by side.
Thankfully Amanda & Rico who had previously stayed at the camp next door with their children, recommended  Le Quite to us, much more our style of camp.

Cutting granite from the hills

Thursday we were up a little earlier & rode down the road to catch the bus through to Omegna on Lake d'Orta next door.

Market Day at Omegna

The bus passed by a couple of smaller villages, one such one that had it's hillside being cut away for it's granite. Health & Safety is certainly a bit different over here!

Omegna on Lake d'Orta

The Market was lining the western side of the lake and full of stalls selling fruit / veg / cheeses / salami's / clothing / shoes & handbags / and misc. It was great to browse along although very few spoke English, so there was some interesting interactions.
We did buy some clothing, sun hat and food.

Clear creeks run through town

Then it was time for lunch and another cold beer. The temperatures were still up in the late 30's.

The very busy camp next door

Our lovely Le Quiete Camp

Back at camp more "much needed" swimming was had back in the lagoon. The water was amazingly clear but not very cold, but cool enough to be refreshing.
Friday we headed off further south into Italy before meeting up with Amanda & Rico on Saturday in Pisa.
We travelled down the autostrada to cover a lot of country in a short time, coming out on the west coast of Italy at Genoa, Italy's largest sea port, travelling across skyscraper roads that transversed this large City,

Roading through Genoa

then we headed back inland 12km to take the back road connecting Busalla to Lavagna. We spent the night in a little camp on the hillside of Montoggio, where we immersed ourselves right in with the Italians - very little English was understood here. They had a lovely cold local beer which they served with nibbles as they don't like you to drink without food. The barman put out 3 bowls, one with chips, one with olives and the other with peanuts. I thought he was setting up the bar, but no he put all this on a tray with our beers and took it out to where we were to sit, looking out over a green backdrop into the hills.

Walking into "town"

Camp site at Montoggio

We watched boys in their late teens paint out the lines for soccer in the late 30 degree temps, unbothered by the heat. The camp did have a lovely pool which was a saviour at the end of our day.

This was a lovely start to our camping holiday, before meeting up with the Petrillo's (A&R) for the next 3 weeks travelling through Italy.

Festivals, hot summer temperatures and a new tooth.

With summer well under way here in Switzerland, Schools / Universities all breaking up for the summer holidays (A&R's children have 6 weeks off now) it's starting to feel like it does in NZ just before Christmas. Except! The mid 30 degree temperatures we are experiencing this past week. Talk about sveaty!! And it doesn't cool down at night either - which makes it very difficult for sleeping. Rico reminds us that it is just conditioning  for Italy next week. We looked on a weather site and see they are expecting over 30 degrees on the Isle of Elba for the coming week!
We have managed to get to two festivals over the last two weekends - one in Lucerne & one here locally in Sursee.

Amanda, Rico, Luna, Caio & Bill listening to a band

      We caught the train into Lucerne for it's Summer Festival, which is about a 40min train ride. It was a beautiful afternoon/evening with the streets lined with bars, musicians and people. Lots of people. Lots of families, so it had a great atmosphere.                                                                                                                                                              

Lovely cafes lining the river

Lovely old foot bridge

Enjoying a much needed drink

Tuesday Bill & I headed back into the German part of Basel to have his crowned tooth completed, which they did a fine job of. Bill has actually rated it highly! He has a BMW of a tooth now he believes. Not bad to have it completed within the week (4 hours total) for just under a thousand Euro's - this included the rapidly rotating robot x-ray machine (undoubtedly again made by BMW).

So with Bill now back to his handsome self (no longer the dodgy looking guy) we headed back into the Swiss part of Basel to have a late lunch with a very cold beer,and a bit of a wander around the old town of Basel, with it's lovely cobbled streets, reading the little bits that were written in English, and Bill making the rest up.

There were a lot of students around with Uni finished for the summer holidays, so there were plenty of them swimming in the Rhine. But it wasn't only students, there were quite a few older people too. They were getting in at some point up from where we were, and travelling down with the current to somewhere further down.Literally hundreds of them. The students had some sort of "floating bag" that looked like some trendy float bag that we had seen advertised around the place. We assumed you could put your clothes into it and keep them dry!

Bodies floating down the Rhine

A much needed gelato

 

Bill trying to touch the "Brass Feast"

We found another old church at the heart of the Old Town, as one does, and as it was lovely and cool had a wander through it. Out the far side it had cloisters where a guy was playing a steel string guitar, in a Spanish classical style, in a  religious chanting style, very pleasant to listen too.  There was also an art brass banquet set up with baskets of fruit & vegetables - extremely hot in the basking sun.

The original town hall

After our wander around the old part of the town, it was time to head back to the German side of Basel to restock on a few items that were so much cheaper than in Switzerland. eg Wine. But before that AND because it was so hot (37 degrees) we decided to stay on the Tram (as we have said earlier the public transport system is fantastic - our train ticket included all public transport in Basel) (though no checks were ever made)and go to the end of the line this time. It took us to a small German suburb with a little main street & large shopping centre. We cooled down very briefly in the Shopping Centre and then headed up the main street with lots of little bars that were very inviting in the heat. Of course we had to stop at one and have a refreshing beer. I must say how cheap the beers were on the German side - nearly half price of the Switzerland side.

Cold German Beer

Back in Sursee, later in the week, Saturday actually, we got ready for the local festival, and..... Amanda & Sabine celebrating that their shop was almost ready for opening after everything coming together, right in "The Old Town". Bill had completed putting up shelves / railings / floor mat /assembled cabinets & counter top over the previous couple of weeks.  We headed into town late afternoon, after Rico had painted the wall that Bill had put up to divide one bedroom into two. It was like a Sauna up there wasn't it Rico? Bill had lost a few litres over the previous few days putting the wall up and gibbing it.

Sabine & Amanda really excited with the arrival of their first stock!

We had a lovely bottle of Prosecco by the creek, near the shop to celebrate with Sabine & Chris, Amanda & Rico and Bill & I. It was lovely to be a part of all the excitement of their new venture. Then it was off around the corner to join in with the Sursee Festival. The crowds had arrived, and the outside bars and food stalls were all set up and buzzing. It was a very pleasant night.

Sursee Festival

Sunday was a bit of a slow day for some (well mainly me actually), but Amanda started the day off with a lovely French breakfast while Rico did the last coat on the walls, then it was off to one of the Lido pools in a neighbouring village which was lovely and refreshing. Later in the day after a lovely lunch and bit of relaxation, it was time to start thinking about our up coming camping holiday in Italy with A&R and family. So out came the tent, to ensure all is ready to go next weekend. As Bill & I have a bit of spare capacity in the van we have offered to take a few items such as the tent to help with space. The kids thought it was awesome, and were so excited they could sleep in it that night. But luckily Rico checked the weather forecast which predicted thunder & lightning! No! But yes! Thankfully the kids did sleep inside as it was a full on storm, mum (Pat) wouldn't have made it through the night I don't think. But the tent was all dry once again Monday night, ready for us to take away  Tuesday morning as we are heading off to Italy 4 days before them. Looking forward to seeing what Italy has to offer.

Practising for camping in Italy

Up an Alp via cable car to walk around the Bannalpsee Reservoir

Sunday saw the family (Amanda, Rico, Luna & Caio and Bill & I) head up the Engelberg Valley to travel up to the Bannalpsee (a mountain lake - reservoir) - VIA CABLE CAR!

This really is HIGH!

 Those of you who know me and my fear of heights will be surprised I actually made it up and back down the mountain! AND SURVIVED! I did keep my eyes shut the whole way up and back down- how else do you think I did it! A much more calming way to travel.

It's a long way down to the bottom

We had the perfect day, took food up for the "grill" (BBQ) which was delicious in the mountain setting.

Cooking on the "Grill"

 We had cows just stroll through as we tried to cook lunch, Luna became the "cow whisperer" as she would just hold up her hand and they would come right up to her for a rub.

Luna the "Whisperer"

There we were high up in the world, and on the side of the lake was a restaurant, perfect for a cold beer or Prosecco :) (ice creams for the children of course) before we headed back to the cable car to return to the car park.

Amazing views of the mountains

Lovely walk around the lake

From the top of the lake 

  

Rico instructing the "Cow" to move on