Italy 1st Stop

We flew into Bologna, and were picked up by Matteo and Danilea and it was as if we had not left them. We spent the night at their place before they took us away for the weekend to the Dolomites for our wedding present. The Dolomites were amazing and we had a great time going for walks, taking goldelar trips up very impressive mountains (the top of the gondelar was in clouds at the time of arrival) and visiting some really pretty mountain towns, as well as relaxing in the spa that accompanied the hotel. As always Matteo managed to find some brilliant restaurants, one of them spotted while driving past at 80km/h (Matteo remarking that is where we should eat tonight as the restaurant was named after a piece of meat) sure enough it turned out to be a very nice and very fancy restaurant where we had to roll back after eating too much fabulous food.

On Monday (seems strange to use days of the week again) we picked up our campervan from Matteos (the van is now affectionately known as BETTY) and drove to Milan. In Milan we stayed with Bec and Dave (and soon to be 3rd member of their family “the bump”). We had a great time catching up them and exchanging travelling stories, over a BBQ in the park. We however did not pay any attention to the time and the distinct lack of people in the park only to find out the gates to the park had shut and we (including the car) were locked in for the night, after some anxcious moments we were released by a friendly park attendant. While Dave had to go to work, Bec took us for the day and showed us the sites of Milan. The duomo was very impressive and we had a great time wandering the streets until we got to HSBC where again the bank disappointed us. A quick trip to the supermarket and some NZ cookies and Becs home baking cured all of that.

We then set off in Betty to Lake Como and to our fist camp site. It is funny how the little spot on the GPS never looks like it is at the top of a very very large hill. On the way up said hill the GPS often got confused as the switchbacks were so steep the GPS thought they were on top of one another. The GPS led us into a small village with a very beauitiful little courtyard and archways etc which I’m sure would have looked great if we had not been wedged underneath them with nowhere to go in a long wheel base high top van. We were being observed by the elderly locals through their windows and soon enough most of them came out to see what this big van was doing in their village, needless to say they all tried to help us get out ( not sure if they were being nice or just wanted us out). We finally made it to our campsite only to be greated the next day when we dropped off the hill into Switzerland with what must be the steepest street in Switzerland nae Europe nae the world. Betty luckily (with all parties inside the van keeping their fingers crossed) made it down in first gear even though she had to do a three point turn at each switchback.