Date of entry: 14 October 2009 (Day 1) Place of Entry: Calais, Northern France
Date of Exit: 20 October 2009 (Day 7) Place of Exit: Palermo, Sicily, Southern Italy
Europe was no siesta for us.
With our departure delayed because of problems with the LandCruiser, but our ferry into Tunisia from the south of Italy fixed, we had a lot of distance to cover quickly. Alas, we therefore only scratched the surface of these great countries. However, after the ferry from Dover to Calais we had further motivation to get south quickly – it was freezing cold at night. A thick layer of frost on the rooftop tents welcomed us the next morning.
Donning every layer of light clothing I had packed for Africa, we ventured forth. We drove fiercely all day along the western border of France, eventually surrendering at the base of the Alps and sleeping in the car, lacking the energy to raise the rooftop tents.
Au revoir France
We raced down the east coast of Italy, aiming to get to Siena, Tuscany, that evening, but were defeated by the rolling hills and eventually pulled over and slept inside the car again that night. The next day we had a well deserved stroll around Sienna and coffee in the piazza. That night we set up camp in a vineyard just outside Rome, our first bit of relaxed camping.
Two days to get to Sicily and catch our ferry into Tunisia
The chaotic buzz of Naples was an interesting distraction. We finally found a quiet little beach on which to set up camp just as it began to rain. However, the next morning was beautiful and allowed for a quick climb up to a deserted castle to soak up the view of the coast; and my first swim in the Mediterranean.
We made it to Palermo just in the nick of time, dashing into the ferry office – to find out that the ferry had been delayed by 7 hours. Driving up onto the ferry had a feeling of monumentality and the start of something great. I could feel the closeness of Africa and time flew by until we were driving off the ferry into Tunis and onto African soil.
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