Camper around Alsace - First Parte - Wine Route

After 8 hours driving we arrive in Colmar at night and we stopped to the camping near the center.
The morning after there's a lovely sun and we decided to take our bikes to go to the center (good choise as this will be one of the few
days without rain and clouds.)

Colmar is a small village easy to visit mostly beacause cars are not allowed.
We walk trough the center between thetypical houses up to the wonderful Petit Venice; here we can admire the most beautiful
Colmar's houses.

We keep on visiting the Cathedral and the local market with its benches, all of them are very beautiful and well organized to show,
cheese, vegetables, different types of bread and flowers.
This nice walk matches well with a good beer before coming back to the camper to have lunch.
During the afternoon we walk again through the center visiting shops and tasting brezels.
The camping where we stay is very comfortable and easy to reach espacially as your first stop; there are even 5-6 places and 23.00euro (3
person and light included) in case you arrive when the reception is closed.

The day after we towards Strasbourg driving through the Wine-Street taking the D415 Kaysersberg direction, 20 minutes aro.
The big area where we park the camper is very well indicated and reachable; few thousands mts from the center, we arrive there crossing a
small bridge.
Kaysersberg will be the most beautiful place visited during our vacation.

Going along the main street, walking along a small river that goes up to the Castle, we see timbered roofs, nice houses in pastel colours
and peculiar sign-boards. (just a note about the castle.. that's only a ruin that we do not even visited)
The atmosphere is very relaxing and a part from the walk we also enjoy a good crepes and a Kronenbourg which, I didn't know, is one of
the beer producted in this area.
The area where we stay for the night costs 7.00 euro per day, services and bathrooms outiside.

As the weather is still good we move in the afternoon and we go to Hunawihr, to visit the "Storks Park" (reachable with the camper and
well indicated).
In this oasis you can see the storks very near to you and you can also climb the trees using stairs to see their nests while puppies are
in a "reproduction center".

Storks are not the only animals you can see in the park. walking around you can see otters and there's also a Sea show with penguins and
seals.
at the end of the visit it starts to rain again so we come ack to the camper and start checking a park for the night in Riquewihr (you
can stay in the city park, 4.00 euro from 6.00pm to 9.00am. few places and not even large enough... camper as our, 7mt aro, may have some
difficulties).

Monday morning fully dedicated to visit Riquewihr.
Beautiful houses but too touristic for us; the main street is typical local shops, and souveniers shops. (by the way.. we buy a piece of
a local cheese.. 30.00euro ... at least it was very good!)

We have some more time and we decide to go to the Monkey's Park, but not without having lunch...!.. we are ready to tastaste the
Choucroute: a typical dish made with sauerkrauts (cooked with beer), wurstel and pork.
We stopped in a VinStube in Saint-Hyppolite where we eat the Choucroute drinking a cold Pinot Noir, the typical red wine with a fruits
taste ... personally I din't like it too much.

After this goods lunch we drive to the park that is over Kintzheim and very near to the Houte- koenigsbourg Castle (we did not visited
it).
     
The Monkeys' Park (Montagne de Singes) is very fascinating, about 200 Macachi living freedom and staying around you along the path.
Babies look with satisfaction at the monkeys eating pop corns taking them direclty form visitors.

To whom is travelling with the family we suggest to visit both the parks (storks and monkeys) and the villages, taking in consideration 2
hours for each stop.

We are tired but satisfied, we go to the camper and drive in Strasbourg direction trough the Wine Street until Obernai.
Driving in this area is really pleasant, beautiful landscape..vineyards and small villages with coloured houses. We should stop
everywhere taking some pictures!

In about one hour we arrive in Strasbourg and we go directly to "Montagne Verte" camping.

Continue

Week in Alsace - France

Here we are! Ready to plan our next trip with you: only one camper, 4 persons and 900km to reach our destination: Alsatia and probably
Lorraine.

I'm thinking about the journey plan starting from the organization of each day so that we will be able to see what we are interested in
not being in hurry.
Hoping in a good weather we will use our bikes daily to have a relaxing visit through the Wine Road villages and Strasbourg.

We will visit for sure the colmar (small venice), the tipical Alsatia's villages, Road markets (probably on wednesday in
Strasbourg) and good (even excellent) gastronimies as you can find there cheese and wine of a very good quality.

we also hope to learn somthing more about Storks as we only sow the nest while we were visiting Slovenja.

In the next few days you will find the complete intinerary.

follow us!

Wales - From Stonehedge to Liverpool

A path that starts from Stonehenge to Liverpool along the Welsh coast, crossing the peninsula of Gower, Pembroke Shire up to the historic Caernarfon. An itinerary reached with 16 hours of travel from Florence to Le Havre and 4/5 hour crossing by hydrofoil to Portsmouth. A journey through nature and history, vibrant colors of coastal towns and the harshness of nature. The tour was marked by daily stages with displacement of about 2-3 hours from stop to stop, hoping in the quiet of the little one in Camper (only 11 months). Stops main Stonehedge, Cardif, Wurm Head, Tendy and Pembroke Shire, Caernarfon and finally Liverpool.Driving on the left slowly discover that it is not so complicated even if you drive an Campervan of 7 meters because in many coastal stretches there is no left or right, but only in very narrow streets which strongly hope not to meet anyone to a curve (Captain Tino is still a security). That said, however if you go in Wales you can not help but walk the streets of the peninsula of Pembroke shire and / or reach Wurm Head then these roads are needed.We've been camping for more obligations and also for convenience ( marty was very small) and I admit I was amazed of the beauty of camping. Their green grass as far as the eye can put in a good mood and services were always clean and comfortable.Spectacular than on the coast immediately after Tanby sin, however, that there we get caught one of the two days of rain and then we have enjoyed little. Among the things to point out the huge mobile homes used as second homes of the British.Being in the UK we can not say that the local cuisine is an attraction not to be missed, but the mussels eat in Caernarfon have been absolutely fantastic discovery (a short post on the recipe). Ok I know I have to confess that I was more attracted by the drink. What? Beer that question! Ale! Dark beer! Beer in bottles and on tap! So what do you drink in Wales? and what you want to fill the camper except with the excellent local and Beer!?

From my diary
(post on www.fotodiviaggi.blogspot.com:)

Stonehdge
sure .. if the first day of real journey starts immediately with Stonehenge continue with this level will not be easy. Wow is fabulous and wonderful are the British that they leave no "obstacle" to the eye. Them in the middle of a field with grass combed English is barely visible top of the hill when we are still in the car a few hundred meters. For the rest I leave to the show a few pictures of the place that I can confirm it has something mystical.

 Wurm Head
... like a fairy tale the huge rock shaped like a Wurm is guarding the beach rosshili. Considered one of the most beautiful ears of Wales is at the end of the gower peninsula. The beach is reached by a very narrow road and very scenic pleasant to go. The low and high tides shape the landscape. At low tide the beach is huge, its gold color makes it very warm despite the cold wind whizzing from the Atlantic ...


Pembroke Shire

After a night spent camping in a beautiful ghost of the sea (here still has not started the season, but the houses are all located) we visited the nearby castle of Kidwelly. All or almost ruined, but the location and the two main bastions are almost impressione. Move to the National Botanic Garden of Surprises only for the beautiful underground greenhouse spherical. In fact, the plants are all or almost Mediterranean and nothing is so exciting. With Martina asleep we move into Penbrokeshire, perhaps the most tourist Wales. The first stage is the legendary lonely Tanby that looks like a quiet seaside village in Victorian style.
This time, Lonely Planet are wrong, the village is gorgeous. The old town in Victorian style with pastel houses stands on the steep cliffs overlooking the golden beach. As if that were not enough a Norman fortress is situated in the rock in front of the beach (only accessible at low tide). So spectacular!

Caernarforn

So where were we ... we arrived in North Wales to Caernarfor in the late afternoon and then we start the story with the evening.
Facilitated by the proximity and the presence of grandparents we overlook downtown for a dinner of beer in a Pub, Okay just one ...however ... the house specialty Mussels , and so I take now! Tam instead takes the prawns, but unfortunately for him are obviously fried!
The next day we leave with peace of mind to the castle and the village is really nice. After an english breakfast (yes, I know I have given in disarray, but got was from my peckish ...), we go into every single shop and then in the castle. Place of coronation of Charles as Prince of Wales, the castle is well maintained and really fun to visit with its towers, turrets and paths in the walls.
Meanwhile, the tide is going and, as has happened often to see the boats in the harbor are now moored on the sand.
It 's time to leave and after a quick consultation we decided that the next half will be Liverpool

In summary a really nice place, the nature is the host and the coastline is dotted with small villages not bad and the immense beaches are new to us impressed. Stonehedge is a must! All this, however, is likely to be a little hectic 15-day voyage (including 4 shift start and end)
so you do not have too much to dwell in places and often have the feeling of not living the journey as it should.

Beauty of place : 8,5
Distance : 4,5
Catering : 6
Accessibility children : 7
Ease of parking : 7,5
Total cost :6,5

Overall assessment : 6,5 (40 su 60)

From Gubbio to Urbania travelled by Leopardi's country and the house of Duke D'Urbino

January 1, 2013
Finally a few days off! Celebrated New Year's Eve with friends and children, the first day of the year we are ready to go. The route is already more of an idea through the work of our wives and resources are loaded and operational. We are moving up early taking advantage of the half-empty streets after partying the night before, the direction of Gubbio.
We arrive in a couple of hours the Umbrian town and parked the camper near the sports facilities via del Bottagnone. The parking area is slightly ahead but in the parking lot is full and there are other campers, so we decide that the place is good and, taking advantage of a free bus service links, we reach the center.
The weather did not help us and few drops of rain accompanies our travels but does not prevent us to enjoy the beautiful Gubbio. With a couple of lifts we reach the Piazza Grande, where we admire the Palazzo dei Consoli and Palazzo Pretorio. After a good meal in one of the downtown restaurants conclude the ride back to our cars, just in time to see the giant Christmas tree light, designed on the hill on which stands Gubbio.

in Recanati

January 2, 2013
We leave early enough and head to Recanati. Thanks also to the fortuitous meeting with the president of the local Camper club, we find the best rest area via Peruzzi, free connection with the power supply and load / unload, all close enough to the center.
Visit Recanati through its places Leopardi, from the birthplace of the poet to the hill of the Infinite with its charming landscape. The city speaks of poetry, but we very prosaically we are drawn by a delightful shop where beer squander a significant portion of our budget (.. will be the theme of this trip)


January 3, 2013
After a quick load / unload tanks we head towards the coast. The weather is gray, but the desire to show the children the sea is great. We come to Numana and we can park their vehicles on the seafront and spend the morning to entertain the little ones on the beach. At lunch we move and facing a winding climb that embarrasses my McLouis, we reach the summit of the Conero.
Unfortunately, we do not find the view we had hoped, but we are surrounded by greenery and already this we can rejoice lunch (any excuse would be valid while eating)
With a full stomach descend the mountain and return to the sea, destination Sirolo. The town for campers only offers a daily parking comunquer a few meters from the center. 5 minutes and we, well-kept streets and pleasant sea views are the main feature though probably at its best in the spring and summer. From the top we can see the beach below the village (not accessible with our means, even in winter) a must try in the summer months.
Off again reach Senigallia where risk to put in the center, this time is the Adriatic Stefano to suffer its increased size. Dodged the danger, there is parking and give us a walk downtown, shopping and relax.
The climate is pleasant and it is definitely a nice surprise the city center, but we have to move, we set to spend the night at the Agriturismo Sbraga, near Fano. We get that it's time for dinner and we only have time to arrange transportation, tomorrow we will look around.

January 4, 2013
We wake up with a bright sun, the place is very nice and the owner very kind with us and see the farm animals, clearly the kids are excited. The place is much to recommend, for 16 euro a day you will have a spacious pitch, electricity and water on site, spacious bathrooms and clean and all in a beautiful environment. We complete the morning by playing children in freedom and walking in the surrounding countryside. Time gives us even outdoor dining, something quite rare in this season. Withdrawn table and chairs we go to the next half Corinaldo.
We park near the sports field where we come to the center with a short but challenging climb. The medieval town is very charming and keeps almost intact the outer walls, but, as often see in these places, there is no life, there are very few activities and a visit to these places is likely to become monotonous.
We leave for the last stages of our journey and arrive in Urbino in the late evening. Follow the signs and parked in a parking area not exactly close to the center, but it's late and we're tired, we'll see tomorrow (sleep with an average slope of campers between 7 and 20% argggg)

January 5, 2013
We soon realize that we have to move to visit Urbino, there is a car park next to the Palazzo Ducale with convenient access to the center. We find that it would be possible to stay here for the night, of course fee (1.20 € per hour).
The tour of the center allows us to discover a beautiful city: the church of San Francesco, Palazzo Ducale, The Duomo, the Piazza Rinascimento and Piazza della Repubblica. Circulate so few cars that children can play with a certain tranquility. Among the many things to see we can find the time to taste us a delicious meal of meat and find a shop selling new and delicious beers.
With the camper loaded as an Oktoberfest walking we reach the final and decisive stage: Urbania, the city of the Epiphany!
They are many who chose this place to spend the Epiphany, but the parking area at the Barco del Duca is great and the view of all those campers is a good show. A convenient shuttle service, free of charge, however, brings us to the center of the party. Dozens and dozens of witches greet us full of candy for the delight of children, wherever there are stalls full of all good (we can find craft beers here too!). The clock tower two acrobats dance hanging by a thread and in the afternoon from the bell tower of the Duomo launched four witches riding their brooms amid the cries of the crowd and two happy fathers with their young shoulders. In the end, tired but happy, we return to our homes waiting for the old furniture fills our stockings.

What are in the glass?

January 6, 2013
Last day, we take one last around Urbania, which undoubtedly offers easy parking and a natural environment and child, and after lunch and tidied means we start the return trip.

Beauty of place : 7
Distance : 7
Catering : 6
Accessibility children : 7,5
Ease of parking : 8
Total cost : 8

Barco del Duca - Perfect Camper Area

Overall assessment : 7.16 (43 su 60)


 

Route defined

Visualizza Da Urbino A Urbania in una mappa di dimensioni maggiori

This is our route , Do you suggests us sono place for eat or drink?

Spello, Assisi, Bevagna and Montefalco

Friday 16/11/12
Finish ed work and made the final preparations we are ready to go, we take the Calenzano motorway which are just 18, direction Umbria.
Blame a little traffic, we come to our first destination, Spello, which are already 21.
The site is well signposted and is located a few hundred metres from the centre, close to the sports ground (coin-operated parking meter, 8 euro for 24 hours, minimum payment 5 euro) time to dine and settle down for the night and everyone in bed.

Saturday 17/11/12
The night was cold, but a good stove and quiet allowed us to rest. To get to the centre need to travel a short distance uphill.
Spello appears immediately in its beauty, medieval streets and alleys lead us through the ancient stone buildings, offering an enchanting panorama that has inspired an artist like Norberto Proietti. Visit the Gallery of the artist in via Cavour and continue the tour, noting, however, that many businesses are closed and that, in general, Spello doesn't shine for vitality, however, does not mean that the visit is less palatable, but we intend to go back on the occasion of the infiorata, the competition of flowered balconies typical of the country, that normally takes place in early June (next should take place on the first weekend of June 2013)

After lunching in camper we move in Assisi, the parking here is more complicated: after countless laps, continually blocked by access restrictions for motorhomes, we find a  parking. The fare is not cheap (2 euro for hour) but mostly we realize not just neighbors. We park too and ask directions, in fact there is no signage for the centre and the bar, which should also work as a cashier, is currently closed. Luckily the people we meet are very polite, which will be repeated everywhere, and the way we are moving. Here the path is decidedly uphill and having to push the stroller doesn't help. Huffing and pushing come on top and we must now admit that despite the effort is worth it: Assisi is truly magnificent. In every corner there is the link that this city has with its saint well with its origins. Maybe you see even the most travel propensity, but never so heavy and without absolutely charm penetrate a bit mystical. The short day of early winter we just a little when turning, but also gives us spectacular views that you are unlikely to forget.

Back to the camper and, after paying our contribution to the parking machine (the bar continues to be inexplicably closed), we move to the night in Bevagna. The staging area is well-marked, peaceful and free.
 The country and really close and, after having dined on sliced pizza base, we are going to spend the second night in Umbria.

Sunday 18/11/12
 A dense rain accompanied us throughout the night, but fortunately the morning we reserve a time forgiving and good, now, we are going to visit Bevagna. The country is very beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful for now, will be smaller than in Assisi, or maybe the continuous flow of people, maybe the two wonderful squares, but we immediately fascinated. Despite being Sunday, most of the shops are open, people are really helpful and we stop several times to talk with people we meet. "Angiolino 'o pustino" tells us that the best time to visit the village is the end of June, for the market of the Gaite, medieval event involving the entire Bevagna, so we have a good excuse to go back.
 We stop for lunch at Osteria Scottadito. Perhaps for the season but the Club is full and we serve with diligence, homemade pasta and a spectacular cut, pity that the choice of the house wine was equally apt.
 Back to the camper to relocate in Montefalco. There aren't many kilometres and landscape and really spectacular: the vines that turn to red colour the hills that surround us and almost sorry when we arrive.

  We leave the medium into the staging area at the foot of the town, free of charge but with a steep access. Montefalco is probably what keeps most of all the characteristics of the medieval: narrow cobblestone streets, steep slopes and stairways everywhere. Not that this isn't appealing, but try to move with the stroller is truly daunting. Will this or a bit of tiredness but after little more than an hour we decide to get back on the road to home.

Conclusions
 The route that we did not quite linear, we made choices based on the areas where we would sleep.
 Maybe it's not the best time to visit these areas, but even so we enjoyed the beauty of a region that welcomed us with its bold flavors but cordial. In case we reported, together with a good bottle of Sagrantino, a great desire to leave again

Beauty of place : 9
Distance : 8
Catering : 8
Accessibility children : 6
Ease of parking : 8
Total cost : 8

Overall assessment : 7.83 (47/60)

Civita di Bagnoregio and its surroundings

Friday, 26/10/12
We leave Friday afternoon from Sesto. The group is complete two campers, a mythical Adria Coral 670D of 7 seats and the new entry Mc Louis 360. Four adults and three children and half are participants.
The arrival in Bagnoregio originally planned for the 18 is actually delayed by an hour.
The stop is planned at the Camper parking just outside the village (€ 10 day tickets you buy at the store souvernir), because is late we explore the pizzeria a few meters of the squadre to arrange fast dinner.
The children are tired and go to bed shortly so we spent the time remains to plan the next day. The idea is to reach Civita di Bagnoregio walk through the village of Bagnoregio, the distance of about 2 km it's all downhill, for return we assume the use of the local bus.

Saturday, 27/10/12
We wake up and the air is already hot for the autumn and invites us to get out quickly and start our walk with the "trust" Pepe in front of us.
The town of Bagnoregio is a typical village of Lazio (southern Tuscany - Umbria external), Medieval and pleasant to go even if it has no special attractions.
The show, however, it’s only a few minute delay. The panoramic route to Civita di Bagnoregio is absolutely unique! A valley in the background and a small peak at the center of which hangs the "dying town", one image favored by splendid day to be immortalized!
The bridge, off a little more than a small tractor is the only access to the town, the motor is half of the few households (about 10), but I guarantee that the slope of the last part is really challenging.
Arrived at the village we stop immediately in the square for a cold beer and a toast. The country is small and in the short turn, among the things to report I want to emphasize the views of the valley.
We come back to the camper for lunch without the aid of the van, but enjoying the walk again made the first leg.

  Quick lunch in the camper and define the next goal. After a quick consultation to decide village near Pitigliano, Sovana.
Our route follows the hill of the country until lake of Bolsena,where, fascinated by the sunset and the sign that shows the presence of a fest, we decide  to stay overnight.
The car parking is a parking 24H not so far of the lake  (10 € per day but need to get the coins because they do not accecpt bills) the distance from the center is about a mile away. Then we reach the main road and travel together to a local band.
The evening starts to get dark and we return to the camper not before a taste of fried food in the local store.
The day ends with dinner all together in our camper and planning the next day. We will use the morning for a walk along the lake and then we will reach Sovana.

Sunday, 28/10/12
The lakeside promenade starts with a good breakfast at a choice of cafes, so we reach the dock of the local marina and spend a few minutes enjoying the relatively cool air blowing slightly to clean the lake.
We return to the Caravan and continue to Sovana. The route is about an hour across the Tuscan countryside, very funny for the drivers.

 

-->In Sovana parking is free and can be an excellent place to stop also in the night. The village is small, well maintained and very Charmful.
The Cathedral brings us back to the Knights Templar, his simplicity, silence and the mighty structure of the columns you back in the past. The village is rich of well-maintained buildings and a lot a place to eat. We decide to taste the flavors of the area in “Vino al Vino” (Wine to Wine)
We complete the visit to the ruins of the palace / castle of the Lord of the place and then move (in 10 minutes) in Pitigliano.



 

Here a stop was complicated (Camper parking is far and does not allow access on foot to the old town), we use a wide road to park vehicles and reach the center. Also in this case the view of Borgo from outside the walls is absolutely unique, but the path in the center is not at the same height. Maybe it is because fatigue or to have arrived here after a visit to Sovana, but I'm not hitting.
 
We return then to the camper and in two hours we return to Florence tired, but very pleased with our itinerary.

Considerations
The destination is perfect for two / three days of complete relaxation. The distances are short, all the villages (with the exception of Pitigliano) are accessible even with children and provide easy parking and restaurant.

Beauty of places: 9
Distance: 8
Catering: 9
Accessibility children: 8
Ease of parking: 7
Total cost: 8

overall assessment : 8.16 (49/60)