Italy. Day 5.

Woken refreshed at the Vicolocorto Affittacamere. Translated is the Vicolocorto Bed and breakfast.

The room was well equipped with coffee etc but instant coffee cannot be drunk in Italy.

There were two vouchers for breakfast at a nearby cafe.

So we followed the directions given and made our way. The place, above, which was really good . If you're in La Spezia I would recommend.

This small bed and breakfast idea where you meet nobody and the instructions are clear for entry, exit etc. is a great idea and were actually more helpful than places with people telling you what to do. The cafe was charming , coffee and pastries that were included in the price were very good quality. The Cornetto. (Pastry) Had the usual choice of marmalade, (jam) pistachio cream or just the sweet white cream. Are actually very good. A cappuccino finished it off and we sat a while and planned our route to the French border.

Saying goodbye to La Spezia. Which looked a lot better in daylight.

We fuelled up, usually locally avoiding Autostrada fuel prices.

These local manned fuel stations are always much better than having to queue to pay having to go one way round all the things for sale. Which to be fair, are better than the rows of expensive £3 packets of crisps £2.50 chocolate bars and £20 phone USB cables you get in the UK.

The old man, (they always are) filled us up and cleaned the windscreen and took out a card reader for payment. This is a new one. Usually they only accept Lira.

When using these fuel stations look when you drive in as there are sometimes. Two different prices for the fuel. One for self service and the other for service by a human. (The old man); and the price difference can be substantial, if filling up.

Back to the driving.

Whilst still very much enjoying the driving. Today was tinged with a little sadness. Leaving Italy

Although today would be driving north towards the Alps so really looking forward to it anyway.

So we headed out on the SS1 toward the E80 heading for Genoa. To then turn right on the A7 towards Turin and onwards to the Mt Blanc tunnel.

The weather was dry and partially cloudy. Which made for spectacular mountain views. But before that. Driving through Genoa I was suddenly hit with a horrible feeling of dread. We turned onto a bridge and the scene opened up that I instantly recognised. This was the rebuilt bridge that had collapsed back in 2018. And driving over it was difficult as I imagined the horror Looking down over the rebuilt houses that look pretty much like the originals. Bravo Italy for making sure this happened. It was incredible to think how quickly this has been restored. But thoughts are with those who can't see it today.

The Alps are now starting to come into view as we approach Turin's outskirts. And those views will only get more spectacular.

Approaching Turin

The partial clouds only helped the views

The temptation to keep stopping to take in the views was great. But we pushed on.

The BMW behaving as you expect it to. Sitting at an average of around 65-70mph it seems to be getting more comfortable if anything as we grow into it.

It's smooth power delivery and straight six sound. Giving me all the information I need and no more. I am finding I don't miss the technology in modern cars. My phone gives me the best satnav I need. The only thing I will address when I get back is the music system. It doesn't have the original BMW business radio cassette. But the first owner fitted a CD radio. Which doesn't work. So I will look for a standard genuine BMW to get it back to original. I have never, in my 50 years of driving and owning hundreds of cars everywhere modified one from the original design. My thinking is that manufacturers spend millions on research and development (or they used to) so why do we think we can add or remove something to make the car look and drive faster, or noisier today.

Mt Blanc Approaching

The drive started to get more steep in front of us as we climbed up towards the tunnel.

This is the first time I have come this way. Other times I have come further east and in the dark. So heading into the Tunnel du Mont-Blanc to give it it's proper title.

The views of the mountain are stunning

The tunnel built between 1959 and 1966 is 11.6 km long and joined Italy to France . I suppose going in the other direction, it gets you out of France quicker 😁 But today we leave Italy and go through France.

The 17 minutes drive through the tunnel brings you out at actually quite an altitude.

We plotted a route west along the Swiss border to avoid the charges for driving in Switzerland. Although you get a windscreen sticker. Thanks

The route along the French side of the Swiss border is a huge downwards drive from the altitude of the tunnel exit. The scenery is stunning even when cloudy.

The N205 from the tunnel soon turns into the A40 which we followed towards Geneva before turning right and following the border for a while towards Valserhōne. Then round the ring road towards Bourg- en Bresse. It was getting late and we looked for our nightly stop on booking.com. this had served us brilliantly in Italy. With stays around the €40-50 mark. And all had been amazing places in one way or another.

But that was Italy.

We found a likely place called the Relax Hotel. Nr a place called, Maillat photos looked ok but as we were busy driving. We just booked in.

We arrived at dusk and the outside looked ok but in an industrial area just off the A40.

Stepping inside. It all went downhill fast.

Firstly having thought we had booked for breakfast. We were asked for a further €48 for it. A decision obviously needed immediately. The receptionist was not very receptive. So needs a different name for a start.

Upon hearing our decision to forget breakfast her frostiness turned down a notch or two. To downright rude. We took our key and headed for the safety of the room .

To call it basic was an insult to basic hotels. Don't get me wrong. I like basic. But a bathroom would have been good.

Instead we got what I can only describe as a bathroom unit lifted straight out of a one man campervan.

A plastic unit so small where you stand for the sink. Is the same place you have to stand for a shower. Ok.

But the showerhead was below shoulder level and bending wasn't an option, if you didn't want to bang your head anywhere. We saw the funny side as you can see.

The rest of the room contained a bed. Just. One chair, which we wedged the door with. And a few wall pegs with a coat hanger. Wire obviously.

No light switch on my side of the bed.( That's extra)

Plain walls floor and one small rubbish bucket.

Considering what we had in Italy for the same price and less. This was just plain awful. We slept to blank it all out. Avoid the Relax Hotel nr Maillat France.

Next day we left at 7.00am and decided there and then.

We are getting home tonight