The square on a glorious August evening. Where we are sat taking this photograph there was an armed security guard stopping people eating nearby, and taking photographs of the numerous statues in a covered area just above where we were sat. I just didn't get why he had the gun.
3 August 2010
Firenze eto
The square on a glorious August evening. Where we are sat taking this photograph there was an armed security guard stopping people eating nearby, and taking photographs of the numerous statues in a covered area just above where we were sat. I just didn't get why he had the gun.
Grand Tour of Italy 2010 Part 5 Tue 3 Aug
The drive through Italy down to Florence began with the descent from the stunning hotel near Brunate. A lovely chat with the lovely owner was followed with a few photos of Mrs. B and then setting the video camera to film the twisting descent.
Temperatures drifted from 15 degrees up to 33 degrees. We relied on the Satellite-Navigation and in doing so we forgot what effect the heat would have on the device. Even with the climate control on in the car; the Satellite-navigation gets hot in it’s exposed condition by the windscreen. The oversight cost us 5 Euro and around half an hour as it took us off the motorway and back on ourselves.
Still, before that calamity; we were able to overindulge in the excellent service station at Saint Martino. My Bro swears that West Moorland is the best Service Station in the UK, and that may be so. But Saint Martino is the best one in Europe. Pauline went for Lasagne, bread, coke and a peach tart. I managed two combinations of pasta. It should have been one, but because I was indecisive the lovely Italian lady suggested half and half. The cheese and ham version was stunning, but the tomato based sauce was far superior! I went for water, bread and some regional tart. It was all first class and came in at only 23 Euro. The Service station is very clean and the food is cooked in front of you. Well done Italy, you know how to look after your motorists.
We went through another 40 tunnels today, and over some stunning bridges. I started to lose count of the tunnels, but we can safely say that if you drive from Wales to Firenze (Florence) in Italy you will go through at least 80 tunnels with another 4 that we saw being built on our drive. So maybe the 20+ Euro worth of tolls today, aren't that excessive after all!
European touring important points:
Whatever the Satellite-Navigation says, for long journeys add on 3 hours
Today’s important points were:
The motorway toll Como and Firenze was over 25 Euro
That’s one way so sort out your budget in advance
Temperatures drifted from 15 degrees up to 33 degrees. We relied on the Satellite-Navigation and in doing so we forgot what effect the heat would have on the device. Even with the climate control on in the car; the Satellite-navigation gets hot in it’s exposed condition by the windscreen. The oversight cost us 5 Euro and around half an hour as it took us off the motorway and back on ourselves.
Still, before that calamity; we were able to overindulge in the excellent service station at Saint Martino. My Bro swears that West Moorland is the best Service Station in the UK, and that may be so. But Saint Martino is the best one in Europe. Pauline went for Lasagne, bread, coke and a peach tart. I managed two combinations of pasta. It should have been one, but because I was indecisive the lovely Italian lady suggested half and half. The cheese and ham version was stunning, but the tomato based sauce was far superior! I went for water, bread and some regional tart. It was all first class and came in at only 23 Euro. The Service station is very clean and the food is cooked in front of you. Well done Italy, you know how to look after your motorists.
We went through another 40 tunnels today, and over some stunning bridges. I started to lose count of the tunnels, but we can safely say that if you drive from Wales to Firenze (Florence) in Italy you will go through at least 80 tunnels with another 4 that we saw being built on our drive. So maybe the 20+ Euro worth of tolls today, aren't that excessive after all!
European touring important points:
Whatever the Satellite-Navigation says, for long journeys add on 3 hours
Today’s important points were:
The motorway toll Como and Firenze was over 25 Euro
That’s one way so sort out your budget in advance
Firenze
We are on the fifth (top) floor of the hotel and they have provided a room with a balcony as per my request before leaving Wales. The weather is a stunning 33 degrees
Grand Tour of Italy 2010 Part 4 Mon 2 Aug
Breakfast in Merzig was lovely, and as in 2007 we popped to a local bakery in the main street to stock up for a picnic. The drive from Merzig saw temperatures drop to 15 degrees and then rise up to 28 degrees as we entered Italy. Although the highest temperature was some 32 degrees in the middle of the 11 mile tunnel in Switzerland. We have now managed to drive through in excess of 40 tunnels on our journey from Wales to Italy.
The directions provided by the lovely owners of Hotel Cappana CAO, Brunate-San Maurizio-Via Alle colme-Piazzale C.A.O. were spot on. Although it’s times like this that you wish that you were on a scooter or driving a Smart Car and not in the Volvo S60 D5 AKA ‘The Beast’. The route from Como up into the mountains was torturous with hairpin bends every 50 metres or so and single width roads most of the way, Demanding on the concentration but great fun and places Cappana CAO as our find of the holiday. The Panorama from the hotel is simply breathtaking. We are so high up it is like being on an aeroplane.
Drinks and a read on the terrace were followed by a feast. I love the Italians, they are so thin and so well presented but eat so much! I must have been Italian in my former life, as I share their national love of food. I was probably a Centurion, not a General, but some schmuck foot soldier being bullied for 30 years. But hey ho, I bet the Centurions never eat like this. The first course was the size of a main, and the beer is washing it down very well indeed.
There was a bad thunderstorm later in the evening as it got dark and the Internet was turned off due to the weather.
European touring important points:
You need a Motorway Pass for Switzerland
We bought our one online for £30.50 before travelling
In September 2007 we could have accidentally driven through the border
In August 2010 cars were being directed to buy a pass at the border
If you are stopped without one there is an excessive fine
Sat-Nav motorway speeds are incorrect in the rain
Motorway speeds reduce near towns and junctions
Don’t forget your headlamp deflectors
Today’s important points were:
France motorway toll between Merzig and Switzerland 6 Euro 90
Bio Diesel in Merzig was 1 Euro 18 per litre
Petrol was circa 1 Euro 40
A motorway stop in Switzerland took Euro for payment
The directions provided by the lovely owners of Hotel Cappana CAO, Brunate-San Maurizio-Via Alle colme-Piazzale C.A.O. were spot on. Although it’s times like this that you wish that you were on a scooter or driving a Smart Car and not in the Volvo S60 D5 AKA ‘The Beast’. The route from Como up into the mountains was torturous with hairpin bends every 50 metres or so and single width roads most of the way, Demanding on the concentration but great fun and places Cappana CAO as our find of the holiday. The Panorama from the hotel is simply breathtaking. We are so high up it is like being on an aeroplane.
Drinks and a read on the terrace were followed by a feast. I love the Italians, they are so thin and so well presented but eat so much! I must have been Italian in my former life, as I share their national love of food. I was probably a Centurion, not a General, but some schmuck foot soldier being bullied for 30 years. But hey ho, I bet the Centurions never eat like this. The first course was the size of a main, and the beer is washing it down very well indeed.
There was a bad thunderstorm later in the evening as it got dark and the Internet was turned off due to the weather.
European touring important points:
You need a Motorway Pass for Switzerland
We bought our one online for £30.50 before travelling
In September 2007 we could have accidentally driven through the border
In August 2010 cars were being directed to buy a pass at the border
If you are stopped without one there is an excessive fine
Sat-Nav motorway speeds are incorrect in the rain
Motorway speeds reduce near towns and junctions
Don’t forget your headlamp deflectors
Today’s important points were:
France motorway toll between Merzig and Switzerland 6 Euro 90
Bio Diesel in Merzig was 1 Euro 18 per litre
Petrol was circa 1 Euro 40
A motorway stop in Switzerland took Euro for payment
Vimy Ridge
The Vimy Ridge site is run by the Canadian Govermnet and the front advance trenches have been rebuilt with concrete sandgbags, and concrete shaped like wooden floorboards/duckboards. There is even a trench Mortar. It is a shock to realise how close the two opposing armies where
The Canadian Monument
Pauline at the Canadian Monument near Arras in Western France during August 2010
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