Ciao

We have arrived and stayed a night, so I guess that’s it – we can say we’ve been to Italy🤣

Of course that doesn’t tell the story of the journey with the hand luggage debacle, the passport and security checks with triple looped queues for the transfer in Frankfurt, and then the 2 hour delay.

Despite all of that we have arrived safe and sound with all our luggage at our hotel in the countryside just outside Garda centre. We have views of the lake and of course there was a glorious sunset our first night, turning the water pink mirroring the sky. Unusually I was too exhausted to go and get my camera (shock horror🤣), so don’t bother looking through the photos for a spectacular sunset. Since then, no sunset of any description and even a downpour tonight.

Tuesday we explored Garda and took a bus to the Northern tip of the lake, Riva del Garda. This is completely different to anywhere else on the lake as it is surrounded by the Brenta Dolomite mountains, some still having snow on them. The mountains around the rest of the lake are much smaller. Riva also has the smallest canal, according to my tour guide (aka Steven).

Today we went on the lake with a boat trip to Sirmione. Thankfully the water was so flat that I coped admirably. We did a wonderful walk around the coast as well as exploring the town centre. We saw so much Gelato and came to realise how good it is good for you (see the photo). What an educational trip we are on. We ended up having the largest gelato known to mankind sitting at the edge of the lake back in Garda.

Our time here has been wonderfully relaxing – the perfect mix of trips and chillaxing. Despite the downpour tonight, the weather during the day has been perfect ~ 19- 24C. The resort is wonderful, plenty of green space, swimming pools and the usual spa facilities. Our room has its own large terrace and a spa bath. Apparently we are having the bathroom remodelled when we get back it was that good.

I know it’s only been two – three days but so far Italy is living up to the hype. We’ve managed to eat fish, pizza, pasta and gelato so I guess that is a full house. And I’ve fallen in love with the Italian roof tiles

Tomorrow we leave here and move on to Verona. I’m expecting to be serenaded . . . .