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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