Monthly Archives: September 2011

Tuscan Travels

Posted on September 27, 2011 by AdrianC

We’ve been trying to hook up with a 2cv mate, Ryo, who moved from the UK to Northern Tuscany a few years ago – and, just as we were starting to think about moving on from Firenze, we received a … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Culture stuff, By Country - Italy, Travel stuff | 1 Comment

A quiet place on the banks of the Arno

Posted on September 20, 2011 by EllieGee

Adrian Garraway Kingsley was my father’s cousin, someone he had looked up to during his youth and spoke of fondly. We visited Adrian’s grave in the Florence War Cemetery for British and Commonwealth forces killed between 1943 and 1945. It … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - Italy, Personal stuff | 1 Comment

A van with a view

Posted on September 20, 2011 by AdrianC

In order to give our heads a little space before hitting Florence, we headed to the edge of the Appennine mountains, towards Parma and Modena, taking us into Emilia Romagna. Yet more fantastic mountain scenery – nothing, of course, on … Continue reading →

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Cinque Terre

Posted on September 19, 2011 by EllieGee

Cinque Terre refers to the area around five villages which are wedged into coves or perch on cliff tops along the dramatic coastline between Levanto and La Spezia, east of Genoa. They are largely only accessible by train, boat or … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - Italy, Personal stuff, Travel stuff | 1 Comment

From the Alps to the coast

Posted on September 19, 2011 by EllieGee

We woke up to bright sunlight and the anticipation of exploring our first new country for a while. The campsite at Vinadio charged extra for showers – €1.50. You put the token into a machine outside the two showers which … Continue reading →

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Arrivederci, Francia – Bonjour, l’Italie

Posted on September 19, 2011 by AdrianC

After leaving Aix, we wound our way along yet more narrow mountain roads towards the gorges du verdon – described, perhaps slightly optimistically, as “Europe’s Grand Canyon”. Not quite sure they live up to that – what could? – but … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, By Country - Italy, Travel stuff | 1 Comment

Expectations versus Reality

Posted on September 8, 2011 by AdrianC

It’s been a most educational leg of the trip, to be honest. It’s not that we’re exactly neophytes at this lark – bimbling along, finding our night’s accommodation as the afternoon starts to turn into evening, and figuring out day-by-day … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, Personal stuff, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Cutting a swathe through Southern France

Posted on September 8, 2011 by AdrianC

So what have we been up to over the last week? I’ll keep this latest installment of the blow-by-blow travelogue fairly brief and factual – we’ve done too much and been too many places to do much other than split … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, Travel stuff | 1 Comment