With the tingle of anticipation and excitement running through our blood, we left London and headed for Calais via a quick boat ride across the English Channel in search of an endless European Summer. With the sun on our face and the wind in our hair, our first experience of Europe came when we were screamed at by some other Pikies coming off the Boat Ramp for driving slow in the wrong lane. Finger and all. This was to be one of many times we were yelled at for driving on the wrong side of the road. It’s easier than you think, when you wake up early, very hung-over and your brain goes into auto-pilot. We found smiling and waving not only made us laugh but infuriated them further…causing us to laugh harder.
The French countryside was stunning – lush vineyards, inexpensive but lovely wine, cheese platters and French cops that would wave us down and stop us in the middle of a busy intersection just to come over and say hello. All were amused by the Van and that two rouge Aussie chicks were in it. En-route to La Rochelle we stopped in at what looked like a place off a movie set with locals bustling to the music of a quaint café by the water. We got lost a few times in the country side but we were bothered. We had already been to Paris and done the touristy stuff so we were free to roam without any pressure to fit stuff in. Driving through fields on a dirt road along hand picketed fences felt like we were light years away from London after only a couple of hours.
Spain was an absolute riot with the Running of the Bulls. The Opening ceremony and race were unreal.. not to mention a diet of Sangria and roast chicken all week and the best street party I have ever been to. Wicked had organised for all the Wicked Vans to camp together which made meeting fellow travellers and revellers very easy. Most of whom we met up with along the way of our 3month trip. The Campsite was well organised, provided food, drinks, music, transfers into town and security for our Vans while we were down town. Other than Pamplona we visited Biarritz and San Sebastian which is a MUST for anyone going to Spain. You could easily stay there for weeks. In fact we met some Aussies that lived there doing Surf Camps who said they never wanted to go home.
The drive to Madrid from San Sebastian is long, hard and dusty ! We stopped in Madrid for some of their famous tapas and a shop around (and the air conditioned shopping centres). Its VERY hot and dry there. We heard the nightlife is good fun but we were too exhausted after all the fun in Pamplona. Next stop was Portugal where our time there was kicked off by a 3 day Music festival called Optimus Alive 2008 in Lisbon featuring Xavier Rudd, Rage Against the Machine, John Butler Trio, Ben Harper and Bob Dylan to name a few. The festival was on the water and the Aussie and Kiwi’s spirit was high and notable with all the green and gold and blow up kangaroos. A few hours south and we hit Lagos– insane nightlife, drinking out of fishbowls, chaotic camping, face planting and other drinking related injuries but being 5 mins away from one of the most beautiful beaches where you could swim in and out of the caves. We found a car park on a hill with the most amazing scenery and reversed the car in and set up camp. Come night fall all the other big vans got moved-on as there is a sign saying ‘NO Camping’. Fortunately we are considered a small car and are allowed to stay. We waited until dark to put up the curtains haha
Next country was Morocco and Fez was not a let down. I later found out our friends held a competition as to how many times they did a No.2 in one day.. shortly after getting back to Spain! 14 was the record. Lets just say they aren’t exactly strict on food preparation and keeping fridge items under 5 degrees to avoid bacteria in Morocco! None-the-less the culture was unbelievable, lanes were tiny and design and architecture has to be seen. Others ventured out into the desert for a camel ride but we were time poor. It was a bummer we didn’t have enough time to see Marrakech as well… however we skipped off to Ibiza for a 5 day blitz of swimming, inflatable family members (Bruce and Susan R.I.P), Dancing to Groove Armada live and partying in the biggest clubs in the world. You could see why the English go there every holiday they get. When the guy on the street corner asks you if you want to buy some sunglasses, be assured.. he is selling everything but sunglasses!
