Camper around Alsace - Last Part - The nord

(Continued from Second Part)

Country

The road to Wissemburg, for the most part within the park of the North Vosges, is very pleasant and we can see the change in the landscape and vegetation, vineyards are now gone, and in addition to the cultivated fields often the road through the forest.



A few miles away from the goal we make a stop in Hunspach, a village of white houses on the edge of the forest (1km from the main road). The hamlet, OCME reported one of the most beautiful villages of France, is very quaint and charming tourist then what is absolutely not an easy walk of a few minutes is enough to admire the white houses and the characteristic convex glasses on the windows.

Hunspach

Wissemburg

We leave for Wissemburg and parked the camper in the parking area in front of the swimming pools signaled totally free (we are alone, but in the night there will come a German campers to keep us company). This typical village in the north of Alsace is a pleasant visit, even here the canal that runs through the center makes his game and beautiful are the facades of the houses of 1600 still well maintained (and inhabited). Dinner at "La Vignette" makes us taste the local cuisine (mix between Germany and France, we are 3 km from the border), to advise the Choucroute employed mainly for the excellent pork that accompanies it and the duck leg , all strictly accompanied with a beer or local wine.
Going back to the camper we can see that from here there are various walking trails or bike that branch off along the region of 2-3 hours (surely one thing to take advantage of if you pass here in the summer season)

Road

Volsgi Parc

The next day we set off for Bitche (Lorraine) and cross several kilometers of forest. The first stop is the Castle of Fleckenstein, well maintained ruin from which it is possible to observe the vastness of the park. Here is also a fun path in the woods that we, because of rain, we had to avoid.





We have lunch in the relaxation of the forest (in the car park of the castle) and again towards Bitche encountering quite a storm and so cold.

Fort of Simserhoff

Once we go to the est area just below the Citadel (free, very well maintained with 4 pitches style camping, loading and unloading charge 2 € a good stop if you're in the area)
The rain does not stop, then decided to move to go to the fort Simserhoff, the signs are not visible and reach the place thanks to a very kind gentleman who escorted us in practice to the parking lot. Located a few kilometers from Bitche the fort was built on the Maginot Line to defend against the Germans and suffered several bombing but remained intact. The visit consists of a video historical images and a path with a train inside the fort to 29 meters below ground (the visit is highly recommended for adults and children).
.
When we go out it is still raining so we change plans and go directly to Saverne (we return to Alsace) where we park in the camper is not well reported in the harbor parking lot on the canal ... and miraculously faces the sun ... we hope to be able to use the bike tomorrow ...
The good weather also remains in the morning so we take the bike and take a ride in the country. Characterized by the canal and harbor from the castle (villa) real country is famous for the rose garden in which there are over 8000 types of roses (no shame in bloom) and chocolate. For the street in the center many tearooms serving nice quality chocolate or chocolate and coffee.

Shoes

Our trip is winding down and before returning to Strasbourg and Riquewirh (the stages of approach to the border of) we stop to Grafthal. Here are the houses in stones (maison troglodyte). The attraction from the outside is a bit sad (they are only 3-4 houses dug into the tuff) but the visit (2 €) is cute. The rooms are still furnished with the furniture of the time (1800-1900) and there are also many farm tools. The girls having fun.

Maison troglodyte

We have lunch in the parking lot of the country and take the road to Strasbourg, lard the sun spend a few hours on the bike for the city (easy to reach from the campsite Montagne Verte).

The last day of approach at home included a stop in Ribeauville, another beautiful country of the wine trail, but with a little more traffic and overnight stay in Riquewihr where we take the road to home.


Night
(from 1 to 5 star quality/price):
***       Colmar, Camping dell'ill , allèe du Camping 1 - 21€
*****   Kaysersberg, (N 48.135686 - E 7.262948), Place de l'Erlenbad - 7€ 24h
****     Riquewihr, (N 48.16608 - E 7.30175) Parcheggio comunale - 4€ (18:00-9:00)
**         Strasburgo, Camping Montagne Verte (N 48°34'31"  E 7°42'52) 2 rue Robert Forrer-23€
***       Wissemburg, boulevard Clemenceau (parcheggio piscine) - Free
*****   Bitche, (N 49.05414 - E 7.43436 ) seguire indicazioni cittadella - Free
**         Saverne, (N 48.74222 - E 7.36583 ), rue des Emouleurs - Free
 (price for  3 person + electricity)


Considerations:
The Alsace is a beautiful journey, easy for the distances between the various destination and parking areas in each country (even the smallest). The walkable villages and parks in the area make it an attractive destination for children and the local cuisine is worth the taste as you need a few glasses of good wine Alsatian (sin a little too expensive, especially in the blank). The locals are friendly and in no situation I found myself in trouble with my little Francesce, however if you have difficulty many speak English. The total cost remains low thanks to the many free or rest areas that allow overnight stay a few euro. We were not able to use a lot of bikes but everywhere there were bike lanes and bicycle parking.
Definitely a trip to recommend.

Beauty of place : 9
Distance : 10
Catering : 7
Accessibility children : 9
Ease of parking : 10
Total cost : 9

 
Overall assessment : 9,0 (54 su 60)

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)