Hi,
We have covered a lot of ground since the last update, so I'll break it up so as not to bore too much...
After Nice we left France and drove to Italy first stopping at Lake Como, followed by Lake Garda. Como is the nicest looking lake with Garda being bigger and easier to navigate. After some seriously treacherous attempts at driving around lake Como and a night by the motorway we found a lovely little campsite with it's own beach and in a village with a ferry port so got a boat across to Bellagio which is miniscule. We'd looked around the whole place in 30 minutes! Lovely surroundings and all but not sure why it's quite so famous, think it's just popular with toffs who stay in the fancy hotels there.
We went to the South East of lake Garda and it was covered with lakefront campsites which we nearly couldn't get into 'cos it was German school holidays. Take note, when planning a holiday in Northern Italy, check the German school terms first otherwise it's swarming!
Next stop was Venice where we spent 4 days. Wandered the streets for hours and is so refreshing not to have any vehicles around, not even bikes, just tourists and boats of course. Around every corner you hear the cry of 'Gondola! Gondola!' but we didn't succumb as it is outrageously expensive. Just got the bus up the grand canal and ferries in from where we were staying.
Florence was next which I really liked as I didn't know what to expect and it was beautiful. The Duomo (cathedral) there was fantastic and is probably my favorite building so far. Also it wasn't too manic with lots of pedestrianised areas so not so many crazed drivers and nutters on scooters to avoid. Pedestrian crossing? I see no pedestrian crossing. Only a target I can attempt to mow down at high speed!
Florence was the first campsite we encountered some 'young people' (and yes, I am classing myself as one for these purposes) and that seems to be a theme the further South we go, so we actually made some friends at the campsite who we met up with in Rome too. Yes FRIENDS! I have photographic evidence for those who don't believe me.
After Florence it was on to Rome, via a small town in the Tuscan hills and a major disaster which I'll cover in part 2.......
Lots of love to all, Sarah & Justin