Μαμά, Γιωτουλίνι, θείε Τάκη, Παναγιώτη χρόνια σας πολλά! Να είστε πάντα καλά, γεροί κι ευτυχισμένοι. Μια μεγάλη αγκαλιά από το Βέλγιο!
Almost there
I have started saying goodbye to stuff and missing them already. The last day in Greece, last day in the sea (was the same day), last really warm day, last dinner out and today is the last time we arrived and set up ourselves in a camping, following our well known routine.
That is: we arrived at the reception, Martijn stayed with the kids in the camper and I did the talk. As it always goes, today included, we entered the camping and chose how to park in our spot (where is the sun, where is the nice view, how we can maximize the running space for Gioia in the front). Then Martijn opened the front tent, connected the electricity, switched on the gas, unfolded and placed the front mat and put the table and chairs on it. At the same time I removed the car seats of the kids, placed the one of Gioia on the driver’s seat and the maxi cosi on the passenger’s. Then I closed the front curtains and fixed the table inside so that equal space is right and left and we can sit comfortably inside, if needed.
Martijn was smart to immediately take the IKEA box with Gioia’s toys out of the storage, so she could do something else than dancing with a towel on her shoulders screaming ‘Let it go..’, jumping from the camper’s two steps to the ground (she only fell once so far, despite the multiple warnings of the last 2 months. Which were pointless, cause she still performs the show many times a day. Double sigh).
The routine goes on as follows and today was no exception: I take out the baby phone from the cupboard, which we only use as thermometer, and I assess the temperature inside to open/close windows accordingly. Necessary pre-requisite is that Martijn has connected the electricity, but usually is a ‘yes’. Then I take the milk making stuff of Alex from the cupboard and put them right on the kitchen table, so they are immediately reachable. After that, and with a sense of control that if disaster strikes we can dump a bottle in his mouth, (doesn’t happen, but I still enjoy the i-am-in-control sensation), I place the ladder of the kids’ bed, bring down the alkof and put the ladder there too. I take a look and enjoy the clean and tidy camper. I know this order will only last for few minutes.
Alex is ‘ba ba ba’-ing, Gioia (or rather Elsa) is in heaven and Martijn has a skill to relax after that. Sissy not. ‘Do we have internet?’ ‘Shall I make bites’ ‘Maybe I start cooking?’ ‘Where are the toilets?’ ‘Did you see this cool van/camper/tent/kids/whatever?’ ‘I like/don’t like the neighbours’, ‘Why are you not talking’, ‘Can you hold Alex?’ Blah blah blah blah.
Today the trip lasted for ever and I literally laid down with Gioia on the camper’s floor while Martijn was still driving. My back was hurting (bloody passengers seat) and Gioia was so quiet during the long trip that I though ‘poor her, she needs to move a little’. We colored with markers and acted as if we sleep, with pillows and covers and everything. On the floor, while driving. I know. If you think this sounds bad let me tell you that when things go south, I usually not only sit on the floor, entertaining Gioia, but at the same time I HOLD Alex. Martijn warns us by saying: ‘roundabout’, or ‘right turn’ when needed, to avoid his whole family flying in the cabin. I will not miss that.
But I will miss all the rest.
Today we counted:
– 59 nights in the camper
– 32 different campings
– 1 night at Alex’s party
– 2 nights in the boat
Two more nights to go and then 1,5 hrs driving to Martijn’s parents. Not much of a roadtrip left, we intend to enjoy every kilometer – hopefully with each family member on their own seat.
Campings so far
We already feel quite experienced with this whole thing of sleeping, eating, tidying, securing everything to avoid flying objects and start driving. Funny to see how quickly you get used to things and adapt. Next step of maturity would be to choose our accomodations more in advance. So far it has been possible to plan our accomodation on the spot (half an hour before we arrive mostly) using a super handy app for campsites, but I guess the more we head south to touristic destinations the more we need to plan ahead and ensure we have a spot. Let’s see.
Night 1: Belgium, Donkmeer, camping called Roosendaal. Pretty basic, but we were such first-timers that we were excited by simply parking this monster without hitting anything. The owners were lovely, around 70, hippy style. 15€/ night. There are older people camping there for months, mostly after they retire. Some of them with on-the-edge kitch style decorating their ‘gardens’. At one spot Gioia said the legendary: ‘I think they have a birthday party’ when looking at the tons of things hanging from the walls and spread on the outside. I took a photo of the party location:
Night 2: France, Calais. Camping called Municipal Le Grande Gravelot, 20€/ night. The place is totally new, built last year, with state of the art facilities and located next to the sea. Pity i did not get to see the sea, not only because I had to put Alex in bed when Martijn and Gioia went, but also because the wind force was enough for me to take off. Plus I hate wind from the bottom of my heart. I know I chose the wrong country to live, but honestly I realized how much I hate wind after some pretty traumatic holidays in Tinos 2 years ago. Myrto, Manos, Panagiotis and Aggeliki know…in Calais Martijn and Gioia also went to the supermarket, first time the bike was used.
Night 3 (where we are now): France, Rang du Fliers, camping called L’Oree du Buis. 24€/ night (we noticed the prices go up, but do intend to keep things in control). This is vast, huge, enormous etc. It has ‘neighbourhoods’ of campers, tents, bangalows, motorhomes etc. Much better than the other two with forest-like setting, but still not my thing. Not that I don’t enjoy it, on the contrary, just it is not this place I intend to write down and come back. Plus 9€ for internet. Right. Of course, we did not pay.
Iedere dag prima
Sometimes it is so extremely nice that I wonder: why not everyone is doing this. And some other times I am wondering how we will survive 2 months. Good moments are when we drive, with music, no kid is screaming and we feel it gets warmer (it happened today, i removed the socks and felt like the world is mine).
Or when we wake up with Gioia and Alex in our bed.
Bad moments are when we have to put the kids to bed (they both sleep at the same time and next to each other). And when I had to cook today, which took for ever with everything costing ten times the usual effort.
But then again comes a good moment and we get a huge smile. Like when Gioia yesterday, who sings 95% of the time we drive, started screaming out of the blue ‘iedere dag prima’ (Dutch for: every day is perfect). It becomes the trip motto: #iederedagprima!
