Finalised the packing of the car, not as muc this time and left about 08:00. Foggy start but turned into a lovely day later and as always spectacular thru the swiss alps. Lunch at Gottard service station, after the pass. Not long after entering France decided to take a 'short cut' around Colmar/Strasbourg. Absolutely beautiful villages and scenary in Alsace after we left the motoway - west of Colmar. Definitely worth revisiting. The detour, through Nancy & Metz was not really a short cut.
Got into Luxembourg and had real problems finding a hotel near Arlon. Eventually we backtracked and stayed in an IBIS near the motorway.
Very, very foggy start the next day and we eventually got to the ferry on time for 14:00 sailing. Back home about 19:00
Sunday 24 February 2008
Monday 18 February 2008
Week in Virgoletta
Arrived late Sunday afternoon and oh joy, the sofa and matress had been delivered. Spent the rest of the day unpacking and assembling all the furniture. Great to be in the apartment. The main street of Virgoletta was in the process of being repaved and the couple of times we got to relax on the terrace in the sun there was a concrete mixer in going full force. Still it was good to look out and see all the comings and goings beneath the terrace - one of the plus points of being at the entrance to the village
Monday 18th - main activity after breakfast was heading off on my bike to do some local food shopping. First stop, Bagnone market - only very small. Cycled into Villafranca and stocked up on some meat, bread & veg. Afternoon was more tidying and assembling of furniture and then drive to Aulla to hardware store (Brico) and supermarket for more essentials - wine & beer. Dinner was gallo (rooster, so I found out later) with tomato sauce - actually quite tasty.
Tuesday 19th - Had a bit of a sleep in first, then went to the cellar to get the bike for another outing. The door closed while I was in the cellar and to my surprise there was no door handle inside and also no phone signal! I was a bit stuck, however eventually managed to get a passer-by to let me out. Went for another ride down to Villafranca, some more shopping (a door handle!) and a coffee and pastry at Bar Nello. Only 1.70€ - a bargain.
Wednesday 20th - Skiing in Cerreto Laghi - about 1 hour from the apartment. Got there late morning and in hindsite would have been better to either start much earlier for a whole day skiing or later and just get half day from 12:30. There were 2 main chairlifts working and the runs were good intermediate level.
Thursday 21st - George and I went into Aulla looking for mirrors and outside chairs. Not a lot of luck, although George found a good shoe/handbag shop. In the afternoon did a big food shop in Aulla supermarket for wine, oil and other bits to bring home. Met a lady and genteman who spoke english and had just bought a house in the village. She is a journalist for Italian Vanity Fair.
Friday 22nd - First stop Sarzana to get outside chairs and mirror - success this time! Also picked by a Sony 20GB MP3 player, on special for 39€. Tried to get kettle fixed however had to go to service shop in La Spezia - it was closed. Lunch of a sandwich and then wander around clothes market. Jayne not feeling well so went into Bagnone to get some medical supplies. Tried the local takeaway Pizza place - "Non Solo Pizza" - excellent!! Packed up ready to come home
Monday 18th - main activity after breakfast was heading off on my bike to do some local food shopping. First stop, Bagnone market - only very small. Cycled into Villafranca and stocked up on some meat, bread & veg. Afternoon was more tidying and assembling of furniture and then drive to Aulla to hardware store (Brico) and supermarket for more essentials - wine & beer. Dinner was gallo (rooster, so I found out later) with tomato sauce - actually quite tasty.
Tuesday 19th - Had a bit of a sleep in first, then went to the cellar to get the bike for another outing. The door closed while I was in the cellar and to my surprise there was no door handle inside and also no phone signal! I was a bit stuck, however eventually managed to get a passer-by to let me out. Went for another ride down to Villafranca, some more shopping (a door handle!) and a coffee and pastry at Bar Nello. Only 1.70€ - a bargain.
Wednesday 20th - Skiing in Cerreto Laghi - about 1 hour from the apartment. Got there late morning and in hindsite would have been better to either start much earlier for a whole day skiing or later and just get half day from 12:30. There were 2 main chairlifts working and the runs were good intermediate level.
Thursday 21st - George and I went into Aulla looking for mirrors and outside chairs. Not a lot of luck, although George found a good shoe/handbag shop. In the afternoon did a big food shop in Aulla supermarket for wine, oil and other bits to bring home. Met a lady and genteman who spoke english and had just bought a house in the village. She is a journalist for Italian Vanity Fair.
Friday 22nd - First stop Sarzana to get outside chairs and mirror - success this time! Also picked by a Sony 20GB MP3 player, on special for 39€. Tried to get kettle fixed however had to go to service shop in La Spezia - it was closed. Lunch of a sandwich and then wander around clothes market. Jayne not feeling well so went into Bagnone to get some medical supplies. Tried the local takeaway Pizza place - "Non Solo Pizza" - excellent!! Packed up ready to come home
Saturday 16 February 2008
On the way to the apartment
Started off from Viviennes at 7:30 and easy drive to Dover to catch ferry at 10:00. Beautiful sunny day for driving. Started from the ferry on the other side at 13:15. Had our list of service stations along the way and that was useful. Drove for most of the day and stopped at hotel in Colmar about 21:00.
Sunny and very cold (-4) the following morning, again great form driving - started at 08:15. Soon entered Switzerland and got stopped at the border rearding the bike on the back and the temporary number plate. Sorted it out and off we went again. Beautiful drive thru the mountains - all covered in snow. Lunch at services near Bellinzona (a world heritage site) in Switzerland, south of the Gottard pass. Into Italy and then got stopped again at the border for the same reason as before. At least this time the guard was much friendlier.
Arrived in Virgoletta at 16:25
Sunny and very cold (-4) the following morning, again great form driving - started at 08:15. Soon entered Switzerland and got stopped at the border rearding the bike on the back and the temporary number plate. Sorted it out and off we went again. Beautiful drive thru the mountains - all covered in snow. Lunch at services near Bellinzona (a world heritage site) in Switzerland, south of the Gottard pass. Into Italy and then got stopped again at the border for the same reason as before. At least this time the guard was much friendlier.
Arrived in Virgoletta at 16:25
Friday 15 February 2008
Terracotta Warriors
Working from home today and in the afternoon packed up the car. Picked up George at 4:30 and then mad dash to London to meet Vivienne at British museum to see the Terracotta Warriors. Fantastic exhibition with lots of info on the history and how they were found. There were about 10 figures on display in London, out of about 1000 that have been excavated. There is estimated another 5000 still to be uncovered. They date from Qin dynasty (220BC) and were only discovered in 1974. The individualism and attention to detail on the faces was truly remarkable.
Dinner at Gourmet Hamburger Kitchen place in Putney (again) and then on to Vivienne's for the night
Dinner at Gourmet Hamburger Kitchen place in Putney (again) and then on to Vivienne's for the night
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