The Caravan Club Riviera Touch Grand Tour..the final update!

http://www.vieilleferme.com/?lg=es&c=bienvenue-es&m=menu_left_esWell O wasn't able to keep my blog up to date. If anyone says that they were bored on this Tour they were an absolute fibber! Time? Where did it go? You only realise how many places you have actually been to when you flick back through your camera roll. You look at a picture and think 'that was great but where was it?!'
I think I'm up to leaving the terrible storms in Genoa and dashing to the French Riviera. Camping LA Vielle Ferme, near Nice. Oh one nice day and then.....more rain. On our planned trip out but what a lovely surprise we got later. It just didn't rain it came down in stair rods so we did our guided walk on a coach!

Actually it was great fun. We had a great driver who somehow managed to make it great fun even though he didn't speak any english and we were in a sorry state as we were reliant on my French!

We knew that we were having lunch out but zi never quite expected anything like this. Hotel Negressco on the Promenade de Anglaise. This was the entrance..

The actual restaurant

But oh...the food!

I dread to think how much the three course meal had cost. I only had one glass of house wine....wait for it...10 euros! I can get 3 bottles for that! Wow though. What a fantastic treat. It is listed as one of the best hotels to stay in in the world. Oh boy I can see why! Oh I even took pictures of the ladies loos. I was just blown away by this place!

It was far too nice to even go for a pee in!

Next stop was our final move on the Tour to Sommieres. We went as the advanced party ( in more ways than one!) to make sure that it was safe due to previous flooding. I'm pleased to report that it was perfectly safe at Domains due Masserau. I went to sleep to the sound of owls and was awoken by a bloody donkey! Here I am camping with all my friends!

But at least the pool was open and I had it all to myself!

The others soon arrived and the weather picked up again. We had two more coach trips. One to Aix in Provence and the other to Montpellier. Both beautiful cities but knackered.com!

The farewell meal was great fun. It had been planned in a nearby restaurant that unfortunately had recently been flooded so we pinched their chef and the campsites conference room and...voila!

Even in such circumstances the chef managed to surprise us with the dessert when he pulled back the dividing door.

He set fire or whatever they call it to lovely homemade ice cream! Wow!

Now I have to admit that there aren't any pictures after this point and I'm just praying that no one had a video camera. Chris got his guitar out and someone had to lead the singing didn't they? Why? I'm a shy, quiet, reserved sort of person you know! A great Tour..now bring on the next one!

http://www.massereau.com/en/

http://www.hotel-negresco-nice.com

The Caravan Club The Riviera Touch Grand Tour

Well don't even ask what day it is. I believe I'm in Italy! What a way to spend your birthday! It was certainly different!
All that mattered to me was that friends and family all contacted me-thank you but there were more surprises. Firstly by our co hosts I was presented with a lovely cake

That was super and somehow divided into 32 pieces. Liz and Pete then gave me another surprise

and they had written happy birthday Jean on it! Another camper, Chris then got a mandolin out and played and sang 'happy birthday'. I was also given a birthday girl badge and was instructed to wear it all day. I did even round the supermarket. The Croatians were all saying something to me and I was replying 'thank you' but for all I know they could have been swearing at me!

5 o clock came and it was time to catch the ferry from Split to Ancona. I had been to the dockside before and was assured that we would all be lined up together and that I would be isued with everyone's boarding cards. What could possibly go wrong?!

Just before we left the campsite there was an almighty cloudburst so we were all rather wet-hey ho-the joys of camping! I was supposed to be tail end charlie but when I got there I was a little surprised to find out that I was one of the first! Richard who was the leader on that day had missed the turning and half the group followed! Fortunately they all made it in time but caravans and motorhomes were all over the place. I got our boarding cards. I hadn't realised it was that sort of tour but they had managed to swop everyonbes partners up! Oh yes a but of wife swapping going on?!  OK so we can sort that out. Tickets for this, tickets for that all wrong. We finally started lining up to go in the hold but in the middle if us was a little French couple in a car. I heard them protesting to an official they thought that they were in the queue for Greece! I must admit I was rather relieved when we were all on board a ship that was definitely going to Italy but then I had to get cabin keys.... Some of our group had already got their own and then suddenly a very officious woman demanded to see the group leader..oh dear... Here is your 13 keys I need your passport to secure them!" I tried to explain that half the group already had cabins. 'Shut up and listen to me!" And so she continued! We had half the cabins on the bloody ship! We just used the best ones which weren't that good to start off with! That will serve her right telling me to shut up!

After this ordeal there was only one thing for it...a stiff g and t. Wine was not going to cut it. Everything was so bad and disorganised all you could do was laugh. If I hadn't I would have been sectioned. To say the ship was basic was the understatement but one thing they did have was a chaspel-I thought I might need it for some extra strength! We had a good night in the bar. I'm not too sure about the company that I kepot though

The food in the a LA carte restaurant was dire. The crossing was pretty smooth and there was only one thing for it. Go to bed and prey that I finish up in Italy and that I get everyone's room keys back or I might have to go back to Croatia!

Breakfast was served. A cup of coffee and a croissant on a serviette that Wimpeys could use as building blocks! I don't even like bloody croissants. Your choice was..er..take it or leave it!

All was forgiven though when I could see land and yes it was Italy..oh what a lovely sight

No not David...Italy waking up! Well it did look nice from the boat but the dockside certainly didn't. The Italians don't believe in road signs and as is always the case they had dug roads up. About an hour later we were all safely at Numana Blue Campsite which is huge, empty but lovely. Talk about a birthday I will never forger. Avoid Blue Line Ferries at all costs unless wife/cabin swapping is your thing!

http://www.numanablu.it/en/villaggio.aspx

http://www.bluelinesshipping.com

The Caravan Club The Riviera Touch Grand Tour. Sorry to leave Slovenia

Ok so the weather here hasnt been great. Its the secomd time that I have visited this place but it is truly beautiful-even in mud! It is the place of fairytales and the lovely friendly people. The place is spotlessly clean and the people are happy, polite and very welcoming. Yesterday our transport arrived to take us on to Bled Island

Now last time I went there we had some beautiful eye candy rowing us. I told all the women in the group but what a disappointment we got!

He was a very nice man though! Some of the other views were stunning that eased my disappointment!

nice pic of my thumb?!

We went into the church where legend has it if you ring the bell three times and make a wish your dream will come true. Some of the group having a go

There certainly was a knack to this bell ringing lark! We got back to dry land and were served coffee and a traditional slovenian cake at the lakeside. The trip was short but totally enjoyable. 

Well thats Slovenia. Id better get my skates on as today its..Croatia!