But, we now have full Internet access, so you can keep in touch with us. (Hint)

Picture was taken on the verandah this lunchtime :-) G&T

Well we finally found the rain. You will all no doubt be pleased to know that .

We got to Dresden around mid-day and decided to go into to the city before finding our campsite. Even though it rained most of the time, we walked round Dresden centre. The city quite surprised us. There is a lovely wide river running through it with paddleboat steamers, going up and down, for the benefit of the tourists. Some of the buildings too were quite impressive.

We have learnt that now it is late July a lot of the campsites get busy and are sometimes full by mid afternoon, so we decided to phone the campsite that we had decided to stay before going. We actually got no answer so phoned our second choice. This we found quite easily and by now it was raining quite hard so we were glad. It did though surprised us that the campsite, advertised as the Smith family campsite, was actually in the Smith family back garden. Honest!

Early Monday morning we made our way to Postdam just outside Berlin. We had actually booked the same campsite that we stayed at on our first night, so went into Potsdam centre, for lunch and a wander around , first.

Love and regards to you all as fits

Gordon and Topsy

Of course the evening was spent packing. This was not as easy as you might all think. Our little “home” did not have much room to start with and during the 6 weeks we had not managed to stretch it any. So it was a case of one of us finding a little corner to sit in while the other one did their packing. Mixed in with washing, eating and cleaning the van, to get it ready to hand back, we managed to have a very jolly evening.

Got to the rental depot by 11am on yesterday and once handed everything over got a taxi to our hotel here in Berlin. Oh! What joy to have a proper bed! A real bathroom! Space to move around without first having to ask the other one to kindly move! Despite being glad to have all these things back in our lives we have had a whale of a time. The adventure was just that, a marvellous adventure. We have seen so many beautiful places, had some really funny times, enjoyed ourselves and neither of us would have missed it for anything.

We have had a good day here in Berlin seeing the sites and are off tomorrow to Athens and down to Ikaria on Monday. We will still be posting some blog from there so keep reading.

Love and regards to you all as fits

Gordon and Topsy

Days travelling: 42
Miles covered: 5902 (9497 km)
Diesel used: 957 litres, costing € 1041. (27.5 mpg)
Countries visited: 6 (France and Germany twice)
Campsites: 22
Number of towns and cities explored (to a greater or lesser extent): 29
Estimated miles tramped whilst exploring: 90
Cost of this adventure – No idea – but the pile of credit card receipts is very high!

If anybody is interested we’ve connected to the internet in a number of ways.
In order of expense:
Logging onto someones unsecured wifi connection
Wifi at campsites, ranging from free, via reasonable, to blooming expensive!
Internet cafés – always very reasonable
Starbucks hotspot – expensive
Hotel wifi (whilst posting this) – very expensive

So there we have it! Do keep in touch with us during the summer. Once we get to Ikaria email will be promptly answered. Regards, Gordon

PS: Glad to read that you won the jackpot, Phill. Fantastic – well done. I guess Craig has spent it all by now. ;-)

Sunday 29th July.

G&T

We got to Prague in good time. The campsite, again recommended to us, is just down from the centre of Prague on a small island in the river. We arrived around 4.30pm but it took us until 6pm to find the little, and I mean little, road onto the island. It is very basic and the meal we had at the little restaurant on our first night is a story all of it’s own.

As for Prague, well, what can I say? It is one of the most beautiful of cities I have ever seen. Gordon had been here twice before so was my very experienced guide. We have spent two full days here seeing the sites but it really is not enough, this is somewhere that we will definitely visit again. We spent yesterday up at the castle complex and there it just so much to see and take in. They have various concerts on in the churches here and we attended a classical guitar one on Friday. We actually got a bit of rain yesterday as well, in fact, a lot of rain, but it only lasted about 10mins and then everything was back to normal. If any of you have not yet seen this place, please do.

Off back into Germany today, we are going to make a stop near Dresden and then on to Potsdam for two days before taking “our home” back. Hope you are getting better weather now and that you are all well.

Love and regards to you all as fits

Gordon and Topsy

this is coming via an internet cafe in Salzburg ..we got here yesterday after having enjoyed our visit to Venice. We travelled to Austria on Sunday night, staying overnight at a service area just inside Italy..quite an experience as we were parked up between two very big Polish lorries.

The scenery coming into Austria has been spectacular .. the mountains are just magnificent. We came and had a look round Salzburg last night and then came back in this afternoon. We had rain this morning so just chilled. It was quite welcome after all the hot weather we have had but we are hoping it will go away now as we have loads of site seeing to do.

We are staying here another day and then moving on to Prague..that will make 6 countries in 6 weeks - not bad going we think and of course the most important point is we are still talking to each other LOL.

love and regards to everyone as fits

Gordon & Topsy

Wednesday 18th July

We are now in Italy after a very good journey. We left France just before 7am and got here around 2pm. We are at a campsite just by San Gimignano and it is very very hot. After setting up we went for a quick swim and then just had to have a rest. It was 42 degrees outside the Van and 45 inside and it was 5pm. Had a good meal at the restaurant on the site and are planning to get out early tomorrow to do some site seeing.

I can not believe though that when I wrote about the Verdon area I forgot to mention the Lavender Fields, trouble is we are seeing so many wonderful sites They were like someone had thrown down, all over the hillside, carpets of deep purple. They looked and smelt amazing. Everyone was getting out of their cars as they passed them and were walking amongst the Lavender. Yes, of course I did too.

Thusday 19th July

Well, as planned we got up early and though only 2 Km from San Gimignano decided to take the van as we wanted to go wandering over the countryside afterwards. By 8.30am, temperature 25 degrees, we were looking for somewhere to park. Found a convenient Car Park quite easily. As we were going through the barrier, just after taking the ticket, we heard a rather disturbing crunching noise! It was difficult to find the source, as when we both looked out, the Van seemed to be clear. I repeat seemed to be.

Eventually we realised that near the entrance there was, on either side, a pole with 3 square metal notices on them. They were placed so that they were half over the entrance at a height that meant they had collided with the Van. I suppose if you were being picky you could say that it was the Van that had really collided with them! The damage done was to the trim on one side and some minor dents, thankfully not enough to mean that we had to go looking for a nice repair man. We did though get a good telling off by a very spherical member of the local constabulary, who told us in no uncertain terms that we were not allowed in that Car Park. Now she tells us!!

We managed, despite all that, to have a good day. Wandered round San Gimignano and then went to Castellane di Chianti and had lunch in a cellar type passage way. It was an interesting place for a restaurant and it was cool. Temperature by this time was around 45 degrees.

Friday 20th July Travelled down to Sienna today. We enjoyed wandering round this very interesting town. Both of us had been here before but wanted to see it again. We had lunch before leaving to make our way to Ravenna. The traffic was horrendous, the worst we have had to date. We were delayed and to make things worst the campsite we were making for was not were I thought it was. Luckily Gordon had picked up on the fact that Flossie was taking us quite a way out from Ravenna and so managed to save the day. We are now camped up in a rather large site just south of Ravenna, that luckily has Wi-Fi so we can post our blog. We plan to go into the town tomorrow, look around, and then move onto Venice.

G&T PS Temperature at 7pm today - 47C! Actually, not fun.

On Sunday night, we stayed at a campsite by a lake and it was magical. Monday we spent driving through the Verdon Gorge. We came across a wonderful village up on the side of a mountain called Moustiers Ste Marie. They had built their houses so high up it was fantastic. Their church was even higher. We only stopped there to look around and have a coffee. Gordon reckons the coffee shop had the most luxurious toilet we have seen, so far!!

Travelling along the Verdon Gorge was just breathtaking. The scenery is so beautiful it defies words. I was the lucky one as Gordon did all the driving. The roads along there are even worse than Ikaria for twists and turns. It does not help that everyone else is trying to see the views as well. Gordon earned loads of brownie points.

We came to Villneuve Loubet last night. It is only a short train journey to Nice. We had a good day today visiting Villefranche sur Mer which has the most amazingly preserved Fort which is still used to day, but as the Town Hall and museums. We managed to get to Nice and walk along the Promenade des Anglais, Gordon even had a paddle in the ever so emerald green sea.

We are off tomorrow to Italy to the Chianti Hills. We will be there for 3 days then on to Venice. Cannot believe that 4 weeks, of this part of our Hols, have already gone by. Two more left, we aim to make them just as memorable as the last 4.

Take care one and all. Keep your messages coming. Regards and love as fits. G & T

From Denia we moved along the coast and stayed just outside of Barcelona in Masnou and it was very convenient for getting into the city but a basic campsite. What was interesting was that there were all nationalities present.

Barcelona was great. We spent the whole day in the city. Gordon had been there before and knew where to go, we did the tour of the Gaudi buildings first. If any of you, are like me, and have not heard of Gaudi, look it up. The picture is of one of them. The city gives the impression of being very spacious, like Madrid, it has wide avenues.

At the campsite they warned us not to take our documents or a lot of money with us as they have a crime problem. We did actually get accosted by some guys posing as Policemen. Luckily as we had taken their advice.

Our visit ended with us taking a walk up La Rambla. This is a wide road with a very wide central reservation that has cafes etc on but also street entertainers. The whole area is so alive you just cannot help being infected. We also found the market that had an enormous selection of fruit, vegetable, fish and shellfish that it put our markets back in the UK to shame. One of the things that struck me was that in Spain all the shops seem to stay open late and also are all open on Sundays.

G&T

The 14th being Bastille day in France, everywhere was closed. We managed, after some delay, to get to Rennes Le Chateau, which a wonderful place perched on the top of a hill, but could not get into Carcasonne as the traffic was horrendous. Rennes Le Chateau’s history is interesting as it is often linked with the Templar theories about their hidden treasure.

Another thing for you to look up if you have not heard of the place before. We are so good to you all taking care of your education, did I hear a groan then ??? Take care one and all. Regards and love as fits.

G & T

Attached to this message is a pic of Loula, Topsy's sister. Her family will understand the significance of the chip!

Hope you are all enjoying sunshine there, we certainly are. We have now left the Costa del Sol and moved down to the Costa Blanca and are at Denia.

The campsite is next to the sea, all we have to do is take a short walk along a palm tree lane and we are on the beach. We had a walk last night and found a lovely restaurant overlooking the sea that specialised in Fish. Magical and Scumptious.

We are planning to leave here tomorrow to travel up to Barcelona and will be there for a few days before going into the south of France.

We seem to be on schedule so will probably go into Italy from France to the Chianti Hills area. (another shelf from the Off Licence sorted)

Regards and love as fits

Topsy & Gordon

Well we have had a couple of days chilling down here on the Costa Del Sol.. just catching up on everything. To arriving here we have done 2,500 miles in two weeks - not bad !!

We did go out yesterday and found a great fish restaurant by the sea and had an hour soaking up the sun on the beach. My Sister Loula made us a lovely farewell dinner last night and we opened the bottle of pink champagne we had bought in Reims though most of it I spilt!!

We are off to Estapona today to meet up with some friends for dinner and then tomorrow we start our journey back along the coast. We are planning on stoping around Murcia and then Denia before going to Barcelona for a few days. From there we go into Southern France.

We have made one or two changes to our original itinerary, along the way, but only minor ones and really that has been the joy of the trip just being able to do what we want, no travel reps to tell us NO!!

We hope you are all well and look forward to your messages

Regards and love as fits.

Gordon & Topsy

we are now on the Costa del Sol, arrived yesterday and had a few hours with Lou my Sister and then found a campsite and have spent this morning just chilling..Off to see Lou again tonight and go have a Curry ..Gordon is getting withdrawal symptoms.

Monday we spent going round the Al Hambra at it was just breath taking.. we spent over 4 hours there but luckily we got there early so didn´t have to join any big q´s. It really is a spectacular place - we recommend it to you all.
We are here till Sunday so will give you another update before we leave.

thanks for all your messages - we really do appreciate them - it´s nice to know that we are not out of sight and therefore out of mind :-))

Take care everyone .. love & regards which ever fits

Topsy and Gordon

We came into Northern Spain yesterday which was not a very sunny day but at least we seem to have left the rain behind in France. The road down was very interesting with lots of steep bits and bends with tunnels and bridges over valleys. Gordon was very good to me and did all the driving.

We stopped off at Santillana del Mar which is somewhere everyone should get to see. It is like stepping back in time to the Medieval times. They had some sort of event going on as lots of people where dressed up in national costume and there were different groups doing their traditional dances in the square. A treat for us which added to the day.

We have been pleased with all the campsites up to now but this one is not so good. Everyone parked close to each other.

We are moving on today and will take a look along the coast and then move down into central Spain towards Madrid. We have woken up to a glorious day of sunshine so it is looking good.

Hope you are all coping with the rain there!!

Regards Topsy & Gordon

All going well apart from arguments with Flossie - she's our SatNav personna. She doesn't seem to be aware that the van is wider than a smart car and somewhat taller too - she's tried to send us under a very low bridge and down some very narrow alleys. Her French pronunciation would shock Ofted inspectors!

Regards, Gordon and Topsy PS: 1 week gone, 2300 and odd km done. TTFN

We went from Heidelberg to Reims (the Champagne region) and spent a few hours looking around, then on to our next campsite. Spent a good morning wandering round the Monet Gardens at Giverney. We can both recommend it as a really good place to visit..it is in fact quite a place to go to feed your soul. Spent last night at Alencon (the Calvados region) and are now on our way to Saintes (the Cognac region. As you can see we are slowly working our way through the Off Licence !! LOL.

Topsy and of course Gordon!!

Look after yourselves.
Gordon and... oh! Topsy