Although we have been lucky up until now with the weather we are aware that at some point the weather is going to turn and we want to be back up at least in the north of Italy before this happens.
The climate in the South of Italy is lovely and warm but it is also very mountainous and we know when winter arrives many of the areas we have visited and plan to visit will get snow. So we have made the decision to head to Sicily and spend a week or so there and then head back up the west coast of Italy stopping around the Amalfi coast missing out Rome (as we visited again last year) and then spending some time around Tuscany. So that’s the plan but we aren’t very good sticking to it ! Lets see..
We have decided rather than meander down the east coast of Italy we will bite the bullet and do the drive over to the South. Due to the kitten in the engine (read the last blog entry if this makes no sense) we didn’t set off quite as early as we hoped. It was about 11.30am by the time we hit the road.
Due to the time it was going to take we took the toll road. We knew this could potentially work out expensive but we were only on the toll road for about 60 miles and then came off and went onto the motorway for the rest of the journey. So we were pleased that the whole trip only cost us 11 euros in tolls. The bonus though was the motorway was in great condition ! Anyone who reads this who has driven in Italy and especially the south of Italy will understand exactly what I am talking about. If you haven’t had the pleasure then be assured by me that the roads are terrible in general and it seems the further south you go the worse they get.
We therefore arrived at Nicotera later than we hoped and it was nearly 7pm. Our first concern..was the site open? We pressed the buzzer and thankfully it was. So we pitched up in the dark, grabbed a bite to eat in the restaurant which was relatively cheap but thoroughly delicious and have stayed today to chill out as we are both tired from yesterdays drive. The weather is overcast and we have had a couple of rain showers.
The site is on a lovely beach and the facilities are good. I would imagine it gets very busy in the height of summer but currently there is only a few other motor homers here, so we are parked on 2 pitches and right next to another lovely beach. Shame the weather isn’t great as we saw a couple of deck chairs this morning with our names on them, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
We don’t mind though, the motorhome is nice and comfy and we have everything we need and its nice to just relax and read our books in the comfort of our home.
