Back in Europe

Just like that we are in Italy.  Maybe not that simple with 4 days in the car, 3 overnights, quick toilet stops and a lot of picnic lunches often late in the day. We started Sunday leaving home at 6 am without breakfast for the midday ferry. I grabbed a takeout coffee at our pre ferry toilet stop while MrFF bought the Sunday papers.  During boarding he accidentally left our sandwiches in the car which is not accessible during the crossing so first meal of the day was two mini sausage rolls and a banana. Fortunately I am not a person who needs to eat regularly. 

Our overnight in the champagne region was brief, next day we drove to Mulhouse.  There we decided to walk to the historic centre, arriving 40 minutes later the heavens opened and without coats we were soaked, we took the tram back to our accommodation.  On to Bergamo MrFF was determined to drive the Splugen pass, reviews said it was terrifying.  If you watch the Tour de France imagine driving Alpe du Huez with large camper vans swinging out round the tight corners and motorbikes speeding past, all without safety barriers.  On the Italian side there were 50 hairpin bends.  This tortuous detour added a lot time to our journey as we then got caught up in traffic around lake Como.  By the time we checked in at our stop at 7.30 neither of us could face going out for dinner, we had super market pasta and went to bed.

The final on day the autostrada was busy, scary in places and tedious in others.  We collected a few provisions and arrived at our house at 6, for MrFF to announce he didn’t have the key for the back door, the only access from the road.    Apparently when he told me he had keys in response to my usual routine of passport, wallet, house keys, phone before we left it was because he thought he did, not because he knew he did.  I suggested he open the big gates into the garden and try unlocking the terrace doors  We have so many keys for the house, various doors, french doors, garage, gates we were bound to find a way in.  He discovered the terrace doors security locked from the inside but then found the back door key where he always keeps it, on the key ring with the car keys.  He said he usually takes it off when we are in the UK but must not have this time

Today we’ve tackled the garden, had yet another late lunch and enjoyed some sun.  Everything has done really well without us except the olives which have apparently suffered from hailstorms, knocking fruit off the trees or damaging it.  Mario says the crops is so poor he isn’t going to collect his.  We shall see.  Before we left I threw down some seeds I collected not expecting greet results, look at this

Also a white datura has appeared, I haven’t had one of these plants for years.  I grew the original ones from seed, I love their exotic blooms.  Incredibly this one is in just the right place.  I think it’s my reward for not complaining about that mountain pass, I’ll take that.