We walk (we have time, we still don't know why we should be there 5 hours before departure) to the check-in with a stack of papers. We get everything back and a few more pieces of paper.
At some point it rumbles, the first cars are allowed on the ferry, we are among them. By now we are ferry professionals, we are briefed, take all our stuff and hope for the best.
Instead of booking a cabin, we hope for cheap last-minute outside cabins at better prices. Because this is what we have learned: booking on the spot is much cheaper. Or you're unlucky and don't get one and spend the night curled up on an armchair somewhere.
Once again we are lucky, get an outside cabin and move with all our stuff (sleeping bags, picnic, laptops etc.) into our flat for 27 hours. After a short walk around the ship (nothing going on, not many people on it, majority truck drivers) we retire, eat fresh ciabatta with the best pesto and fall tired into our bunks.
Gerd does what you do: sleep. I lie awake. The swell is heavy, in my mind I go over the short way to the toilet several times and hope that there are no things in the way that will make me stumble and "lie down". Then I listen to the neighbours. As if they were sitting in our cubicle. I don't understand a word, it's loud and probably Arabic. And they have a lot to say to each other, a lot.
At some point, one after the other takes a shower. Through the ventilation, the noise of conversation is joined by the scents of various shower baths. Later, the scents of deodorants.
The cabin on the other side also seems to be lively, with singing and laughing. The party there is joined by the smell of cigarettes, which finds its way to us through the same ventilation pipes. And I lie awake. And think time and again how nice it would be in Felix, standing on deck D, all alone and without all the sleep-disturbing influences.
Once again I admire Gerd for his semi-functional nose. And for his good sleep.
It's now half past two, and I'm thinking of just "pulling through" and reading until the sun appears over the sea. But I don't really want to do that. In the meantime, it's as hot in the cabin as in a sauna, the windows don't open and my mood is more than questionable.
Then at some point - I don't know when, of course - my mind quiets down and my ears and nose stop sending signals to my brain. I sleep.
Late in the morning we join the men's group in the bistro. Plastic cups filled with a mixture of water and butts decorate the tables. But the coffee is good, we wake up very quickly with it and start the day in the best sunshine, strong swells and men watching football. And sure enough, Switzerland wins against Cameroon! Gerd doesn't quite dare to cheer heartily. So it remains a "hidden" victory in a crowd of Cameroon fans.
Sometime in the late afternoon, the ship rattles briefly (reverse gear?) and an announcement resounds to our ears in Italian, French and Arabic. We learn from the rustling crackling announcement that we will soon be landing. We look out of the window: land in sight! But more about that another time.
Merci for "travelling with us
Here you can find our future lectures:
Our current and past lectures are listed here. You can register via the links next to the dates. There will probably be new ones every now and then, so make a note of the link!
Date: 25 & 26 October 2024 Our lectures: 25. 10. 14:00 & 26.10. 10:40 Location: Switzerland, two Vanlife lectures at the Suisse Caravan Salon Bern Registration: not necessary, but you have to pay admission to the Caravan Salon (or contact us, we can give away a few day tickets). Date: 25 & 26 October 2024 Our lectures: 25. 10. 12:00 & 26.10. 14:00 Location: Switzerland, two Vanlife lectures at the Suisse Caravan Salon Bern Registration: not necessary, but you have to pay admission to the Caravan Salon (or contact us, we can give away a few day tickets).
Date: 24 November 2024 4 pm (doors open at 3 pm)
Location: Germany, Landgasthof zum Mühlenteich 15345 Eggersdorf near Berlin
Registration: https://forms.gle/5XFgSz31NKzmCzmT8
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Good morning you two dear ones.
Somehow I still don't quite understand your site.
I haven't read anything for a few days because my child is visiting from Switzerland and everything is different here. 😂
And then the two of them are back on Felix's rubber socks, far away in the direction of "warm".
Take good care of yourselves and have fun travelling and marvelling.
Kind regards from Racheli
Hello dear, sorry! We should have warned you in advance 😉
We are very sorry about that, of course.
We hope you had a great time with your daughter, it's always a great time with the kids isn't it?
And yes, we are on the road again, looking forward to our new little adventures!
And we are happy that you are coming along!
Best wishes from "down there"!
Gerd & Heike
Ahhh now I'm up to date again. 👍🤪
There was no post on 24.11. 👍
And I already thought I had missed something. 😂🤣😇😁
So you see, all is well again. And this time we are only 2 days behind 😉
Good morning you two dear ones.
You are simply too diligent and too punctual with your reports.
The reader is immediately confused when things are different. 🤣😂
Your page is beautiful! 💜👍
Hello you two
Great reports that you write and we also like the podcast very much.
We have been living in a motorhome for almost 2 years now and have travelled through Europe and Morocco. We are currently in Switzerland and are planning next winter and would love to travel to Tunisia, but we keep hearing stories about the hotel reservation you need to be able to enter the country (which must not be from Booking.com or Rb&b).
You mention nothing of the sort, hence the question
How did you do it or do you know more about the regulations for entering the country with a motorhome?
We would be very pleased to hear from you.
Jörg and Sabine
Hello you two
We also read about it, but at the time it was about Covid issues.
We hadn't booked anything and weren't asked. We had chosen a campsite that we would have travelled to.
But we had no problems in this regard.
Have fun in Tunisia!
Gerd & Heike