Something I have noticed about this camping lark, is how we have quickly become obsessed with certain previously trivial aspects of daily life. I believe I noted last year that the cost of diesel is one of those aspects which takes up a lot of B’s attention – particularly if the next 5 garages after the one where we just filled up are displaying lower prices. Not only is fuel sold differently in each country, but the price variation between the options can be huge.
In France they have fuel stations at their supermarkets, like we do, and these are virtually always the cheapest places to go. Unlike at home, the large fuel companies’ stations generally seem unable to match the supermarkets, even when they are right next door. Of course there is always an exception and ours was just next to our favourite factory in Lunel, spotted after we filled up at the local supermarket, of course. Nevertheless in France a supermarket fill up is order of the day – especially as we need to do the food thing every couple of days anyway courtesy of a rather small fridge. Works out well once you have found the supermarket. They have lots of signs telling you they are 2 minutes down the road to the next town … ish.
In Italy they don’t have fuel at the supermarkets. What they do have is vastly varying prices as you move around, and motorways fuel stations signs which blatantly lie about the pricing at the next service area. You get there and its 20 cents more, plus another 8 or so if you accidently go into the lane with a man who serves you. Then, when you get out into the sticks the prices are lower than in the more built up areas, completely the opposite of what we see at home and in France and Germany. Go figure. We didn’t.
Just after we crossed the border into Austria we decided to fill up at a popular station just before the Brenner Pass. Mistake. No idea why it was so popular – see earlier reference to 5 following fuel stations showing progressively lower prices. The irony is we might have spent a whole 50pence more on the half tank load we took on.
We are now in Germany, and frankly I have lost the will……
Our other major obsession is with campsite facilities and the sanitary blocks in particular. I have already noted the rather unusual showers we found in Isolabuona, north of Ventimiglia. The owner just didn’t understand my perplexed questions about where to put my towel. Last year we had to shower outside in our swimming cozzies when it was hot in Portugal, so I suppose that would have been the solution there, had the mozzies not intervened and sent us on our way in any case.
In France they have a lingering attachment to what I call “starting blocks” – holes with footplates, plus a strong aversion to providing either toilet seats or loo rolls, which makes the first trip to the loo block something you do with your fingers crossed and your pockets stuffed with emergency tissues. We found out that the way round the seat thing is to use the disabled or family loos which often sport the desired circular bit of plastic.
In Italy is a country which historically also favours starting blocks, surprising when you consider the legacy of the Romans. However, the campsite situation improved at Maggiore with the welcome reappearance of loo seats, but was let down by a bizarre aversion to lighting and token driven timers on the showers (bit tight there then). B’s howl of annoyance when he found that turning off the shower while soaping did not extend the allotted time could be heard all round the shower block.
Showers could be a whole separate subject, suffice it to say we welcome indoor blocks – less draughty when towelling down – and sufficient space to perform that function without bruising your elbows and keep your clothes out of spray shot.
At Camping Venezia we thought we had found the shower/loo block quality no-one else could possibly attain. It was brand new, heated, seats, paper, toilet brushes (sadly often missing elsewhere) and hot water in the washbasins. Large, clean showers, slate tiled floors, hairdryers on the walls, albeit the box type I am not so fond of, and music playing. I heard one of the tracks that Gut and Steel play – my favourite one “I’m Yours”- I have never heard the original before – and then B got the Rolling Stones – both of us suitably gobsmacked!
Then we went to Nattersee in the middle of the Dolomites in Austria. OMG. The loos were lovely and clean, seats and paper, as required. Then you go up the ramp to the first floor showers, via an outdoor relaxation area. Inside there are the showers, large, clean, multiple hooks and a bench which definitely will not be splashed. All tiled again, and music. In every cubicle there was a column of 4 photos related to the history of camping. In the atrium area there is a huge floor cabinet full of models of caravans and motorhomes, old and new. In each loo area there is a wall cabinet full of more models of caravans, camper vans and motorhomes. Later we found even more in the reception area. Such an amazing collection of models I didn’t even know existed – I even sneaked into the men’s area to photograph the cabinet in there.
Nothing can beat that…….we will let you know if it does!
Get the picture? these photos show less than a quarter of what was there!