The Puppy Road Trip ... Day Two and Three
and so The Puppy Road Trip continues …..
Day Two
After a delicious croissant with coffee and a last stroll
around Dijon to stretch Daisy’s legs we drive to the Port of Genoa to board our
20 hour ferry to Palermo, Sicily.
Mont Blanc |
We drive down through Burgundy and the French Alps towards
the Mont Blanc tunnel.
The views of the Alps are spectacular especially if the
mountains are dusted with snow, we start to pass road signs displaying Geneva,
Milan, Turin. Mont Blanc beckons us like a huge iceberg in front of us becoming
larger and larger.
There are strict rules for driving through Mont Blanc after
a fire in the tunnel in 1999. Speed restrictions are strictly kept at a minimum
50 km/h and maximum 70 km/h at a minimum distance between vehicles of 150metres.
You can feel the 126 surveillance cameras that line the
tunnel watching your every move.
On entering we say “Au Revior” to France and a big “Buon
Giorno” to Italy on the other side.
Once through the tunnel we arrive in the stunning Italian region
of Val d’Aosta, with its dramatic green mountains and natural waterfalls,
passing alpine villages with beautiful chalet houses in the valleys and
medieval fortresses in the mountains high above.
Val d'Aosta |
We drive on towards the Port of Genoa.
We book a ferry with Grandi Navi Veloci which translates to
Big Fast Ship. Certain routes and ships allow pets on board and we are lucky to
be able to travel on one of these.
The ship usually departs at 23:00 and boarding starts at
21:00, we book a pet friendly cabin which is on the ship’s deck aptly named
Fido Road. On the top deck there is Fido Park, a closed off area for dogs to
exercise and do their toilet business.
La Suprema, our home for 20 hours |
The ship is wonderful and has all the amenities of a cruise
ship, however there are only certain areas Daisy is allowed to go so we have to
follow Fido’s Route.
Daisy gets so excited whilst we are waiting to board the
ship in our car and once safely parked in the garage she knows exactly which
way it is to her cabin, once there she unpacks her blanket and favourite toy
“Mr Frog” eats her supper then settles down for the night. Pets are not allowed
to be left alone in the cabin so we always make sure we eat before we board.
Day Three
After a comfortable night’s sleep we wake up and take Daisy
up to the top deck for a walk and toilet then she makes friends with the other
canine passengers.
Daisy Relaxing in her Pet Friendly Cabin |
Being on the Tyrrhenian Sea we are often blessed with warm
sun and we can sit on a bench in Fido Park. Having the luxury of a cabin is beneficial
if the weather is not so wonderful, we can relax and read a book whilst Daisy
rests.
The voyage takes 20 hours to the Port of Palermo, but in all
honestly the time does past very quickly.
The ship usually docks in Palermo at 19:00 and all pet owners
are requested to wait on the top deck until it is time to return to your car,
it is then when we are amazed how many dogs have travelled on board. We all watch
excitedly as our beloved Sicily comes into view.
Once we disembark and navigate through the crazy evening
traffic of Palermo we take the Palermo highway towards Catania then onwards
past Mount Etna to home, Giardini Naxos.
Once we get home an excited Daisy runs in and makes sure
that everything is exactly how it was when she left, as by this time it is late
she goes to sleep in her Sicilian home ready to start a new Sicilian adventure
the next day.
All Dogs Matter have many rescue dogs that are looking for
forever homes just like Daisy found or even if you can foster, visit www.alldogsmatter.co.uk
For Ferries from Genova to Palermo with Grandi Navi Veloci, visit www.gnv.it
Nearly there ....... |
Mont Blanc |
Sunbathing on the Top Deck |
Fido Road |
See you soon Sicily |
Chilling Out |
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