Drove into Calais last Friday 5th June and parked at Citie Europe after travelling down to Croatia and being away for 8 weeks. We have parked at Citie Europe for the past five years, four times a year without a problem but last Friday afternoon we sat in our van (there were about 8 other vans there) and watched migrants, about seven of them, checking out the underneath of coaches and buses parked just further up the car park we were parked on.
About 6.30 they started blatantly checking out the motorhomes themselves including our own. The cheeky beggar then had the brass neck to casually walk down the side of our van and peer in the windows to give my wife a cheesy smile !!!! These guys had no fear at all.
I got out and had a word with a few of the other English motorhomers. I told them I was going to the big aires by Bleriot beach but one guy said it was 20 times worse there. They were talking about Gravelines being the safest nearest aire so we, and about three other vans elected to go there. It was quiet and safe there.
As stated before we've been to Citie Europe many, many times and its always felt safe but I do know that they now put the lights out there come about 11 pm and we just did not fancy being parked there in total darkness with so many migrants hanging around and being so bold and desperate.
What has changed? personally I think the numbers of migrants have increased dramatically and either the French police are understaffed and unable to cope or the French are letting the situation get out of hand.
Personally, I won't be stopping in the Calais area until this is sorted properly. Things are simply getting out of hand now !!!
About 6.30 they started blatantly checking out the motorhomes themselves including our own. The cheeky beggar then had the brass neck to casually walk down the side of our van and peer in the windows to give my wife a cheesy smile !!!! These guys had no fear at all.
I got out and had a word with a few of the other English motorhomers. I told them I was going to the big aires by Bleriot beach but one guy said it was 20 times worse there. They were talking about Gravelines being the safest nearest aire so we, and about three other vans elected to go there. It was quiet and safe there.
As stated before we've been to Citie Europe many, many times and its always felt safe but I do know that they now put the lights out there come about 11 pm and we just did not fancy being parked there in total darkness with so many migrants hanging around and being so bold and desperate.
What has changed? personally I think the numbers of migrants have increased dramatically and either the French police are understaffed and unable to cope or the French are letting the situation get out of hand.
Personally, I won't be stopping in the Calais area until this is sorted properly. Things are simply getting out of hand now !!!