Our ability to update our blog is somewhat reliant on us finding free Wi-Fi (not wanting to spend on this unless we really have to although we have a broadband dongle we can use if we need to). Before we came away I purchased a Wi-Fi aerial which has greatly increased the number of Wi-Fi networks we can find in any area, and touch wood find an open connection.

So far our visit to Venice is the only exception, hence the slight delay in posting our blog. So here’s what we’ve been up to over the past week or so…..

Como To Verona
We have been on our way now for just over a week and been in Italy for 4 days and plan to be here for another 6 weeks or so. After spending some time at Lake Como we made our way across to Verona. We are now avoiding motorways to save on the toll fees and therefore to save money and maintain our campervan way of life for as long as possible.

The drive across to Verona wasn’t particularly scenic and there was a fair amount of industry, also a significant number of unfinished / mothballed construction which I guess is the result of the current financial climate both here and in the rest of Europe.

We had heard a lot about Italian driving standards before we got here and it’s only been 4 days but our observations so far are to expect anything at any time at any speed and from any directioin! Indicators seem to be an optional extra.

We arrived in Verona on Monday night and found a campsite/backpackers place with a few spaces for small camper vans.

A tight squeeze but a good location

It was a bit rough and ready but had a great atmosphere and was only 10 minutes walk from the city centre (that’s going down – it takes longer coming back up the 227 steps!).

Verona itself is how you would picture an archetypical Italian city – lots of old buildings in shades of sienna and ochre, with some Roman ruins thrown in- my description undoubtedly does it a disservice – with the Arena and the Romeo and Juliet connection very touristy.

Modern day verses to Juliet

The tourists seemed to be mainly German and with the new technology allowing tourists to be linked to their guide via Bluetooth/wireless headsets I was reminded of the Borg Collective (although failed to spot Seven of Nine).

Quote of the week: From an American tourist at the Roman Arena in Verona – ‘Say, do you think these are the original stones??’

Verona to Venice
After Verona we headed across to Venice. Again we avoided motorways on the way across and noticed less industry and more agriculture. Our driving knowledge increases and we play a game guessing why a driver is behaving so erratically. Being on the phone or texting are top favourites, but a new one on the way across to Venice was a driver doing a puzzle book at 80 kph!

To access Venice we decided to stay at Punta Sabbioni, a spit of land to the East of Venice with good water bus access.

Vaporetto

Punta Sabbioni also marks one of the points where a new barrage is being constructed to prevent flooding events in Venice which have been increasing in frequency as a result of climate change and Venice gradually sinking. It looks to be quite a feat of construction, with construction of a man-made island (a la Chek Lap Kok but smaller) and a series of tidal gates (a la the Thames Barrier only larger). The immediate impact to us however is the noise of the construction which starts at about 8am – waking us up at an hour which we now consider to be quite early (compared to our previous life where we’d have been on the go for at least 2 hours).

In the end we spent 3 nights in Punta Sabbioni which gave us 2 full days exploring Venice. We bought 36 hour unlimited vaporetti (waterbus) passes and spent the time hopping on and off and trying to get lost to see what we could come across.

I came to Venice before on my original trip 30-odd years ago and it is one of the places I have always wanted to come back to. Yes, it is very touristy but you don’t have to go far to get away from the crowds and see how a city with canals for roads operates. The place is bustling and you could sit for hours at a busy canal junction watching boats going in all directions, whether they are vaporetti, taxis, ambulances. or even a DHL delivery boat.

Almost a week after we left the UK and we have finally arrived yesterday in Italy. After leaving the campsite near Troyes we went south to Annecy and had a 2 night stop at a site on the banks of the lake there.

Two brolley rain at Lac Annecy!

Great location but not great weather – rained fairly solidly for most of  the time including a massive thunder and lightening storm overnight.
Did manage to cycle into Annecy though and had a wander round – very touristy but some great cake and chocolate shops.

Then across into Switzerland via the mountains (we’re avoiding toll roads now to get a better feel of the places we are passing through). Saw lots of places which we recognised as ski resorts – Megeve, Chamonix, etc., then stayed for one night in a place called Brig in Switzerland. They speak German there so an opportunity to get out our German dictionary and have a practice – we’re now fluent in booking into campsites in about 4 different languages (although ‘fluent’ might be overstating it!).  Still raining…

Next morning we set off over the Simplon Pass to get into Italy and encountered our next weather condition – it was snowing!

Simplon Pass Summer 2012 !

I was worried we’d end up stranded halfway up, but then we were overtaken by an Italian in a Nissan Micra and decided perhaps I was overly anxious.

Anyway we are now pitched up by Lake Como, about 10 metres from the lake itself and have had a relaxing day today, walking into Lecco, visiting a supermarket to stock up on supplies (appears to be a fantastic choice of everything), and then lounging around this afternoon by the van, as, finally, the sun has come out and it’s about 28 degrees.

Why do all the cakes look so good?

Lake Como

Our early morning view from the van

Now planning our next stop – looks like it may be Verona to visit the balcony and hopefully sample some of the local wines. Fingers crossed the sun will continue to shine….