Mantova to Lago di Garda

 Monday 23rd May

Rather a wet night and still raining when we woke up.  But we managed to get water empty/fill jobs done in a short lull, then left Iseo to drive to Mantova (Mantua in English).  While looking online last night to see if there were any interesting geocaches to find in Mantova, we came across one that is in some woodland with recycled sculptures and it also described a "camper area Sparafucile" close by.  So we googled the camper area and decided that that would be great for us to stay for a night.  It turned out to be just like a campsite with all the usual facilities, but with automated entry and departure - ie. take a ticket on the way in - you zap that to gain entry to the loo block and zap it at the pay machine when you are ready to leave.  24 hours for just 15€.  We've taken lots of photos and will send a report to Motorhome Magazine. 
 
The sculpture with the geocache was quite fun too ....
 
..... and we didn't realise Italy were so 'Health & Safety' ...

Although we'd driven the short distance through a few short showers, they were nothing compared to the thunder storm that hit us as we approached Mantova!  Fortunately we were near enough to the outskirts to spot a Lidl sign and we were able to stop in their car park to see it out.  Mantova is a very attractive town with several piazzas (a film crew in one of them with some classic cars, but we missed the action), cobbled streets, a fortress, medieval arcades and the massive Sant'Andrea church.  Photos weren't allowed in the church (and there was a chap 'tidying chairs' watching, so didn't try!  The entrance is a huge arch and the inside is a similar shape with a barrel roof and no pillars holding anything up!  Quite impressive. 
 

Palazzo Ducale

 

Sant'Andrea

 We thought of walking a while beside the Lago di Mezzo - the oversized part of the River Minchio - but one of those dark clouds was looming and we decided to get going over the long bridge back to the van.  Just as well, as not much later another mighty downpoor and more thunder and lightning. 

Tuesday 24th May

There seems to be no in between with the weather around here - it's either cloudy and showery/stormy or extremely hot sunshine.  Today we've returned to the latter.  The camper area proved to be a very quiet and pleasant place to stay.  Moved on again this morning, though, to Lake Garda.  We so enjoyed being at La Rocca, between Garda and Bardolino last year, that we decided to revisit for a couple of days.  It was quite a palava getting in this time as a group of Czech vans hemmed us in in the parking area while checking in and then one of them which was twice as long as ours and pulling a trailer with a car on it took ages to negotiate a corner on the site!  We eventually made it to our pitch - again surrounded by many German holidaymakers.  Wasn't anything like so busy last year, but that was a month earlier than this. 

The lake is still just as lovely and apart from a short stroll towards Garda, we just relaxed all afternoon.  There is a super pool here but it's at the top of the hill and we couldn't be bothered!

John preparing for dinner!