A hiker's rest

All good things must come to an end, says the proverb with which I don’t agree. I could easily be on a holiday for the rest of my life. Especially in the Val di Rhêmes in Italy where our holidays ended.

Slovenia - Soca Trail

As planned we started in Slovenia. We first stayed at Camp Soca in Bovec. Great camping, great hikes, but oh my, it was so hot. So we only hiked once. And went to Italy twice. We ate the best trout ever in the camping’s restaurant! The camping offered a WIFI-spot in the bar, where it was enjoyable in the evenings.  Still, we thought a lake would be more refreshing, so we went to the Lake Bohinj. We stayed at Camp Danica. Great place, we even had a internet connection in the tent. I can tell you: very addictive.

Ljubljana

DH had this memory lane idea: he wanted to go to Krk, Croatia, where he stayed as a kid. If we learned something this holiday, it is that memories aren’t the best holiday guides. In about 35 years Krk changed in an easy accessible island (via a bridge instead of ferries) with many tourists. Loads of tourists. No fun. Great camping though, camping Pila in Punat (internet yes, on the most unexpected places). Our greatest challenge: make the lady at the reception desk laugh! We succeeded.

Bassano del Grappa

We traveled on. Italy! Finally. We went to the Veneto area and found ourselves in Bassano del Grappa on the campsite Santa Felicita. Now that is a place I can recommend! No cooking necessary, because a very good and inexpensive restaurant is your neighbour: L’Antica Abbazia. Do as the Italians do, enjoy an exquisite dinner.  I loved shopping in Bassano (the Italian H&M is a cool (airco) must: Oviesse). We went to Asolo – such a lovely place. But it was hot, hot, hot. That’s the second thing we learned about ourselves this holiday: we are great sun lovers, but we don’t like the heat. We know where to find this. So, on the road again.

Refugio San Benevolo

To the mountains this time and we finally found our paradise on earth: camping Val di Rhêmes in Gran Paradiso. Lots of Italians there and I loved their Bon Giorno! and Buona Sera! Always said with an exclamation mark (or two or three), always expressing more joie de vivre than you can handle, often shortened to Giorno! or Sera! We did two great hikes and stayed there till the end of our holidays. Next year, we go to the Gran Paradiso and this camping of the Louvin family straight away.

Gran San Bernardo

We drove home via Strasbourg, where we made the second memory lane mistake. We stayed at the Maison Rouge hotel which I enjoyed so much on a business trip some 25 years ago.  A bit past glory nowadays. And Strasbourg, being a UNESCO place, was much more crowded than I remembered. Oh, we loved shopping at the FNAC and Galeries Lafayette, but the historical centre was not our cup of tea. We ate, however, exquisitely. At ‘Chez Yvonne’.

Strasbourg - Chez Yvonne

And now, home again. Preparing for work. Preparing for my exam in October. I would not mind winning the lottery.

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