Big Tin Bus » Beer

Verona.

Keith — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:53:08 +0000

We nearly gave up on Verona, had difficulty finding somewhere to park, glad we did not. A link with Romeo and Juliet, (see the pics). We are sure that we did not see all that there is to see, it was very hot and we were tired.

The arena is the venue for open air operas in the summer with a varied programme, hence the Chinese temple props. The individual dressed in Egyptian style costume we assume is linked to Aida? One of the operas in the current programme.

Had a meal at a restuarent in the square, nice.

Orta San Guilo.

Keith — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:39:46 +0000

Lake Orta is one of the smaller lakes, but beautifully formed. One day we decided to explore the hills having quickly looked at the map, disappointing, then, by accident, we came across Orta San Guilo. A little treasure of a place, on the tourist map but, not well known.

Lake Maggiore

Keith — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:33:56 +0000

On the western side of northern Italy the lake extends into Switzerland. We drove around it’s entire shore, very nice in parts. We stayed on a site called Camping Conca D’oro, a lovely well appointed and clean site on the shores of the lake.

The Carmargue

Keith — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:23:23 +0000

This is a large river delta area formed over hundreds of years by the Rhone and petite Rhone. It is famous for its horses, cattle and wildlife. The latter was disappointing only yielding one new species for Keith.

Nimes

Keith — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:42:25 +0000

This is our current base. We have done a little exploring of the area, a mixture of tourism, agriculture and industry. The river Rhone has a strong influence on the area and some of you will associate it with very good wines. In a sense our journey as been to follow it until it enters the med, the Camargue. More on that later.

As part of our exploring we drove into some small towns, one, the name of which we do not know, was in the process of closing off streets with large strongly built metal barriers. Not your average crowd barriers. We ended up in a side street that was so narrow we could not negotiate the corner in the Kia. That’s narrow.

After a few attemps to find our way out, which we did with some local help, we figured what was going on, they were getting ready for a bull run. We decided that we did not want to witness that and moved on.

Traffic calming, in this part of France they have a little trick up their sleeve. In addition to speed humps they have hollows, a kind of inverted speed hump which doubles as a drain, yes you read correctly. Crafty beggars.

Through Germany to Switzerland.

Keith — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:56:42 +0000

On Monday 31st May we left the site near Berlin and headed south, roughly. It is quite a distance, so we decided to take two days, selecting a site near Nurnberg for a nights stop over, that was the start of our troubles.

We arrived at the site where the welcome was less than friendly. We were directed to a pitch on grass, alarm bells should have rung and Keith should have checked the ground state, we got stuck. It took us an hour to extricate the van and trailer, much to the entertainment of others, none of whom offered any assistance. We promptly left the site.

At the earliest opportunity we pulled off the road to consider our options. We had our evening meal and decided to go to a stellplatz which was about 40 k away, having rejected the option of a service area, upwards and onwards. We then encountered a road closure which involved a long and tortuous diversion. Arrived at the stellplatz only to be directed to a pitch which was to far away to connect to the electric or make use of other facilities, we payed €8 for that.

The rest of the journey was not to bad, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. We had a stop go at the Switz border, guard one waved us through, guard two signalled us to stop, guard one, by now agitated waived us on while his mate stood in the road. Words were exchanged between them and on we drove.

Openluchtmuseum.

Keith — Sun, 16 May 2010 17:29:57 +0000

An open air museum on a par with the Weald and downland open air museum. It is a collection of traditional buildings, industrial and domestic, from various areas of the Netherlands. These buildings have been collected over a number of years to protect, conserve and display the history and development of the Netherlands. In particular its rural history. We enjoyed it very much despite not having enough time to see it all.

HOG rally.

Keith — Sun, 16 May 2010 17:20:17 +0000

Today, Sunday we visited Arnhem, walking down a street we noticed what looked like market stalls. It turned out that they were selling everything related to motor bikes, it is an annual rally for the owners of Harley Davidson’s, there was hundreds if not thousands, everywhere. A loud and colourful street party.

Smoke box.

Keith — Sun, 16 May 2010 17:12:06 +0000

Attached to the outside wall as you enter the toilet/shower area is a box designed to dispose of your cigarettes prior to entering the said facility.

Keith became concerned that, on numerous occassions, persons of various ages and both sexes were staring into one box, a Dutch sport, or simply passive smoking?

On one occasion he noticed a couple taking a picture with their mobile phone, it was then that he noticed, above the box, a sign had the word vogel on it, Dutch for bird. It turns out that a great tit is nesting in the box and has eight young. Look at the pictures and you will see a bird entering.

Tour guides

Keith — Sun, 16 May 2010 16:50:27 +0000

We are talking those that alight from coaches at tourist hot spots. It strikes us that they are a combination of shepherd and sheep dog. The coach stops and they step out into the road, plaza or pavement encouraging the flock to follow, any member of the flock that dares to descent will find themselves being encouraged to conform with a terse nip.

These shepherds come in a variety of guises and costume from the garish through colourful to flamboyant. Woe betide any interloper who dares to pen their flock in a grazing area laid claim to by another shepherd. They employ a variety of methods to attract the flock and surrounding members of the public, bright clothing, clipboards, bats, the type used to marshall aircraft, clicking of fingers, a hand held high. Their charges seem more interested in talking to fellow travellers rather than the event they have come to see, a status thing?

Now we reach a critical moment, time to leave, round up the flock. Is it possible that one day an international incident could occur? tourist nipped by German shepherd, surely not?