We left Nice intending to look at Monte Carlo. Combination of "a big rig" and a cycle race closing some of the beach side streets meant John successfully negotiated all narrow streets and we drove straight through Monte Carlo!! Next time.......

So to Italy, our 5th country . The roads were a scary mix of viaducts hundreds of feet above ground and multitudinous tunnels- John was glad to get to the camp. Road rules in Italy seem "advisory" - no-one obeys them. Trucks overtake in the car lanes, they park on pedestrian crossings, ignore pedestrians anyway, and mini-smart cars park at right angles to the kerb.

Our next stop was to see the Cinqueterre villages of the north west Italian coast. Camped in a camping car lot at Levanto, in the centre of town . Trains passing all night, it seemed. Then took the train. As all but one of the walking tracks between these five UNESCO protected villages was closed due to land slips etc, we went first to Riomaggiore, then train to each of Maranola and Vernazza, exploring each village fully between train hops of 3-4 minutes each. Magical villages, still way back in time and each different, all clinging to the hillsides and sloping down to the harbour and the fishing boats. So good with so few tourists, would be horrible in high summer . Finally back to Levanto, that we explored by Boomer next day before setting off for Pisa.
What a surprise! Not sure what I expected in Pisa , other than a leaning tower, ( that really DOES lean) but the group of buildings including the tower, baptistry and cathedral within its grassed walled enclosure was wonderful. Could have stayed for hours, but Florence called.

The only campsite open all year in Florence is in the grounds of a 16th century villa that is a youth hostel, 7km out of town so "rural" and quiet. Quite amazing complex of buildings with painted ceilings inside and extensive gardens.

Today we went by bus to Florence and tried to see as much as we could. Very tourist oriented with ticket offices everywhere. Helpful lady at tourist info. drew us a map of what to see that worked wonders. The Piazza del Duomo and the Duomo, of course, 4th largest cathedral in the world and stunning outside, less so inside. Piazza Della Signoria with its copy of Michelangelo's David . Baulked that the queue for the Uffizi gallery and chose the Palazza Vecchio with 94 metre high tower that gives a better overall view of the city than the Duomo. Then the Basilica where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried (and Marconi) and there is a monument to Dante, buried elsewhere.
Then dragged ourselves home to do the washing and down a bottle of Chianti (local, of course). Rome next stop.
Find Italians surprisingly unresponsive to "hallo" and we are not even in tourist season, but will smile if WE keep talking. Other travellers in campsites more open to a chat and comparing camping tips. So far, camping not as expensive as we had thought, seeing that we do not need 5 star comforts as we have them all on board! Meals pricey so we keep to simple stuff in town - cakes, pizza and gelato!!