Big Tin Bus

Street entertainment.

Keith — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:45:18 +0000

To understand this you will need to look at the pictures from Vienna. The guy is playing what look likes a flying saucer or two woks welded together, the sound was amazing. We have included a photograph of the card explaining the instrument.

Travel confusion.

Keith — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:36:17 +0000

We took the train from Baden into Vienna having purchased a ticket that allowed us unlimited travel for a period of twenty four hours at the extortionate price of €19 20 for both of us. To start with we could not figure out how to verify our tickets, something you are required to do. We had been on the train for some time and were convinced something was not right, Jan asked a man if he spoke English? he did, and was more than pleased to help, he was very helpful.

Wein, or Vienna to you and I.

Keith — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:25:09 +0000

Did not tick to many boxes for us, the heat did not help, if you are a culture vulture it is great. Our take on it is of a city full of grand buildings from an age of great empires when it was acceptable to demonstrate great wealth and power by creating grandiose palaces, public spaces and lots of statues. It lacks the kind of personality that you find in some cities with the little alleys, small shops and old working buildings.

Venice.

Keith — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:13:48 +0000

You just have to go because it is there. We have all seen pictures of this city of canals, it is all of that and more. A very popular and busy place. If you go try to get away from the main thoroughfare’s and enjoy the little back streets, if you can ignore the shops. The waterways are manic, like there are no rules, sure there are , but, just not obvious.

We purchased a ticket at the camp site for €22 80 each. This covered the cost of two road buses and a water bus to Venice, plus unlimited travel on the water buses around the grand canal, good value.

Jane.

Keith — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 16:37:59 +0000

Have we mentioned Jane? think not. Jane is our sat nav, if you are a driver sat nav’s are like marmite, you either love them or hate them. In general she is good, but, like all of us she has her faults. Keith who doe’s all the driving thinks she is great. A sat nav is no different to a paper map, it presents you with information and you interpret it, very useful for knowing what the road ahead is like, tight bends etc.

Jane has features which are even more useful in that you can choose the type of route, shortest, fastest, avoid motorways, tolls and others. A great feature is walking routes, we use this in cities to get around, find railway stations, car parks, get our bearings and the shortest distance between points of interest.

Verona.

Keith — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:53:08 +0000

We nearly gave up on Verona, had difficulty finding somewhere to park, glad we did not. A link with Romeo and Juliet, (see the pics). We are sure that we did not see all that there is to see, it was very hot and we were tired.

The arena is the venue for open air operas in the summer with a varied programme, hence the Chinese temple props. The individual dressed in Egyptian style costume we assume is linked to Aida? One of the operas in the current programme.

Had a meal at a restuarent in the square, nice.

Orta San Guilo.

Keith — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:39:46 +0000

Lake Orta is one of the smaller lakes, but beautifully formed. One day we decided to explore the hills having quickly looked at the map, disappointing, then, by accident, we came across Orta San Guilo. A little treasure of a place, on the tourist map but, not well known.

Lake Maggiore

Keith — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:33:56 +0000

On the western side of northern Italy the lake extends into Switzerland. We drove around it’s entire shore, very nice in parts. We stayed on a site called Camping Conca D’oro, a lovely well appointed and clean site on the shores of the lake.

France, Italy, back into France then, finaly Italy.

Keith — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:46:43 +0000

We left the med coast of France and headed for the Italian lakes, a two day journey. We made our way along a route that at times was tight and involved some hard, long and twisty climbs, (don’t mention the heavy rain). We passed some signs that seem to indicate height and width restrictions which were less than those of the rig, ah well plough on. We were halted on an hairpin bend by a queue of stationary traffic, just making out some signs and traffic lights in the distance. We started moving then reality hit us it was a tunnel with restrictions, s..t. We pulled to one side and waited whilst the cars carried on, the tunnel operated an alternate one way system. After all the cars had gone we were waved on by an official and procceeded along the centre line which gave us enough clearance. Phew.

Overnight in a the car park of a petrol station. Sunday morning and we were on our way again only to be stopped by the police at a checkpoint, documents checked we were on our way.

The Carmargue

Keith — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:23:23 +0000

This is a large river delta area formed over hundreds of years by the Rhone and petite Rhone. It is famous for its horses, cattle and wildlife. The latter was disappointing only yielding one new species for Keith.