So relaxing....not much happening so here are a few photies.

The pretty little town of Mergozzo on Lake Mergozzo

Mergozzo

Lake Mergozzo 

Camping Conca D'Oro beach area, looks slopping but its
actually flat, my disc must have slipped again.

Great pitch, flat and large, unusual for some Italian
sites.

Italy, famous for cappuccino, pizza, ice cream, beautiful voluptuous 60’s actresses , well dressed fashion conscious people and the Mafia….makers of dammed good gangland movies.

We have now had 4 memorable days in the Italian Lakes. Our site is probably the best in the area and is on the edge of Lake Maggiore with splendid views in all directions. It is also next to a gorgeous little town called Feriolo Di Baverno. Fortunately the beauty of the area has been intensified by the clear skies and sunshine we’ve been receiving since our arrival. We’ve mainly been relaxing by the lake or swimming in its clear waters but Tuesday saw us out on our bikes wandering around in circles in a nearby nature park, until an Italian couple who we had passed several times stopped us and directed us to a cycle path that led to Lake Mergozzo. We took the 3 mile ride passing the stunning lake until we reached the village of  Mergozzo at the head of the lake. A little sleepy village on the waters edge with several fine restaurants and bars. We sat and had a cappuccino at a bar overlooking the lake and just watched. The activity of sitting and watching is so crucial to any trip to Italy. You see Italy is one gigantic film set where all of the ‘actors’ walk about, alone, in pairs or in groups, practicing their lines and more importantly their gestures, revealing the beauty and rhythm of their language, a seeming mixture of latin passion and their famous opera aria’s., as they almost sing through their conversations and dialogue.

The importance of sitting and watching became even more significant on Tuesday when we cycled to Stresa, a place that should be renamed De Stressa, as it seems to extract all of your cares and woes as you sit along its stunning promenade. As you walk along the prom and lakeside gardens you cant help but be impressed with its majestic regency hotels. The lake views look north up Lake Maggiore towards Switzerland, in fact the northern section of this lake is actually in Switzerland. Closer just off the shore are the Borromean islands. Most attractive of these is Isolo Bello with its centrepiece being the Palazzo Borromeo, a large house with terraced gardens. If you don’t fancy the boat trip you can just admire the views, views can be so underrated. If only we had views like this everyday at home then Sky Tv would be made bankrupt!

Today we celebrated what Italy is famous for, we had a cappuccino at a bar, ate ice cream on the promenade and in the evening had pizza at a restaurant.

 

Our pitched van at camping Conca D'Oro

5 minute walk from site...Feriolo Di Baverno

Stresa prom.

The island of Isola Bella.

Looking north up Lake Maggiore towards Switzerland

Stresa

Stresa

Thursday 3rd September.
We drove about 48 miles to Interlaken. Campsite about 45 minutes walk into the town. Again a good site with clean facilities. However what was an 18 euro a night site in the book turned out to be a 27 euro a night sight. The taxes added on included a 6 euro a night levy just for taking our rubbish! It seems that the bin men around here must drive to work in Mercs and BMW's! We walked along a riverside track into Interlaken. We passed some black squirrels which from all accounts are black red ones, but whatever they are they were definitely black in colour. Interlaken was pretty but not as interesting as Lucerne. It was very popular with chinese tourists who spent most of there time taking pictures of themselves whilst balancing on one leg! Had coffee and cake and walked back to site.

Friday 4th September.
Left the site and a bit undecided. Not sure if to just do the drive straight to the Italian Lakes but when we saw the lovely weather decided to have one more night in Switzerland. Good decision as its150 miles to the Italian Lakes and the roads through the alps are mountainous and winding. We therefore stopped at a medieval town called Brig. Excellent site on  a river overlooking town. We parked close to reception and got an excellent internet connection even managed to stream uk tv.Walked the 10 minute riverside walk into town. Some nice shops and lovely old buildings. Found an Aldi and topped up with provisions. We didn't bring any Swiss Francs but everwhere takes euros, giving you change in swiss francs, must remember to use these before leaving Switzerland. Great swimming pool close to site with expansive lawns. We rested in the afternoon heat and went for another walk along the river going out of the town. Beautiful canyon walk.

Black Squirrel or is it a Black Red one?

Interlaken

Interlaken

Road from Interlaken to Brig

Brig

Brig

Tuesday 1st September. Left the site at  Epinal around 10am and went to nearby Leclerc to fill up with provisions. Drove 150 miles to Bad Bellingham in Germany. Germany is famous for its engineering, beer festivals and penalty kicks. This was a brief overnight stay in Germany before crossing into Switzerland. We merely crossed over the Rhine and followed its course for several miles before stopping at the site. However for our motorhome this is the Fatherland, the place of its manufacture, and in response to this return home it reared its beast of a head like a stallion let loose on the plains and roared and galloped down the autobahn displaying its sleek lines and showing off to the rest of the herd.
Good site, typical German cleanliness and organisation. However a worrying trend is emerging on some ACSI sites where sites seem to be adding a bit in taxes. Book price here is 18 euros but we were actually charged 21 euros.

Wednesday 2^nd September.

It must have been 1966 and only weeks had passed since Geoff Hurst sent that ball into the top corner of the net past a German paralysed goalkeeper named Tilkowski. We still had those famous words of Kenneth Wolstenholme ringing in our ears …”They think its all over….” Well you know the rest. The Blundell family were now on their first overseas holiday together. A journey that involved a flight from Manston airport in Kent to Basle in Switzerland, then an overnight coach drive through Lucerne via Lake Como to the resort of Lido di Jesola in Italy. Now almost 50 years later I am taking the same route. Passing Basle we had to stop at the Swiss border to obtain a 32 euro road vignette to allow us to drive our 3.5 plus motorhome on Swiss roads. Not an easy task when many of the border offices are closed but eventually we found one open and headed for Lucerne.

Switzerland, famous for watches, cuckoo clocks, neutrality and now a campsite in Lucerne that charges the equivalent of £35 a night! But with no other option, and granted its got everything we need and is placed close to the city, we handed over our hard earned pension to the Swiss authorities without a fight. Wouldn’t have had a fight anyway…remember….neutrality!

I still remember certain aspects of that trip nearly 50 years ago. Things such as the wooden bridges in Lucerne, the morning mist gently caressing the waters of Lake Como. So after setting up camp we walked into Lucerne. What a picturesque city. We walked the wooden bridges and climbed high to the city’s walls where a tower, a previous defence for its inhabitants now supported a large clock: we entered the tower to examine the mechanism of this giant timepiece and then descended back into the town retracing our footsteps along the lake waterfront returning to our site four hours later. Yet another enjoyable day.

Lucerne campsite.

Lucerne

Lucerne

Lucerne

Lucerne