BBQ with many of the Vacansoleil guests

Because the atmosphere on our 'square' was so nice, everybody chatting away with everybody I suggested we could organize a BBQ on Sunday evening.

Every body tipped in 5 Euro per person, Stef and Bram went to the butcher in Villanova to buy the meat. Furtheron everybody was supposed to bring their OWN drinks, but the bottle-table ended up being replaced by a bigger table

Also everybody was bringing salads, bread, sauces and we ened up having food for about 60 people instead of the 30 guests that joined in.

It was a big success, everybody enjoyed themselves very good. We also had Polish guests, who spoke English and an Italian couple, who did not speak one word English what-so-ever, but also enjoyed themselves.

As said, a big success with the request to do it again as long as everybody is still here. On Saturday it is big departure day, during the week a few of our guests are leaving already, so let's see by the end of the week whether to do it again or not.

For sure it is something we can do more often during the high season.

On Monday Stef went mountaineering again with Paul, this time they tried to reach a top from the French site. First it took them a while before they even got to the place where they were supposed to start walking/climbing. For example, they had to buy some petrol but had to wait about an hour until the fueltank came to first fill up the gasoline station!!!

They again had a wonderful day with a good climb and again beautiful pictures taken. Around 22.00 they were back on the campsite.

Today, tuesday, and last night, it has been raining almost all day. A good day for me to have a lay-inn and after that I went this time to a real Italian hairdresser and not just a wash and dry hairwoman something. Again my hair is short and it looks much better, done by a professional.

Tomorrow both of us back to work as usual for the rest of the week, every day departures and arrivals, specially the weekend we will be very busy again.

Remember: click on the button for foto's and you can see the latest pictures uploaded.

Ciao for now

Rita

A lovely day at the beach

Yesterday Stef had an adventurous day.

Together with Paul (one of our guests) he went for mountain climbing/walking/sliding. But.... shortly you can read all about that and watch the pictures on Stef's site. Late afternoon - after the visit of Maria, the assistant area manager, Sjouktje (Paul's wive) and I went to Loana for a stroll and a coffee. So good to be away from the campsite every now and then. :)

This afternoon I took a few hours off and I went to Bagni Diana in Laigueglia.

The campsite has made a deal with the owner of Bagni Diana that guests from C'era una Volta will get discount on the price of the rental of sunbeds and umbrellas.

It was a beautiful but windy day. Which was good, because otherwise it would have been too hot!

Now the sea gave wonderful waves, they washed away the first row of sunloungers, but still there was enough beach left.

A few guests from us where also on the beach, but Mimo, the owner of Bagni Diana gave me a sunlounger on the other side of the beach, so I had my peace.

I guess I slept most of the afternoon in the sun, maybe I needed it? The rest of the afternoon I spend going into the sea, reading, looking around, into the water again and around 17.00 my parking meter was running out, so time to go back.

You can't imagine (or maybe you can) how I felt driving back: a big smile on my face, thanking the Universe once again for letting me being here in this beautiful country. I can't get enough of driving around along the seaside, taking in the views of the sea, the beaches, the little villages, the houses, the trees, the flowers. Yes, I do feel at home here in La Bella Italia.

Next 'report' will be with a few pictures taken on the beach today, but it will take too much time to download them first at this moment still from my camera.

Soon you will hear again from me, and.......... please stay in touch, my mailbox of my email is so sadly empty......................

I am handing over my internetconnection to Stef now, so he can publish his adventurestory and the pictures of yesterday. Enjoy and check it out: stefgodschalk.waarbenjij.nu!!!!

Genoa, a city full of surprises

We took a day off to go to see Genoa.

It was really nice. The evening before we made a round to see all our guests and to tell them that we would be a day away, to see the big world. Everybody wished us a good time, joking that they were not sure if they could manage a day without us. It was heartwarming that they all were happy for us to take a day off.

Even in the evening, when we came back, one of our guests had put all the info that is always outside on the table of the reception, inside the tent and closed it

The way to Genoa we took the autostrada, it took us about an hour to get there. Parking outside Genoa at a big shoppingmall.

Then we started walking, to end walking with soar knees about 6 hours later! But, it was worth it, we passed so many beautiful buildings, as you can see looking at the pictures.

Around 19:00 we left Genoa, along the coastroad. We stopped at .... to have some dinner, then we drove back home in about 2 hours. Around 23.00 we were home, both very pleased about the beautiful day we spent in Genoa.

Sorry, guys, at the moment I have not a lot of inspiration to write much, I will make it up to you soon.

Now still waiting for a late arrival, then super ready for bed.

Buonne notte and 'see' you soon again.

You know the procedure: click on foto;s and you can enjoy with us the beauty and diversity of Genoa.

Just received by mail: an Italian joke. Enjoy

CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL!
An elderly Italian man who lived on the outskirts of Rimini , Italy , went to the local church for confession. When the priest slid open the panel in the confessional, the man said:
'Father, During World War II , a beautiful Jewish woman from our neighborhood knocked urgently on my door and asked me to hide her from the Nazis. So I hid her in my attic.'

The priest replied: 'That was a wonderful thing you did, and you have no need to confess that.'

'There is more to tell, Father. She started to repay me with sexual favors. This happened several times a week, and sometimes twice on Sundays .'

The priest said, 'That was a long time ago and by doing what you did, you placed the two of you in great danger, but two people under those circumstances can easily succumb to the weakness of the flesh.
However, if you are truly sorry for your actions, you are indeed forgiven.'

'Thank you, Father. That's a great load off my mind. I do have one more question.'

'And what is that?' asked the priest. 'Should I tell her the war is over?'

Funny Italy and the Big ............ VS 2010 Award

Funny Italy, The Big ...............VS 2010 Award!!!!!!!!!!!

Something else on this site: some fun.

In the short time I am now here in Italy I have seen and heard many 'strange things'.

Why ................?

Because that is one of the criteria to receive the award.

Half of April, when I went to Albenga with Stef we saw on the square near the Cathedral guirlandes everywhere with the print of a Sling Shot! Stef made a picture of it.

Of course we started to wonder what the meaning could be of this picture.

After asking at the reception of the camping we got one story, which we will tell you later. Watch out for the 'Sling Shot Mystery'. One thing we can tell you: the Italian name for this 'event' is: Figli dei Caruggi. The Italian name for Sling Shot - Katapult is Fionda. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Use your imagination and send us YOUR idea why the symbol of a sling shot is used. Try to find it on the internet or just make up something yourself.

You can send your entries under the name 'The Sling Shot Mystery'.

So ......... we would like to hear your 'explanation' of it: what could the meaning be?

One evening beginning of the season we were sitting down with a nice group of people and the most silly things passed by on that evening. I can't remember all of it anymore, so Rien whenever you have time, can you start this subject of with your story???

Other questions we came up with:

1. What kind of bird is it that we hear every evening around 18.00 and later?

What name would you give this bird and

how does this bird look like.

One of the names that is already in the competition is: the typico Prosaco (it could get on your nerves this sound) Vacansoleio bird (Rien).

So lovely people, we are challenging you for funny stories, original ideas, pictures (you are allowed to download from the internet), drawings etc. and may the funniest, the one with the biggest imagination win!!!!

By filling in the reactionbox (reageer) (on the bottom of a story I put on the site) you can give your votes!

2. Where is the alarm coming from, that goes off every morning at sharp 06.45 ?

Funny, I haven't heard this alarm not one single morning yet. Maybe because I am out of space at that time? It does sound like a horn like in many countries the community is testing for wartimes (as I've been told).

3. What kind of 'tradition' is this?

In the toilet buildings there is a sign: Don't throw paper on the walls!!! If caught, you have to pay the damage (???????) and you will be thrown of the campsite.

Ever heard about this before and if yes, in which countries do they have this habit also?

4. How does the ................. 2010 VS Award have to look like? What kind of symbol, object (like the sling shot) are we going to use for this Award?

5. What is going to be the name of this Award?

The meaning/plan is that we will pass this Award every year on to the next winner for the funniest picture, drawing, story, answer to questions that for sure will come up.

6. Another question Stef and I are struggling with:

Why does all the furniture for the garden, the table and the chairs have those lines, uneven pieces in it?

Probably you, the one who are sitting on and at it know this answer.

We, the ones who have to clean them do NOT know the reason why.

7. Every afternoon we hear a melody. Tidelideli something, going up.

What could this be?

Your input will be highly appreciated, so come up with other strange, funny traditions, questions etc. and we will put them in the competition.

To close for tonight I want to show you a nice picture of a saying.

In Holland, when something is very easily done we have the saying: a child can do the washing/laundry. Here in Italy it is probably: even a horse can do it ????????

The machine was even working when we passed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ippodromo, horseraces

Today, a blue sky, about 28 degrees, we went after working on the tents for the arrivals of this weekend, to the Ippodromo, down the road of the campsite.

We placed a bet and I was lucky. The first race I bet 5 euro and my horse gave me back 3 euro and 6 cents! Wow, don't spend it all at once.

The second race again 5 Euro and now I won 10 Euro 50 cents. That looks more like it. That was enough of luck for one day, next week Thursday there will be races again, at the display it appears to be a bigger one, so hopefully we can go again to watch it.

Yesterday I went for a haircut into Villanova and it turned out not tooo bad. The hairdresser was very pleased and proud of herself, she asked if I had a camera with me, so she could make a picture, which she wants to put in her book. Oh, why not?

Click on the button foto's and see how my horse (nr. 3), almost became the winner, (it is the horse behind nr. 1).

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!

and, yes we like it if you will keep us informed about your wellbeing and adventures!!!!!

Love from Italy, Rita

The church on top of the mountain opposite our camping

On a small road on our way to the top to the church, where the views were fantastic!!! Look at the mountains with snow on top far at the horizon. Sometimes I thought I was even back in Nepal!!!!

Click on the button foto's and you can enjoy the views.

Further on I like to mention that if you click on the right side of my page on the link Stef's reisblog, you automatically will be redirected to his site, where you can enjoy his stories and his pictures.

Ciao xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The botanic Garden of Hanbury

We have been to the botanical Garden of Hanbury.

The drive to it was beautiful, a sunny day, so just perfect.

I could park the car just in front of the entrance, which was lucky and we walked all the way down to the palace, through the beautiful flowers. To watch the pictures, again click on the button foto's, then when you click on one of the pictures in the Album Hanbury you can go forward to see them. Enjoy!!!!