From the bridge over the currently almost dried up river on the way to the supermarket you can see a family of otters who take no notice at all of these funny humans jogging, walking, riding e-bikes way up over their heads.
Ponte del Vibrata earlier in the year.
Moved back to the coast for better weather.
Gerhild wanted to walk along the beach, but it was a bit cluttered.
That bike looks a bit small for Kim.
Good ice cream in Piazza Popolo even if you do have to eat it fast before it runs down your elbow.
Ha, ha, ha! These crazy tourists.
Piazza Popolo.
Well, what symbol would you use for a unisex toilet?
This fishy looking fellow is a favourite drinking spot for children and dogs.
Look what happens to you if you eat too much ice cream!
So where is Gregory Peck?
Bit misty this afternoon.
No reason not to have a Bassotto ice.
View of the beach. We‘re off tomorrow.
Gerhild can‘t resist a last paddle.
Not exactly Andy Goldsworthy but a nice pile.
Climb back up to the camp site.
We tried to get acanthus to grow in the garden in Wimbledon. Here it simply flourishes next to the very steep road down to the camp site with no TLC at all.
Today we strolled along to the next village, Numana, and ate an ice cream.
Aperitivi in Sirolo
Great ice cream from the Dachshund shop https://www.ilbassottogelateria.com/ then did a bit of Sunday shopping.
Just a few things from the market stalls…
Kim wanted a go on one of these electric animals but they said he was too heavy. Cheek!
Today we walked up to the abbey of San Pietro al Conero which is 450 metres above sea level, almost at the top of Mount Conero. It is now a posh hotel.
Nice little path occasionally blighted by young men hurtling downhill on their bicycles.
The church.
A bit slippery on the way down.
Our camp site is down there somewhere.
Sirolo, a welcome sight at the end of a strenuous 12 km stroll.
Our camp site from the beach.
Gerhild‘s first paddle in 2022.
A cool cave in the cliff. All white just like Dover (and Gerhild‘s hair).
A cool man in a dark hole.
Started the day with a podcast
Modigliani – der Mann, der die Frauen liebte podcast
A pearl of the Adriatic Sea – could be a motto for our new camp site. (Camping Internazionale)
The girls at reception whizz you around the site on these electric golf carts to choose where you‘d like to park. Fantastic service!
Our pitch (161), with a gorgeous view over the beach and over our washing.
A fine place to eat biscuits.
Climb up to the village just after eight.
Which shady character is being so charming first thing in the morning.
Gerhild working hard at the scrabble table.
How do you like the flower „pots“?
Long drive to https://www.campingreno.eu/ in Sirolo.
One of those lazy, hazy, crazy days.
Woke up with the sun this morning (06:00)
Next to the path walking up to the town.
To visit the fortress you have to scoot along this long passageway.
Stupendous view of Lago Trasimeno from the battlements.
The passageway is in the wall to the right.
Gerhild comes out blinking into the sunshine.
See gallery of images of the living quarters at https://www.roccamedievale.it/gallery/
Up bright & early today.
A poplar tree waiting for the wind to carry off all of its seeds.
Great view of the lake walking up to the Castello.
Sunday‘s a busy day here. Every seat in and around the gelateria was taken mostly by Italians having a good time.
Today we came down from the hills and moved to Camping Listro on the shores of Lago Trasimeno.
Delicious ice cream at Gelateria-Be-Bop
Our camp site is full of fantastic trees like this.
Loafed around all day today. Great!
Bright sunshine, blue sky and green leaves today.
In the evening we went for a walk through the forest.
A certain Mrs. Miraglia had a table and chairs installed in this 500 year old beauty of a chestnut tree so that she could do her embroidery in the shade.
Moved to a camp site today https://campingcamaldoli.it based on a sloping ancient chestnut orchard.
We are in Camaldoli which has a Benedictine monastery (https://www.camaldoli.it/).
We found this is in the foresteria part of the monastery while looking for the bar. It was closed.
Very scenic.
The view from our camper into the chestnut orchard.
Gerhild found these two in the way to the shower.
A fine start to our walk!
Fosso del‘Acquacheta.
A rock star.
Where’s Kim been?
He was admiring one of the many waterfalls along this stream.
This is the path, not a waterfall.
This is a waterfall.
Kim checking the time.
Our valley.
Gerhild‘s a bit tired & looking for a lift home.
Beautiful drive through the Tuscan hills up to San Benedetto.
I don‘t like the look of this bus driver.
The only camp site for miles was closed when we arrived so we had to use the village car park.
This has water…
… and electricity too!
Not to mention some glorious wisteria.
Today we went up the hill next the river Arno for a panoramic view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo.
Splendid view from up here. Who needs a drone?
Wearing sandles today!
Piazza dei Ciompi for a snack at La Sosta Dei Ciompi and a bit of peace & quiet.
Nice camper logo.
Today we drove to Florence to a camp site near the city centre https://firenze.huopenair.com
Florence’s famous bridge selling jewellery…
We took the shuttle into town and first had a poke around the Piazza della Signoria and admired some lions.
Can I have my ball back please?
Growl. The head is so nice and crunchy!
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Very strange fountain in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata. A sea monster!
Today it rained most of the day so we did some food shopping and snuggled up for a good read.
Useful things to take in a camper no. 1
There’s a fragrant scent wafting through the camp site. Our blog doesn’t do smells (yet) so a picture will have to do.
Today we popped into Mambo, Bologna‘s idea of a contemporary art museum.
A golden oldie.
Nice papier-mâché work. (http://www.encantadoassociazione.it/le-nostre-creazioni/)
I wonder who this cheeky wench is?
Another cheeky wench in Piazza Maggiore.
And our very own cheeky wench with Campari Spritz and some delicious apperitivi. (https://www.neaeraloungebar.com/)
Street scene on our way to the bus home.
A well-muscled Neptune brandishing his trident in Bologna.
The judge in the “my tower is bigger than your tower” competition.
There are arcades everywhere in Bologna.
Take a look at those knees!
Everyone should have a rucksack with a compartment for your hat!
These two haven’t been to the gym recently.
I didn’t know that Italians played cricket!
Stick up art.
Today we woke up from the cock crowing and the bells clanking.
The pillow view when we woke up.
The 3 clanking bells – clank, clunk and clink.
.
An old Venetian game in the village and then off into the fabulous forest.
Thinking stony thoughts.
A whirling girl.
What is Gerhild applauding?
Kim’s wooden Kabarett in the woods.
What’s in this creepy, First World War tunnel?
She’s not hungry fortunately.
She spoke neither English, nor German.
This giant chameleon blends nicely with the rock.
Someone needs a rest.
A final kiss before we head for the Perambulator and drive to Bologna.
Nice view from our parking spot, next to the cemetery.
We popped in to the market in Pergine and there was a roaring trade in roast chicken & chips!
No, not a Banksy, it’s Little Red Riding Hood lost in the bluebells.
Mmmm. Italian cake “Treccia Mocchena”. Delicious.
Time for the bats to zoom around.
What is he doing?
Snapping some art.
Well everyone knows about knots in trees! See www.henriqueoliveira.com
Solstice.
The invisible woman.
Holy tree
The Perambulator in Sella valley.
Clouds having a good time.
So what‘s the Italian for lounging around?
10 km Walk around Lago di Levico today.
Beautiful blue sky today.
Spooky tree stump.
This looks like instructions for exercises and it is, but mental gymnastics to fight off Alzheimer’s.
Stylish Italian sanitary facilities.
Stylish Italian haircut for Kim at El Barber Paolo in Levico Terme.
Rainy drive through the Alps to a very smart camp site Https://www.campinglevico.com right next to Lago Levico (lake Levico) in the Valsugana valley.
Gerhild thought it was too cold today for a swim.
Look at those evening mountains and the groovy white camper next to the beach.
Long drive (507 km) to Ingolstadt. Nice location for camp site https://www.azur-camping.com/ingolstadt/
Walking around the lake you can see our camper.
What a welcome!
Schloss Eisenbach in winter.
They’re going south while we’re going north. Who has more sense?
Yes, they built the European Parliament building in the back garden of this little house.
It’s bigger than it looks.
No Union Jack!
Everyone’s in Brussels today.
This was the first MEP we randomly looked at with our free electronic finger pens, Nico Semsrott
In the old town.
An old role model.
Alain Séchas spider aka “The rich make their comeback”. Nice hat.
Use the building as your canvas.
By Ed Paschke.
Window made in Strasbourg.
https://www.operanationaldurhin.eu/en/spectacles/saison-2021-2022/opera/carmen
Even the singers wore masks, except Carmen.
https://www.camping-strasbourg.com/en/ – In the car park as the site was full.
Strasbourg celebrates its Christmasyness!
