Tag Archives: czech republic

Paperwork

Lots of it, along with plastic cards, books and other paraphernalia such as the now compulsory breathalysers for France, glad it’s all sorted out.

The van has been emptied of any unnecessary items and I’ve even reduced the amount of beer in it.  I had two cases of Carlsberg and a case of Wife Beater on standby, but have had to bring about a reduction for two reasons.  Firstly, I’m visiting countries where the beer is ten times better than the stuff here so it would be a bit like “Taking Coals to Krakow”.  Secondly, I’m leaving and re-entering the EU twice so my normal stash will exceed the limits somewhere along the way hence the limited supply.

There are three tax discs (vignettes) on the windscreen now to cover Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.  There’s space for a fourth one, Czech Republic, which I can’t actually buy until I’m there.  You have to display these or face fines from 70-800 Euros depending on the country and circumstances.

This evening’s job: Put all the currency into different bags so I don’t get it all mixed up 🙂

Welcome to sootyvan.com

This is my first attempt at creating a blog so please go easy on me 🙂

It’s my plan to do a tour of Europe in the sooty van during late June and early July 2012.  This is the place where I plan to put updates and pictures so friends and family will be up to date on whatever trouble I manage to land myself in.

Here’s the rough plan:

Leave Essex on Saturday 23rd June 2012 and head to Kent for the Eurotunnel.  The trip then follows three legs of approximately 1,000 miles each returning via Eurotunnel on Saturday 14th July.

Leg A – Witham to Auschwitz, Poland.  Travelling through Belgium and Germany, Czech Republic and finally Poland.

Leg B – Auschwitz to Casola in Lunigiana, Italy.  My friends Mick and Yvonne have a villa in Tuscany and I plan to stay with them on the weekend of 7th/8th July.  This leg will take me through Austria and Slovenia with a detour to the Plitvice National Park in Croatia, before briefly travelling through Slovenia again to Italy.

Leg C – Casola in Lunigiana to Witham.  The final leg will see me staying at Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva, and meandering back through France before taking the Eurotunnel again for the trip home.