Empty campsite

The advantage of an empty campsite is that it’s empty. Kind of like wild camping, but with a shower. I can relax and stay in bed a little longer. No screaming children, no music from other campers, no doors of campers being shut. A luxury.

Now it will be later

But I just can’t seem to get going. I keep telling myself: ‘Now!’ And yet it always becomes later. I will never learn. At half past eleven, I continue my journey to the next historical town, Belmonte. And the name says it all: ‘beautiful mountain’ or ‘beautiful on the mountain.’ So, it means climbing again. Of course, it makes sense; you don’t build a castle in a valley. Hardly any view.

Autumn is here

It suddenly feels like autumn. Yellow leaves repeatedly cover the path. Occasionally, there’s an orange tree. Beautiful, but still tender. Suddenly, there are also many fruit trees, and the last climb towards Belmonte is thankfully manageable in terms of difficulty.

Bus with tourists

At the castle, a bus of tourists is just being unloaded. They shuffle along with somewhat grumpy faces following the guide, who tries to enthusiastically share his story. I explore Belmonte without a guide, much more pleasant and at my own pace. It’s another wonderful discovery, with a castle, a church, a synagogue, and beautiful ancient stone houses that are also quite durable. Only the roofs sometimes show signs of decay.

Fresh fish

My plan is to camp at the camper site. It’s outside the historical center and right next to a huge supermarket. I buy fresh fish there, which I prepare deliciously, if I may say so, and tomorrow morning I can stock up on fresh bread and the rest of the groceries.

Unconsciously competent

I have now reached the status of sprinkler expert. From being unconsciously incompetent, I am now unconsciously competent. Yes, I do learn sometimes! I quickly find the sprinklers near the grass of the camper spot. They are everywhere. But I have a solution. There’s a small patch of dry grass behind a billboard. That’s where I will stand. Some drops will certainly fall on me, but I will surely manage to sleep well. I have made the sprinklers my friends!

Accommodation: Belmonte