Wheels Around Europe . . . . . . .

Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Belluno to Torbole Lake Garda

Wednesday 26th June

It was very hot in Ed last night.

After we got back from our Italian meal I thought it would have cooled a bit but unfortunately it was a very sticky night.

We set off through the thankfully fresher morning air of the Dolomites National Park to a gourge I'd read about at Cascara Della Soffia.

It was a drive through stunning mountain scenery to Lake Torrente Mis.

There are a number of waterfalls in the area and we walked to two of them.

The lake has amazing clear turquoise waters where you can clearly see the fish swimming below the surface.

The first falls was just water cascading down a ravine. Impressive, but not amazing.

However the second falls were amazing. There are a series of pools, about eleven in all on different levels, with cascading waterfalls connecting them, it was just beautiful.

Louis was off the lead at this point and at one level was through a two bar fence and into one of these pools to cool off.

Thankfully it was shallow and gently sloping but I was worried the rocks could be slippery and if he'd gone over one of the larger falls ..... curtains for Louis, So back on a lead !

After the falls we decided to head for Lake Garda. We visited the south of the lake last year at Peschiera del Garda and Sirmione and were suitable impressed, but thought we`d head for the north at Torbole which is next to Riva del Garda.

Were on a camper stop next to the lake for a very reasonable 24 euro a night. Most of the campsites are 40 to 55 euro per night at this time of year, so this place is very popular.

The camp is in a very scenic location with rock faces rising to three sides of us.

The drive through the Veneto region was spectacular scenery of mountains and lakes.

Sometimes I almost head off the road when we turn a corner and a spectacular lake or scene comes into view and my attention is taken off the road !
I have to try very hard to look, but not for too long !!!

This evening were going for a wander down to the Lake to find our bearings.

If we like it (I expect we will) and we can cope with the heat, well stay here a few days.

Back from our walk along the north shore of Lake Garda, it`s very different to the south in Peschiera. There you can walk ten yards and pass three Gelato sellers.
Here it seems a lot less commercialised.

Whilst it`s still warm at 8.30 pm, I think it`s less humid so I`m hoping for a more comfortable nights sleep.

Lake Torrente Mis Mountains

Lake Torrente Mis

A Chapel at Lake Torrente Mis

Lake Torrente Mis Waterfalls

Lake Torrente Mis - fish about a foot long

Lake Torrente Mis Waterfalls

Louis enjoying Lake Torrente Mis Waterfalls

Lake Torrente Mis Waterfalls

Lake Torrente Mis

Lunch stop, we found some shade behind the church

Lake Garda at Torbole

Our route to Torbole

Motovun to Belluno Italy

Tuesday 25th June

Well, we wandered around a bit today and unexpectedly ended up getting quite a wiggle on and clocked up few miles.

We set off from the hilltop village of Motovun this morning in lovely Croatian sunshine and headed north.

We were going to call in on another hilltop medieval village called Groznjan, until I realised we visited there last year, doh.

As nice as it was, I didn't want to go back, maybe another time ?

So we carried on North, first into Slovenia and then into Italy.

Our destination was to be the interesting sounding coastal town of Sistiana.

It's an Italian beach resort and not much else that we could find.

Parking was time limited, so we walked along the front, had a sit down, got hit for six euro for two cans of cold pop and left.

Sunbathing wasn't on the agenda for today.

Italy

is so expensive ! And so hot.

Next it was to be a little village in Slovenia with a camper stop at the local vineyard, nice.

It was quite a pretty setting but very little shade from the sun.

Are you getting the drift here ?

Sue in particular is struggling with the heat and if the media reports are anything to go by, we'll be lucky not to be totally fried by the weekend !

Thankfully we know the media always like to hype up a weather storey, so it probably won't be so bad after all, but weather does make a good tabloid headline !

So, we carried on driving with the air conditioning on full blast.

Our next destination is another hilltop town, this time set in the Dolomites, on the edge of the Alps.

Surely it'll be cooler there.

No is the answer.

It's a lovely little town called Belluno situated on the River Piave.

Although on a hilltop, there are escalators from the town camper stop, up to the top where the town is.

How appealing does that sound ?

Very appealing to Sue.

So that did it, were having a Yorkshire Tea cuppa and a rest after quite a long drive, then it'll be dinner in the town while Louis has a sleep in the van.

I'm looking forward to some nice Italian food this evening with views of Belluno.

Full report and photos to follow…………………

Edit : a power outage on the laptop prevented a blog for Tuesday

We'll the Italian meal was very good indeed.

I forgot my reading glasses as usual but it wouldn't have mattered much as i couldn't read the menu anyway !

Fortunately we had a very helpful waiter who spoke decent English and could help us through it.

I had sea bass risotto and Sue chicken with roast potatoes.

Followed by gelato, all very tasty.

Belluno is a lovely Italian working town, not specifically set up to extract the tourist euro as so many are.

The restaurant was clearly very popular with locals.

There are some quaint buildings and some quite grand buildings but all in all a lovely Italian town, a real gem I`m glad we stumbled upon.

The camper stop proved to be a bit of a bargain, 2.80 euro for overnight, including services but I paid then decided to fill with water. So by the time we got to the barrier, the 15 minute exit time must have passed and I had to go and pay another 0.80 cent.
hardly a rip off though.

Belluno from the town camper stop

Belluno - the all important escalator building

Belluno Town

Belluno Town Gate

Belluno Town

Belluno Town Duomo

Belluno Town

Belluno - River Piave

Our route to Belluno

Monday, 24 June 2019

Rabac to Motovun

Monday 24th June

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay on the beach at Rabac and after a morning swim we departed for the central inland medieval hilltop town of Motovun.

It was only a one hour fifteen minute drive through and we passed through some beautiful countryside on the way here.

We`re at the motorhome parking area at the base of the hill and a shuttle bus provides a welcome service up the hill to the fortress town.

Otherwise it's quite a climb ! We took the bus.

The town is interesting and quite pretty but has superb views in all directions.

Opposite the town across the valley is a protected forest which is unusual in that it has deep, rich fertile soil not commonly found in this Karst region.

The forest is famous for the Truffels for which dogs are used to unearth them.

They then sell them in the restaurants to the foodie tourists at inflated prices no doubt.

The area also is a big producer of Olive Oil and in need of some, I priced it up and glad I did. £11.49 for a half litre bottle. Eek, it`ll have to be Lidl for us.

Motovun is the birth place of Mario Andretti the former Formula One Champion racing driver. He was born here but as native Italians, his family were resettled to a camp near Lucca after WWIl when Istria was annexed from Italy to form Yugoslavia. There are photographs of him in a couple of the shops on a visit he must have made at some time.

This afternoon was spent relaxing, again, having a sleep under the awning, and the camper stop has a pool to cool down in, so I'll probably take advantage of that later.

Tomorrows destination has not been selected yet, that's my job for this evening.