Day Four – Tuscany 2015 – Lazy Day by the Pool

Lounging by the Pool

Oh, what a delightfully lazy day by the pool we had today! The sun was shining, the water was inviting, and we decided to do absolutely nothing but lounge around. A perfect way to spend a holiday, if you ask me.

However, one must remember that we are holidaying amongst our dear German and Dutch neighbours. By the time we ambled down to the pool area, a staggering 99% of the sunbeds were already occupied. Either by people or by those suspiciously human-like beach towels! It was reminiscent of watching a football match at the ‘Empty sad arena‘ – an abundance of fans disguised as empty blue seats.

Pools Galore

This campsite boasts several pools, each surrounded by a veritable sea of sun loungers. The pools are more crowded than the beach, likely because it’s only a 10-minute walk from the campsite, which, to be honest, is too much effort for some.

The Beach Beckons

Personally, I have a soft spot for the beach. There’s nothing quite like a dip in the sea. The waves here have a knack for knocking you off your feet – a thrilling experience, really. On our second day, all three of us got bowled over by the waves!

Dad would adore the sea here, though he’s not the strongest swimmer. It’s a bit different from the beaches at Ca’ Savio on the Venetian coast and the Adriatic. Those beaches have white sand and a gentle slope into the sea. Here, the sand is coarser, darker, and slopes rather steeply into the water. Plus, it gets hotter than any other beach I’ve visited, which can be quite painful to stand on at times.

Memories of Ca’ Savio

Speaking of Ca’ Savio, the last time I saw Dad swim was there, some 8-9 years ago. Time flies, doesn’t it? As for Mum, you’d have to go back to when I was about eight to recall her last dip in the sea. And I’m not entirely sure she did then either!

Back to the Pools at Park Albatross

Returning to our current haven, each pool here features a raised mound in the middle – a magnet for kids to climb up and slide down. Miraculously, there are no accidents! This setup gives parents a bit of a breather, allowing them to enjoy a lazy day by the pool as well.

Poolside Delights

Surrounding the pools, there are a couple of bars and dining areas. For lunch, we prefer the simplicity of bread, cheese, and meats back at our caravan. Of course, I can’t go without my obligatory salad and olives, even though Michele and Josh are staunch salad dodgers!

Our Campsite: Park Albatross

Park Albatross is the grandest campsite we’ve ever visited in Europe, even more expansive than the one at Lake Garda. I thought that was enormous! There are very few English campers here, but plenty of Dutch, Germans, and Italians. If the Italians are here, you know it’s a good spot. Despite the size and busyness of the campsite, with caravans packed closer together than we’re used to, it doesn’t feel cramped. Children play around the pitches, but they’re neither noisy nor bothersome.

Evening Entertainment

If you’re after some evening entertainment, there are two main bar areas with plenty of shows. Alternatively, you can simply relax by your caravan. The choice is yours.

Weather Wonders

So far, the weather has been splendid – hot and sunny. We did have a light shower on the evening of day two while I was bravely manning the BBQ. But a bit of rain never hurt anyone and certainly didn’t dampen our spirits.

Blogging Woes

You might have noticed my first three blog posts were a tad inconsistent. That’s because the free Wi-Fi at the bar area is capped at a measly 50Mb per day. By the time my tablet finishes downloading emails and Facebook notifications, the connection is gone. I tried emailing my first two blog posts to my webpage, but they seem to have disappeared into the ether. So, I resorted to the old-fashioned way of typing them directly into the Android WordPress app. There are spelling and grammar errors, and missing photos, which I’ll fix when I get home.

Until Next Time

And so, at the end of another glorious, lazy day by the pool, that’s all for now, folks. Stay tuned for more cheeky tales from Tuscany!