Italy 2018 - Day 1 - Botley to Cherbourg

I abandoned the blog years ago, following that by settling back into a house, and selling the caravan along with the costly vehicle to pull it. But I have been inspired by my 2nd cousin Louise and her partner Nick's recent blogging to have another go. 

The caravan may have gone, but the need to travel has not!

We had our first package holiday last Autumn after many years, which we enjoyed, but realised if we were going to moan about value for money, we should go back to doing it ourselves, and win lots and lose some.

So the plan was to go to Southern Italy. We've been to many parts of mainland Italy, and also Sicily and Sardinia, but a few years ago we watched a series with Alex Polizzi (and I think Gino may have gone there) and Southern Italy looks like an area worth exploring. We were going to fly and rent a car, but decided to take our car and take our time. We booked a one way ferry from Portsmouth, and the first night hotel in Cherbourg - then take it from there.

It's over 15 years since we've not gone to France via the Tunnel, but with Portsmouth just 20 minutes from home we had to give it a try.

Here's the grumpy bit....

Twenty minutes from home; 90 minutes in 3 different areas of a glorified car park ; Brittany ferries can't load us on because they can't unload our ferry because that traffic is held up while they try and load another ferry at the same time. Do they do this every day?

Anyway we eventually get a nice seat on the left side of the Normandy Express - and a beer - and off we go. Well it's not the cheapest way to do a boat trip of the Historic Naval Harbour, but it was still worth it. The highlight at the moment is HMS Queen Elizabeth. Being as close as the Police boats allow is quite something. It looked very unoccupied. Let's hope that the money spent and to be spent on it is never fully tested as a flagship war machine...

A Town Like Amelia

We have started our second week of our road trip of Italy. We are heading towards Pompeii, and to avoid a 6 hour drive booked a cheap place to stay near Orte, just an hour north of Rome, and not to far off the Autostrada. It isn't too far off the route but unfortunately a kilometre of that drive was up a dirt track. But that was ok as the view from the top of the track, and then our apartment, was worth it.

But before we got there we took a small detour to visit a small town called Amelia. Although it has an entry in Wikipedia, it doesn't tell you that the centre is a walled old town with very narrow streets - fortunately one way - on top of a hill. In it's day built to defend itself. Not really on the tourist trail but really interesting to visit. And our granddaughter Amelia shares it's name!