Quick trip across Italy and the south of France

It has been few days since I have written an update and most of that time has been spent racing across Italy in France. Having decided to change our plans we figured the best thing was to try and get a bit of time in Spain and, thus, the motorway companies of Italy and France have profited well!
First stop from Venice was the closest we could get France in a day, and that proved to be about 50k from the border in a fairly unexciting sea side town. A nice camp site run by a very friendly Dutch couple. In hindsight we should have taken the opportunity for a hot shower as the next two nights were to be spent in car parks (well strictly one of them was just on the side of the road having given up searching).
Most of the drive across Italy was shrouded in fog which eventually turned to some rain. When we got to the coast the weather had cleared considerably.
From Italy we headed along the Cote d’Azur. What a fantastic drive, one of the best of the trip. Through tunnels and across bridges with views of rocky coastlines and dramatic cliffs. Before getting to the French border the Italian side was dominated with terraced gardens. Really a brilliant drive, even thought most of it was motorway. Along the way we took a very brief detour in Monaco, not surprisingly a town/city/nation that did not cater well for campervans, unless they had a Porsche logo on the front! Still we managed a glimpse of the casino and a good look at the amazing boats in the marina, recognising a few from the Viaduct basin in Auckland during the America’s Cup.


From Monaco I spotted a sign for Villefranche Sur Mer and could not resist the opportunity, and besides we needed lunch. Funny how old memories create a warped view of a place. I had been here with my mum about 20+ years ago. Steve, I found the Welcome Hotel, it still looks very flash, and the cliffside walk around to the beach, the marina. All rather strange to return to a place after so long and stranger still to only half remember how things were. We managed to get some very nice pain au chocolate and baguettes, France certainly has one thing over Italy!


After our detour off the highway we returned to the main drag and pointed Fiona for Carseccone, but the French motorway traffic beat us and we stopped en route in Frontignan. Selection of town was based on the Camper Stop booking informing us that free camping could be found at the new marina, and do you think we could find it??? No. So we just pulled to the side of the road by the beach and spent the night anticipating a knock on the door from the local police, but did got through the night. The other attraction of Frontignan mentioned in the book is a Saturday morning market, into which we ventured in the morning. Yummy cheese, fresh fruit and veges, a little something for Laila (on request) and various other olives and knick knacks later and we were back on the road.