Arrivederci 2016... Piacere 2017

6fartsinacart
Jan 9, 2017
4 min read

Thursday, 29 December 2016: A bone-chilling wind greets us in the morning before we set off. We drive along the coast and take a detour because of road-works. We take the road around, through Latina and find a beautiful place for campers situated at the Museo di Piana (Italian war-time museum). We arrive after the museum has shut for the day, but in time to walk through the shop (the size of an aeroplane hangar) filled with war-time souvenirs, military equipment and attire up for sale. We settle for the night playing games.

Friday, 30 December 2016: The day starts with a generous measure of frost. The kids are sent for some exercise while the old farts clean the cart. A delay is caused by frozen taps and pipes as we need to fill up with water. As we turn down to the promenade in Formia, we are unexpectedly blessed with Wi-Fi which mysteriously disappears minutes after we have completed putting the next post on the blog. No mystery to us though. Those who are not utilizing the internet, walk in search of a camper-stop which they find a few blocks away. Though we are 200m away from a gaggle of geese, we have a very peaceful night and sleep (we prayed that the geese would have an undisturbed night as well). Before going to bed we have a small display of fireworks to whet our appetite.

Saturday, 31 December 2016: Genova was a walk in the park. Napoli and the surroundings is a definite less affluent part of Italy. The roads, traffic and litter is a clear evidence. All the traffic flows by itself with no adherence to traffic rules and regulations. Maybe we are to blame for thinking the roads would be less busy on the day before New Year’s. It’s ‘all-cars-can-drive’ day. Everybody’s out to buy New Year’s cake and fireworks for the evening. Bearing in mind we try to miss all motorways and toll-ways, hence our negative traffic report. We drive through Pompeii en-route to our camper-stop on top of a hill which we reach at 4pm. We anticipate spectacular fireworks from our viewpoint… if we can make it till next year. Last day of 2016… a day of miracles! The way Merzy bended and twisted through the traffic is proof of our statement.

Sunday, 1 January 2017: The ‘bang’ and firework display exiting 2016 and entering 2017 exceeds our expectations. We would not have made it if it was not for some Italian dudes with their fire-crackers (more volume than display) who tried to blow Merzy out of the park just before midnight and hence woke us out of a semi-coma. Somehow the youngest two farts slept through all that. The party gets into full swing and from our vantage viewpoint we can keep our eye over the whole valley and all the firework hot-spots. What a way to take us into 2017. We start the day lazy, and leave later during the morning to get to a more peaceful setting along the coast. Approximately 50km down the coast we stop for lunch next to the sea at Santa Maria di Castellabate. The setting is so beautiful and tranquil, we decide to call it a day. After lunch we walk to explore the coastal town, soak up the sun and have a much-needed rest after yesterday’s long and arduous journey.

Monday, 2 January 2017: We continue to hug the coast down the west side (of the boot) of Italy. We are humbled by the way the Lord prepares the way as we travel. At some part of the coastal road high above the ocean, the road has deteriorated so badly that 2 concrete blocks were placed in the road to limit the width of traffic that can pass through. Merzy manages to squeeze past with 2cm on each side to spare. Further on, we take the first open space along the road to park in Sapri as we need to draw money (first request). On that exact spot we are able to blog, Wi-Fi provision from the Lord (second request). Dad and Emile go walking due to the delay in travel (blogging in process) and come upon a self-service lavanderia (third request). At the lavanderia while the washing is being washed, there is a water-point nearby and we are all able to jump through the shower (a BONUS!). Upon leaving the lavanderia, it has already gone dark. We head for a nearby spot, which we’ve pin-pointed earlier, though not totally at ease with this spot. Just around the corner on our way there we see another stop-over place with a parked camper (fourth request), which exceeds our highest expectations… the sea being within 5m from Merzy gently lapping the rocks below. Later, two more campers join us. We are thankful for all the answers to our prayer requests.

Tuesday, 3 January 2017: We leave Sapri, taking with us some special memories. After the initial stretch of winding and scenic beauty, the road evens out and becomes straighter and faster. We manage to cover a fair distance and reach our sleepover spot at Falerna Marina around 5pm. The sunshine of the last few days has disappeared as the clouds have gathered. We can hear the on and off beat of the rain drops as we go to bed.

Wednesday, 4 January 2017: Today we reach the southern tip of Italy and spot Sicily across the water not too far away. The idea was to cross over at the shortest distance between Italy and Sicily, but the crossing only takes foot passengers. An Italian camper at our previous stop inform us (in Italian – Dad is getting good at understanding them) that there is a ferry for campers for approximately 100 Euros. So we decide to ditch that idea. Most of the day is spent driving and when the sun starts to set, we start praying for a stop for the night. The Lord blesses us with a stop at Marina Di San Lorenzo right next to the sea.