Rita's law strikes again - or - where are you Stef????

Did not realize that again some days have passed since the last posting.

Tuesday I brought Stef to Nice Airport, he was going home, back to the study again.

On our way to Nice we saw that a big accident had happened on the other side of the road, so I said to Stef, to make sure I will be back in time at the campsite (2 arrivals) I will take the turn for Bordighera and follow the coastroad.

Haha, that was a joke: already in the tunnel at Menton I ended up in the trafficjam: standing still in a tunnel for more than one hour! As soon as I could get off the autostrada I started to drive along the coastroad. Past Imperia I saw the autostrada and cars (not too many) driving a good speed, so I entered the autostrada again> STUPID! In 5 minutes I stood still again in the traffic jam. Once again when I finally reached the next turn off I took the coastroad. By that time it was already around 17.00 o'clock (normally Albenga-Nice=Nice-Albenga takes 3 hours and we left 12.15!!!!) and still a fair end to drive. And by Rita's law of course this day there was a bicycle-tour in Laigueglia, reason why all the roads were blocked

Finally around 18.15 I arrived at the campsite, at the same time as the second arrival so I could take this family straight with me to their tent. The other family allready arrived earlier, but they had contact with Eindhoven that they wanted to be transfered to another campsite the next day. The lady could hardly walk, after an accident, and then this campsite is not really suitable.

So, first visit this family, sorted out everything for their transfer and around 19.15 I finally was able to make a coffee. So much for a nice, relaxing day?

On Wednesday just 3 departures and 3 arrivals, so a bit like a normal day. In the afternoon I made a start with starting to pack up the first tent: pfooo I need to practise a bit again before I will finish packing up quick. Will finish it off tomorow.

And then today: first I thought I could make it a day off duty, no departures, no arrivals.

Joking: 2 families where going to leave in the morning, because they did not want to drive in the weekend and the children wanted to go home, to have a few days at home, before school starts again. No problem, around 11.00 I checked them out.

Because of their early departure I had another tent free to get dismantled, so in the afternoon I thought I better get on with it, because Friday I will be busy with arrivals and Saturday I will be busy with 12 check-outs (now 10 left). The second packing up went already more easy than the first one, which gave me a good feeling: I will get the job done in time without making too many hours extra.

I finished around 18.00, sitting at my tent for a coffee when the reception called. One of the guests had come to the reception: no electricity.

When I came to their tent the electricity unit in the tent was just fine, it was a problem with the pole where we plug in the cables of the tents. Well, all the fuses were up and still nothing happened and I am not an electrician, so I went to the reception back again. By this time they were closed, so I called Carmello, the security man. Guess what he said: I am just security, no electrician. Duuuuuuuuh thank you. But anyway he came with me. He thought I was sleeping:you have to pull the fuses down and then lift them up again. I only tried that twice before I called him in. Anyway: we came to the conclusion that it must be the pole. The electrician will come tomorrow morning Security said. Haha, 4 tents without electricity by now, and I just have to say to the people (with babies, with full fridges with only 30 degrees in the day), sorry: tomorrow morning you are the first one (around 12.00 maybe?).

No way. So, I took the electricity cable of one tent and could reach another pole that was still working. Nice, one tent the lights are on again. Only 3 left.

I had an extension cable so I had to go down to go and get it. By that time Security was gone and it was pitch dark! First up to the bar to get Security again: no Rita sorry, I am Security, no electrician, not my job. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

But from now on I know I can just forget it that Security will ever come up the terraces again to help me with any electricity problem, because HE IS ONLY SECURITY and now he believes I AM AN ELECTRICIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, it was 21.30 before I came back to my tent, time to fix myself something to eat on my nice supposed to be Day Out Off Duty.

19 more days to go till my contract finishes and I sure hope that it is not going to be many days like this - an almost end of the season day................... As said Saturday 12 departures, on that day I will have 10 tents empty, ready to close them down, so 10 tents less to get troubles with electricity problems or whatever.

Now time for a well deserved glass of wine and then time for bed, because tomorrow another nice quiet relaxing day again.

Love you all, and don't get me wrong: I still love this job!

Ciao for now, will soon be back on the site again with some pictures and maybe a nice story of me been to the beach or something?

OMG: my bumm hurts, my legs aging... from the Coast Park Cycling track........

Yesterday Stef and I went for the Coast Park Cycling track from San Lorenzo al Mare to Ospedaletti.

The 24 kilometre breathtaking stretch wends its way through eight historic fishing villages and the glamourous city of San Remo.

It was in the 1800s that the first British aristocrats discovered the sensual charms of the Ligurian coast where the Alps tumble dramatically into warm, cobalt-blue Meditarranean sea. They came to enjoy the temperate climate and luxuriant subtropical vegetation with its palms and baobabs. Not surprisingly the region became knows as the 'Coast of Flowers'. Scent from eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender fill the air and the intense perfumes, carried by sea breezes, mingle with the fresher mountain winds.

Now, with the train route moved north, the old tracks are being converted into a 24 km cycling path.

The stretch from Ospedaletti in the west to San Lorenzo al Mare in the east is finished.

San Stefano al Mare

Along the way it provides access to 5 km of previously unreachable Riviera beaches.

We rented a tandem and after a coffee we started the track. 20 km it was one way.

Stef was the driver in the front and he made us spin like idiots.

San Remo

Okay.......... I think this is really the end of the line........

Yep.... so let's get on the way back.... just another 20 km to go.......

It took us only 4 hours to go back and forth (40 km), with a stop for a toast, another stop for an icecream AND a stop to have a swim!

Arriving back at San Lorenzo I could hardly get off the bike: my bumm was hurting soo much and all my muscles were frozen. The owner of the rent a bikeshop laughed his head off when he saw me walking away. Thank you very much....... But..... I think we made a record of running this track back and forth in such a short time.

Me and my shadow ..............................

We absolutely deserved a Pizza in the restaurant at the campsite and a good glass of wine.

To my surprise this morning Stef did not need to come and help my out of bed, only when walking/climbing the terraces my muscles and my bumm hurts a bit. Not bad for such an 'old' lady he..........

The weather report for the coming week is still 30 degrees and more, but so every now and then we have some clouds, giving some shade and space to cool a bit.

Ciao and till next report.

Baci baci Rita

BBQ, Whale Watching and temperature rising

And once again there was a bbq-party on Pini.

This time just a 'small' one, not a full organized VS-BBQ for all the guests, but a nice get-together of a few families staying at Pini.

Stef and John went to the butcher in Villanova to order the meat for about 20 people. This order included pork chops, because one family asked for meat with bone!

By collecting the meat they found out that something went wrong in the translation: we found hughe pieces of beef steaks.

Not on the grill, but on the scottlebry, seasoned with herbs and spices by Lucien Peter-Jan it was a fantastic delicious piece of meat.

The Italian 'pork chops'.

Nice salads, different bottles of wine and of course a bottle of Lemoncello complemented with good company gave us another nice evening (and for some of us a nice hangover the next morning).

(creative with an umbrellastick and light)

What a smokey bbq?

Thanks to all the guests for a nice evening.

And........ the temperature is rising.

On Monday we had the rare opportunity to get away together, so we went on the Whale Watching trip. The best thing to do in this heat: sitting on a boat at sea, the wind through your hair, relaxing, being away from all the work for a while.

All the sorts of cetacaen we could see (if you are lucky). We did see the striped dolphin on the bottom right, a few seaturtles).

At the end of the afternoon we saw 2 times a group of young dolphins, playing in the waves made by circling around them. It was very difficult to catch them with the camera, but still here is one:

Also I need some more practice to make panoramic pictures I think, at a few of them it's not your eyes, I took a double shot at the same position

(getting better at it)

Cervo.

(blurry from the heat).

And to end with a shot of Stef, not being seasick, but just relaxing.

That's all for now folks, I hope some of you will e mail me the pictures you've made, so I can share them on this site. My email address is: [email protected].

Ciao, Bonne Notte, Bacci bacci to you all.

High season.................

Not really muych to tell about at the moment. Just doing the daily job of change-overs, checking the guests out, cleaning the tents for the new arrivals.

Although there have been no 'special events', we still enjoy our time here at the campsite.

I have been to the beach with Heidi and Rob last week. The beach of Andora. A week ago it was still nice to go there but last week it was packed with Italians. You had to squeeze in your bathtowel and crisscross between the people towards the sea.

Around 17.00 it was getting even more busy, salesmen standing along the water, line-dancing (which is so funny to watch: everybody line dancing on the beach in their bikini and swimtrousers).

What you mean 'packed'? Even in the water we are standing elbow to elbow. NOT the time of the season to go to the beach.

A good thing is that Liguria is such a beautiful area, where you can drive into the mountains and find villages where it looks like time has stand still.

The campsite is completely full, but because of the terraces it doesn't feel, look like it.

Every body is pleased, having a good time, every Tuesday and Thursday live music, Wednesday night at 22.00 nightswimming.

Like said before, for the rest no special occasions to mention, but I just thought to give a sign that we are doing fine and enjoying ourselves. Hopefully soon I will have something more interesting to write about.

In the meantime, you all take care, and know that your good company here is missed.

Ciaoooooooooooo, Baci baci Rita

Murphy's law becomes Rita's law :-(

Finally Stef and I could leave the campsite together.

The plan was to go to Ceriale to check out the free beach there.

Okay, you don't need to pay for the beach, but to say it is a nice beach?

No, not really. We were dozing off a bit when suddenly the ground started to tremble: the train was passing, just above our heads and it felt like it was running over us! So not very relaxing.

And Rita's law was at work again: as soon as we entered the beach the dark clouds came over. Maybe for half an hour we had some sun, but then it was over and done with.

So, back to the campsite to get changed for a trip to Ceriale and Pietra Ligure where they were supposed to have a night of Illuminazione dal Mare (lighting the sea).

First we checked in our one arrival of that day, dressed up and were all ready to go for an evening out!

Around 21.00, after having dinner on one of the squares, we strolled to the boulevard, but nothing was showing some kind of action for the planned Illuminazione. At 22.00 sitting down for a coffee at the boulevard and asking about this event: and yeh, what you think? It was cancelled!!!!

I went back to the campsite to finish the evening off with some live music (I thought), but also that was cancelled due to the weather.

On top of that there was an unexpected arrival of a young couple that was supposed to arrive tomorrow morning, which meant back to work and to sort out something for the night for them. By midnight everything was sorted, I was tired and a bit disappointed. The day 'off' was more tiring then a normal working day would have been.

Stef and I decided not to plan things like this anymore but just to see what happens on the way. Most of the time then it will turn out like a very pleasant day with nice events.

Most of the guests that attended the BBQ are gone and the atmosphere at Pini is so different now. Most of them going their own way, going away because most days at the campsite its cloudy.

Yesterday after a short shower of rain we saw a beautiful rainbow, at one point even two! It was like the sky was on fire. It made me feel good, showing that after rain comes sunshine and every day has a silver lining.

(must have been a BIG pot of gold at the end of this beautiful rainbow)

End of this week we will have many change overs, a few of the guests of last year will be coming back, so who knows it might turn in another bbq again.

Not much more to report but I wanted to share with you the beautiful rainbow. Enjoy.

Take care everybody and ..... at the end of the day (even bad days) there always has been a rainbow or a silver lining at one point that day, just you need to see/feel it and stand still for a moment at it. Love Rita

Pini Party BBQ

I was sitting with some guests on the terrace at the swimmingpool, listening to the live music, they asked me:

Rita, Tuesday evening live music, Wednesday evening swimming at night (22.00), Thursday evening live music, but.......What are we going to do on Friday evening then?

They saw the pictures in the guestbook of the barbecues already held before. Can we do that?

Of course we can.

So, Charlotte wrote a paper for the reception board: Street BBQ for the Vacansoleil guests, Friday evening at Pini.

And wow, what a BBQ it was: about 84 people!!!!!!!!!

Mr. Stef and Stef went in the morning to the butcher in Villanova to order the meat: 100 something burgers, 100 something sausages, kebabs .... The butcher was of course very pleased with this order, but they were told next time to order so much meat at least 3 days before

A few bottles of Lemoncello as dessert were included.

It was a great success: Danisch guests, Polish guests, Irish and the rest Dutch.

My cd-player outside of my tent and Stef and Freek, the Grill Masters gave us even Life music!

Some girls gave a performance and Sinia and Lieneke (Tipi and Flora) of Campingkids did the Star Trekking and Chocolade song as an intermezzo with the children.

Thanks everybody for another evening of great company, friendships and fun.

Whale watching

Since 1996 the classic trip in the 'Pelagos Sanctuary'. (the coast in front of Imperia to Savona)

After a fast ride to arrive off-shore, where the sea is more than 2000 m deep, the 'hunting' begins. Patience and constancy are necessary to be successfull; nevertheless, the skilled crew will satisfy your expectations and you'll be able to participate actively in the research of whales and dolphins. The exciting approach to the animals is commented on by an expert biologist. The most easily encountered species are the Stripped Dolphin an the Fin Whale, but also the Curvier's Beaked Whale, the Sperm Whale and Risso;s Dolpin, even if rarer, are on our sighting record.

In fifteen years of work our boats have had an average of 2 sightings for each excursions. Sighting is not guaranteed because whales are free animals who spend a long time immersed in open sea but our experience allows us to reach a very high range of cucess (95%) last few years. (www.whalewatch.it).

A few of our guests have been on this excursion and so far every one has been lucky to see at least Dolphins. Three couples have seen the Whales, of which I share their pictures here with you.

Stef arrived: a knock out for me, but now I am back!!!

Again another week passed by that you did not hear from me. I was simply too tired..............

A busy week without my assistant Stef, specially on Saturday I had a lot of arrivals, but then Saturday evening I drove around 21.00 to Ventimiglia, where Stef arrived with the train from Nice. It was perfect timing: he just walked out of the trainstation at the time I stopped at the parking in front of the station. Back to the campsite in one hour and of course a big warm welcome at the bar with Maura, Georgio and Fabio.

Sunday and Monday we worked together so Stef could get back in the routine and rythm. Tuesday I could take a day off. What a strange thing a body is: because my mind knew Stef was taking care of everything my body fell apart instantly. All the hard physical work came out: every joint in my body was aching. But now I AM BACK!!! Watch me, here I go again.

Almost all tents are full. This weekend a few more arrivals and from then on it will be change-overs all the way.

As expected the contact with the guests is still nice, but different as it was in the low season until just a week ago. For everything there is a time..............

Tuesdays and Thursday evening we have live music at the bar, which is nice and on Wednesday evening they open the swimmingpool at 22.00, so every body can swim at night.

Also the two girls of Camping Kids are doing a great job. Last wednesday they organized a dinner party in the restaurant with Tipi and Flora and they got 31 children to join them.

After the visit of the Owl family earlier this season now some guests on the terraces had a big surprise: a visit of a vox every evening around 02.00 AND a big family of wild boars!!!! There are seven of them. They come every night to the field in front of tent 18 where a cherry tree is.

Of course they visit this place, because there was a Polish family. At arrival the woman asked if there were many bugs and ants around there. Of course there was, we are in a forrest after all. But nobody expected that exactly specially for them they had to cope with the nightly surprise of the growling noise that woke them up. When they looked outside they spotted this family! I can imagine the fear in the beginning, but later they got used to them and even woke the children up so they could see them. Also around 04.00 they woke up from a scratching noise around their tent: a fox came to visit them.

If that was not enough during the week the animal farm extended with dormouses playing in the trees, chewing on the stones of the cheries that were on the ground and a pussy cat. They gave the cat milk, while watching the dormouses playing in the trees.

Now at the arrival of new guests in tent 18 we are warning them about the noises they can expect and I've asked them to make pictures of the animals when they spot them. So far I could not manage to stay awake till 02.00 in the morning to go and see the wild boars myself.

Well, my dear friends, so far the 'adventures' on C'era una Volta.

I am fully rested again and from now on Stef and I will run our little village in a relaxed pace and enjoy ourselves :)

Take care, and as soon as I have some interesting pictures I will post them.

Ciao for now,

Rita