By Tosca on Friday, 25 July 2014
Posted in Welcome!
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Hi everyone,

I'm an expat and as you can see from the title, I live in Italy just 5km from Lake Como towards the Swiss border.

About 7 years ago we acquired a dog and two years after decided that the only way to have a decent holiday (dog included) would be to buy a camper. Up until 2013 my holidays were dictated by my employer but we always managed to get as far as France, Spain and a little of Portugal and of course Italy. I retired in 2013 and therefore time no longer has limits.

If anyone has any questions about Italian destinations including Sicily and especially the beautiful Sardinia (we're going again in September ) just drop me a line, I'd be pleased to help where I can.

Maybe I'll catch up with some of you around Europe :thumbs:
Hello and :welcome4: Tosca, the last time I was in Como was in 2002 on the way to World Ducati Week in Cattolica. What a difference when we left Switzerland and rode into Italy, the Polizia wanted us to rev the nuts off our Dukes so they could hear the exhausts bellowing, they stood around grinning and giving us the thumbs up.They must have heard plenty of bikes suting that week because there were thousands of Dukes from all over Europe heading down to Cattolica.

Italy is on our must do list of places to visit, my OH has never been there and insists that we do so. Like you we came to motorhoming because we had a couple of dogs ( Cavaliers) it was so much better to be able to take them with us than trying to find a hotel that allows dogs, one dog is a bit difficult but when you have two its almost impossible.

Strangely on that same trip we rode back to the UK via Spain...as you do.... we were riding into gently through Llanes keeping the revs down... remember we were used to the UK attitudes to motorbikes, I spotted a couple of police up ahead on the bridge and I saw them looking at us, when one of them stepped into the road my heart went down....but no! he gave us the twist of the wrist sign to rev the bikes up, so the three of us obliged and the folks in the street started clapping and cheering, I came to know that policeman (Galan) in the years since I moved here and he remains a good friend. I thought at the time it wouldn't be a bad place to live...and subsequently it proved to be the case.

Cheers
Phil
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8 years ago
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That should have been " during that week " :ohmy:
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8 years ago
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Hi Phil and thanks. You cant beat the Swiss police for dampening down enthusiasm. I've worked in Switzerland for more than 30 years so I know what I'm talking about.

Asturias beautiful place and astounding scenery. We came through there last July after a horrific 5 days in Portugal and stopped over at Cudillero on the coast.... sort of. We then went along into Cantabria, but for lack of dog friendly campsites,( just managed to get 1 night in Laredo), had to move on quite quickly into France. Shame really because I would have liked to visit S. Sebastian and others. You certainly need a motorbike in that area!!

We come into Spain every year as it feels like home. Most of the time we travel around Catalunya but this Autumn we are planning to go farther south towards the warmer weather and maybe catch up with some of the members also travelling around Spain.

Anyway, thanks for the warm welcome.

Vivien
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8 years ago
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Hi Tosca, We're new to this site & would love to hear your thoughts re Sardinia & Corsica.
Our plan is to drive to Livorno & ferry to Olbia. ( Is this the best way?) then spend two months in Sardinia & 1month in Corsica before heading back to the UK.

We have a 7m camper van & welcome info on stopover sites ,possibly free!! Which are the best places to visit? We prefer villages, small towns & countryside to large towns.

Any thoughts welcomed..

Many thanks & hope you're enjoying the summer wherever you are.

Cliff& Kay Hannah.
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7 years ago
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Hi Tosca, and welcome to the club!
We are also thinking of going to Sardinia late September and October
It would be fantastic to get some tips from a local!
We are just starting to look at ferry prices, seems there are fewer options from France late September. We drove to Genoa a few years ago for the ferry to Corsica and don't have fond memories of that stretch of motorway!
We need to be able to get flights back to U.K. Once or twice during trip for hubby, so that could be a deal breaker but after one short weekend trip to Sardinia years ago I know that we will love it there so very keen to make it work, any tips most welcome!
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7 years ago
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