Campsite fun

Isn't it great when you can get access to the internet whenever you like. Maybe I'm not as much of a technophobe as I think!

So, after our visit to Mulhouse we decided to come to a campsite at Masevaux. After a few weeks of camping at aires we needed access to washing machines, showers and space! I don't want you to think that we stopped washing just because we weren't on a site. It is just a bit harder when you have to decant all the stored stuff out of the bathroom before you can take a shower. Also, in winter many of the aires shut off the water, so you have to be pretty careful with your water supplies.

The campsite is great. Excellent facilities on site, and access to the local pool, tennis courts and games fields next door. Believe it or not the owners are Scottish...small world. The cafe on site, where the wifi is, has great beer and a wood burning stove...toasty!

On our way in to the village we saw the storks that Alsace is so famous for. The other thing that I noticed was the quantity of mistletoe growing in the poplar trees (mostly). The last time I saw any amount of the stuff was when we were in Shropshire. I believe it is commonly associated with fruit trees, and there are loads of orchards around there. I have also seen banks of snowdrops emerging from the ground, although it is pretty cold up here.

We emerged unscathed from the storms that tore through France the other day. The civic police in Thann advised us to move from the aire, away from the big trees, to the car park opposite. However, we were pretty sheltered. When we walked to the top of the hill above the town to see the ruined castle the noise from the trees was incredible. The castle tower had toppled (not in the wind, thankfully) and remained complete, like an oversized polo-mint (other mints are available!) It was really disconcerting walking around it.

Some of my other observations...

When you walk in to a shop you must say hello to the person behind the counter, and you can expect them to come out and help you regardless of the number of people waiting to be served, and, the waiting people stand patiently until you are done. It may be different in cities, but so far, this is my experience. Fab!

Our bird life has gone from mediterranean exotic to scottish garden typical. Apart from the long tailed tits. However, it is nice to have birdsong in the morning, regardless of what is singing.

All the shops have the most amazing window displays. The florists shops are incredible. At the moment it is all white easter bunnies, lovehearts and mini-daffodils. Even the library in Thann had streamers taped to the windows, sculptures on the shelves and paintings on the walls.

Roundabouts are mini works of art. Oddly enough, Spain had incredible roundabouts, despite the roadsides being littered with all manner of jettisoned plastic and dead animals. The French ones relate to the specialities or history of the region. We have seen 20' amphorae at Narbonne, massive replica roman columns caught mid-collapse on a hillside somewhere east of Dijon and sculpted families of wild boar...probably the only safe ones!

Despite all this diversity everything else is remarkably similar.