Mana from...

It was going to be a very hot day today as we set off this morning to walk up to Monte Dei Cappuccini from where the tourist information said there was a "panoramic" view of the city and sure enough mid afternoon the temperature had reached

Even in the morning after reaching the lookout the sweat was coming off us in bucketloads

As far as panoramic views go this one was on the average side but it did give an appreciation of the size of the city which is the 4th largest in population in Italy.

Looking down on Piazza Vittorio Veneto

On the walk down we came across a vent in the side of the hill which was spewing cold air out onto the street so we stood in front of it for quite a few minutes enjoying the chilled air on the body - mana from where we have no idea and frankly we didn't care.

Back at city level we called into Gran Madre di Dio which is a church of rather more simple design and decoration than the majority of others we have encountered

After lunch we returned to Palazzo Reale - The '''Royal Palace of Turin" which is a historic palace of the House of Savoy. It was originally built in the 16th century and was later modernized by Christine Marie of France in the 17th century

The palace also includes the Palazzo Chiablese and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud which was built to house the famous Shroud of Turin though the Shroud was not on display.

In 1997 it was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

It houses the Royal armoury displaying weapons etc used over the centuries

and you also get to walk through the Royal Apartments which to say the least display all the opulence associated with royalty

The complex also contains the Galleria Sabauda which contains the Royal Art Collection amassed by the House of Savoy over the centuries and there were some beautiful pieces on display

We barely had enough energy left to amble back along Via Po to our digs (having clocked 12.8kms) stopping for a coffee on the way.

We leave Turin in the morning for Piacenza.

 

 

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Market Day

After the hotel breakfast we ventured out into the heat and headed for Mercato Di Porta Palazzo which is the daily outdoor market in Turin. On the way we stopped at a cafe in Via Garibaldi for Sherry's morning fix and were lucky enough to run into a young lady who assisted with the language.

As we sat outside she came across and we had a good chat - she is on holiday from USA but is half Italian and half Crotia and is on a three week holiday to visit her family in Istria, and as we are heading to Istria ourselves we discussed various towns to visit

The Mercato is a very typical European market with numerous (make that a lot) of stalls selling cheap clothing, shoes, household utensils not to forget the fresh fruit and veggies

Where the clothing is made could be debatable even if it is labelled as made in Italy as the prices do not allow for the garments to be high quality.

It was debilitatingly (trust that word can be found in a dictionary) hot with shade being at a premium.

After poking around in the market for around an hour and a half we moved off to have a look at Quadrilatero Romano which is the old roman area which has undergone some rejuvenation and the buildings in the area were rather more clean to look at in comparison to others in the city and there was also a communal veggie garden

After lunch I went looking for an Italian flag having been given, by the Information Centre, two addresses at opposite end of town (I exaggerate slightly) but having walked to both areas there was no sign of any shop selling flags! I sense that it may be as difficult to find in Italy as it was in France.

We then went to have a look at Palazzo Reale , the Royal Palace, but it was closed on Mondays so we will have to go back tomorrow

Nearby was the Palazzo Madama which while relatively modern on one side was distinctly ancient on the other

Mid afternoon there was a mini thunderstorm that crossed over the city clearing the air for a short time and I returned to the hotel to watch some of the Tour de France while Sherry spent more time undergoing retail therapy!

 

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Expensive trip

We are now in Italy after a 250km drive to Turin (Torino) which had us traveling through and under the French Alps, a drive that turned out to be anything but cheap!

The total cost in road tolls was €71.70 ($NZ118.67) which included one toll of €43.50 to travel 13kms through the Tunnel de Frejus.

In all we travelled approx 37 kms through numerous tunnels which meant that 15% of our drive was underground

It has to be said that the Alps are a majestic sight from all angles

Arrived in Turin around 1 pm and unloaded - the drive from the outskirts of the city into the main central city was not at all inspiring but once we were on foot one got a very different opinion

There are 3 or 4 main piazzas of significant size and the same number of main streets

One walks under cover of arcades in the main, which is well received because of the searingly hot temperatures in the open (34 degrees as I write at 6.30 pm) with the main roads leading to one of the piazzas.

Towards the end of our ambling we came to Via Garibaldi which is a pedestrian zoned street of maybe 10 blocks with retail shops down both sides - if anyone needs a dose of retail therapy then they only need to go to either Grenoble or here to Turin.

We had dinner in the open air in Piazza Vittorio Veneto and on the walk home came across a prize giving for a body painting competition.

After walking for nigh on 11.5kms since we arrived in Turin we have a good feel for what she has to offer and we will be at it again tomorrow!

We both feel a little strange here as having been grappling with the French language for three weeks Italian sounds so much more foreign and it is difficult to remember the polite Italian words - saying Merci to an Italian instead of Grazie is rather useless!

 

 

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Succès au dernier

At dinner last night I asked the waitress where I could buy the French flag and she came back with the address of a military shop in the vicinity of Place Victor Hugo which is relatively close to our digs so this morning we called into the shop and lo and behold after 3 weeks of trying I have finally purchased a French flag.

Also I am not one to take photos of meals but I sure as hell wished they hadn't serve mine last night with a huge bug sitting on top of it!

Today we took the cable car to La Bastille de Grenoble which is approx. 475m above the level of the city.

From this height you get an outstanding view of the layout of the city below as well as the massifs that surround the city

I also took a video of the panorama that can be seen here.

Grenoble was the city that hosted the 1968 Winter Olympics and it was around that time that the city really developed.

There are fortifications even higher up the mountain..

...and unfortunately the part of the Bastille that tourists access has been turned into a climbing area which does distract from the monument but I guess gives younger folk an activity

A relaxing swim during the afternoon was well received as the heatwave (La Canicule) was confirmed on the TV this morning.

Around town it is not unusual to see electric vehicles hitched to the charging posts but someone needs to make them at least family size before they will really catch on

We leave Grenoble and therefor France tomorrow having toured around the country for approx. 3 weeks moving on to Italy.

We can't speak too highly of the politeness of the French folk we have come in contact with both young and old. When you walk into a shop you are greeted with "Bonjour Monsieur Bonjour Madam" even if the assistant is dealing with someone else and as you leave you are bid "Au Revoir". If someone bumps you in the street it is always accompanied by "Pardon Monsieur"

When we were on the train we were joined in our compartment by a group of 20 year olds and they all said Bonjour as they entered and we had a little fun with them during the delayed trip!

Not only were the French respectful of us they also put the theory of evolution into very simple terms!

Au revoir la France, nous avons apprécié notre séjour. Merci bien!

 

 

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Slip, slap, slop is a foreign concept

We packed the tent up this morning and moved onto Grenoble which was a drive of 107kms with the French Alps in sight most of the way.

The temperature today was again in the high 30s, 38 in fact, so stepping out of the air conditioned car into the open air is something one doesn't look forward to.

Found our accommodation but couldn't book in for about 2 hours so set off to the city centre stopping in a nearby mall for lunch.

First impressions of Grenoble were a little negative but as we walked around particularly the pedestrian only area it started to grow on us...

...and even more so when we got down to the river where the cable car climbs up to the old fort

On the way back to the hotel we ran across the public swimming pool right in the heart of the city and not too far from our digs so after booking in we donned our togs (yes I put on my budgie smugglers) and returned to the pool.

French swimming pools have their own set of rules and at this one you couldn't:

Entering the complex wearing footwear

Enter the swimming area with your top on

When you can't read the signs you only find these things out when an official pounces on you and that is what happened.

Imagine walking across a concrete pool surround which has baked in 38 degrees all day in bare feet and then imagine sitting uncovered in the sun and you get an appreciation of what a French pool goer has to put up with.

Nevertheless one does feel rather refreshed having soaked in the pool for 30 minutes or so.

Last night as we walked around Annecy after dinner there was numerous street entertainment attracting large crowds so much so that you could hardly get near to the entertainment

It certainly created a very vibrant atmosphere!

 

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La Chaleur continues...

...with temperatures here in Annecy reaching 35 degrees mid to late afternoon.

This morning we visited the Musee Chateau which sits in an elevated position above the old town. The walk up to it caused a fair degree of sweat but the "rue" we walked up was rather pleasant

The Chateau itself wasn't that much to write home about but that was not a concern as the main purpose of the visit was see the view from above the city

After lunch we visited the Palais de L'Ile (the building Sherry is standing in front of in yesterday's blog) which was a prison for five centuries, first being used in 1325.

There was not that much to see as it has been turned into more of an exhibition centre but it is a visit that I guess most tourists undertake

The heat of the day made a walk to the lake for a swim almost obligatory even though you have to walk a fair way around the lake to get to the area where swimming is permitted.

The lake is said to be the "purest" in Europe and if that is the case I wouldn't like to swim in the lake that is at the other end of the scale but the dip certainly was refreshing however the walk back to town almost had one turning around again and going back for another dip

The backdrop is quite stunning!

We (or should I say I) finished off the day watching the end of today's stage of the Tour de Franceo and also a few holes of The Open Championship on TV though the commentary in a foreign language lessened the enjoyment.

 

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Fancy Annecy? Yes we do!

Our stay in Beaune ended this morning as we took to the A6 to travel south east to Annecy situated close to the French Alps and only about 40kms from Switzerland.

The drive was almost all on tolled motorways so was a relatively quick drive (for the distance covered) leaving us €29.80 poorer having paid the tolls.

As we were approx. 60kms away from Annecy the topography changed markedly from wide open flat agricultural land to hills/mountainous landscape and in one stretch we went downhill for 25kms.

Annecy with its medieval town centre built around a 14th century castle is described in the pamphlets as the Venice of the Savoie and is blessed with a quite majestic lake with a couple of canals running to the lake - no matter where you are water certainly enhances the beauty of the surroundings

It was extremely hot today and for a period we sat under shade on the lakefront and watched dogs and their owners enjoying a cool dip - can you see Auckland Council enacting a bylaw that allows dogs anywhere near our beaches at the same time as the public have access?

We spent the better part of the afternoon ambling around the town which is a very walkable place taking in the sights.

 

 

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Can they celebrate??

Well the answer from our point of view is maybe not.

Certainly the National display broadcast from the Champs Élysées this morning was all pomp, ceremony and colour but the evening affair in Gigny just out of Beaune was a fizzer

It was advertised to commence at 5pm and we left for it around 5.40pm - it being on the lakefront at Gigny.

We found Gigny no trouble but finding the lake was another matter entirely and it had nothing to do with our navigation skills as when we parked the car alongside a couple of other cars having driven literally around in circles there was a French family equally confused where this lake was so we stood back while they asked a resident where it was.

We weren't far away so continued on foot and we finally saw it but there was no activity apart from some marquees set up - it was going to be a long wait until dark for the fireworks display!

It was approx. dinner time so we ate our picnic meal sitting by the lake hoping that things would liven up. Having finished our meal we then strolled around the lake arriving back at the site set aside for the celebrations around 7.45 but nothing had changed, there were less than say 30 people there so we decided to return home.

Whether things improve at Gigny we will now never know but it was a lovely location to have a picnic!

 

 

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