Internet on the move part 3 (6 years on!)

A big challenge in 2013 was maintaining an internet connection. My master plan this time was to buy an Aldi SIM card in Germany. It should work throughout Europe and give as affordable connectivity. So we did a big shop in Aldi Süd in München and bought a sim. They needed my passport to register and assured me it would take 12 hours to be active. I also bought a 10 euro top up so 30 Euro total. But despite repeated attempts to top or activate it would not work. The owner of campsite in Berstesgarten tried but nothing worked. So 30 Euro wasted.

What we really needed was GPS to navigate around. I discovered that google maps cached (rememberers) the route and maps really well. So as long as you could find a wifi connection at the start that was enough to get to our destination.

If I needed to change destination I briefly switched on mobile data roaming on my Australian Aldi sim. This was $0.50 but as long as only used for maps it did not work too bad.

In summary maintaining an affordable connection on the move is still challenging. And Aldi Germany owe 30 Euro!!!

Nature & Lodge - Camping Les Domes de Miage, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains: review

We arrived at this Saint-Gervais-les-Bains in late July. It coincided with hottest summer on record in France. Everywhere in France was roasting but here it was still wonderfully cool in evenings. The campsite was full but still charming and relaxed.

The owners were very helpful and worked tirelessly to keep everything clean and ordered. One of the best campsites we have found in six years of travelling Europe.

Highlights

• Location
• Setting
• Free shuttle bus to town
• Owners friendly and helpful 

Note: Unisex bathrooms!

9/10!

Stream runs through the middle of the campsite

Return to Mount Jolly

Sarah was keen to climb Mont Jolly. So we climbed it again but this time walked on to the pretty village of Les Contamines-Montjoie. Stunning! A long steep hike.

Sent from my iPhone

Train up Mont Blanc

We had a fantastic day going up the 100 year old MTB (Mt Blanc Tramway). We went to the top (Nid d'Aigle at 2362m) and had lunch near the glacier. We descended to the net station (Bellevue) and walked to Col de Voza (1663m) and did a loop walk to Bellevue. Stopped and had ice cream at Hotel Prarion which had amazing views over Mt Blanc.

Mt Blanc at Col de Voza

Mont Joly 2025m

The boys walked to the top of Mount Jolly. Directly opposite is Mont Blanc at 4,600m!

View of Mont Blanc

Isloa de Bella

Isola de Bella is on Lake Maggiore.
Building started in 1650 by Count Borromeo who converted a barren rock into a 'palace of delights'.
Lots of chandeliers, dodgy paintings and crazy OTT furniture but the gardens and views from the palace were fantastic.
Added to by the sounds of the X-cats (speed boats) world championships racing round the island.

Mont Blanc

Stunning

France

Camping Italia Lido

We have chosen our campsites well but Camping Italia Lido is an exception. Very poor campsite on the bottom end of Maggiore.

Problems

• Poor bathrooms
• Overcrowded
• Next door a marina with boats speeding up and down the channel where you swim. 
• Old facilities 
• Poor location with no where easy to walk to. 

Overall

2/10 

Strong advice: avoid!

Dire campsite on the shores of Lake Maggiore.

Camping Bella Verde

Camping Bella Verde is one of best campsites we have visited. 

• Highlights:
• Great setting surrounded by mountains
• Free wifi thats works!
• Private bathrooms available (10 euros a day but worth it!)
• Great food

8.5/10

Damage from storm in October 2018

Lago Di Garda, Biacesa

We stopped off at the small picturesque village of Biacesa on the Northern shores of Lake Garda hoping to be able to do a via ferrata. It was a very steep climb up with fantastic views over the valley and lake garda, but we didn't realise you needed a harness and there was nowhere to hire them....
very disappointed kids... just about redeemed by berry cheese cake at the lovely cafe at the bottom...

Lake Garda

Dolomites

We did a fantastic hike in the Dolomites. It really tested us all we thought we were going around the mountain but ended up climbing over the mountain (Cima Valsorda). The walk took us 6 hours to 2700m!
The views of the surrounding peaks were amazing and the Dolomite rock structures from close up were fantastic. We finished it off with a fantastic lunch at the Refugio di Pisa at 2671m, Charlie and I had minestrone soup and the others had pasta. Followed by tiramisu for desert. Amazing that you can get fantastic food at a little chalet perched on the side of a mountain. It had it's own little rudimentary cable car to get it's supplies.

Marching the kids up a mountain pass! just need jelly snakes!

Charlie chilling in the Snow! (more than at Mt Buller??)

Refugio Torre di Pisa

A big hike today!

Dolomites and Logging

There seem to be fallen trees and logging going on everywhere in the Dolomites. Sam said it reminded her of the Lorax.  I did some research and here is the reason.....

In October 2018, the Dolomites were hit by a devastating hurricane - Tempesta Vaia. Winds up to 200km/hr caused widespread damage to villages, houses and roads, and there were several deaths. Millions and millions of trees were toppled. Forestry workers and sawmills are struggling to deal with the massive amount of timber that needs removing and storing. 

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltempo_sul_Triveneto_del_26-30_ottobre_2018

Camping del Lago

This a slightly strange campsite nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps. Camping del Lago is perfectly good campsite but has strange rules about rubbish that make it a bit intimidating. Also the facilities are newish but also a bit weird like huge washing up sinks with no draining boards. 

The lake puts me in mind of the one in the Godfather Part II. 

5/10

Onward to the Dolomites....

Sarah doing her best..

Croatian Ice Cream

Croatia is the kids number 1!!!!

The most amazing ice cream constructions you have ever seen.
Rather difficult to eat however!!

Autocamp Draga

Autocamp Draga is terraced and pleasant and has the feeling of a small camp. It is well situated close to the town and 300m from a beach. 

Their is also a good restaurant “Lasco” next door the seafood is affordable and superb. 

All the staff at Auto camp Draga are pleasant and efficient. The only downside of the campsite are the bathrooms they cramped and dated but are spotlessly clean. 

Highlights:

• Beach access 
• Close to town and good food. 

Overall 6/10

BTW: With more modern bathrooms the score will rise to 8/10. 

Reception with little shop 200 metres from town. 

Terraces

Old style bathrooms