Italian lakes

Italian Lakes with the 3rd age group from Lespignan

Since 2009, with only one exception, we have joined a third age group for their annual week away on a bus tour.  This year, we were at the Italian lakes. 

We left Thézan at a time that is ‘de bonne heure’ in French which is far from good in our book!  As always, we greeted our friends while waiting for the bus.  We were delighted to be joined by Yvette.  Her last holiday with the group had been with her husband, Armand when we passed a wonderful few hours with them in a gondola in Venice. She had nor been on holiday with the group since then. When the bus arrived, we were quickly away; we had a long way to go.  Also on board, we had a couple that we had met on our trip to the Baltic states. 

There are rules for bus drivers in France, which, we understand are strict and not to be broken.  So, to get to our destination , we have two drivers, one driving the coach and another in a car.  After the prescribed limit (around 4 hours) the bus and car stop, the car driver takes over the bus and the bus driver returns home. So the rules are satisfied. 

The first stop was an excellent lunch(the driver must have a long break) and then onwards to our first stop at Milan where we stayed in a ‘pop up’ hotel, that is, one that only exists when it has bookings.  There are no permanent staff and food will be brought in. 

We arrived at the hotel and the driver went in the hotel to organise us. Unfortunately, the staff didn’t speak French, so he called for the English speaker..  John and Robert (the driver) went off when, the the amusement of the rest of the coach, our Italian passenger stood up and said that perhaps he might be helpful, leaving the rest of the passengers in fits of laughter .....   if there was any ice to be broken, that was it.   How many people..?  A French man, an Irish man and an Italian .... 

The following day, we visited Milan, a city we are always happy to return to - I was first there more than 50 years ago. Naturally, we visited the cathedral and for the first time, we were inside La Scale seeing the Museum as well as  the opera itself. 

Inside La Scala

The museum includes memories of great artists and set

The gallery Vittorio Emanuel with all the top shops

We then drove on to the Baveno on lake Majoure where we spent the night

The next morning, we took a ferry to the l’Ile de Pêcheurs 

then back to the ferry and on to the Belle isle.

Here,  we saw the house, which remains a private residence, 

and the magnificent gardens.

The resident wildlife

After lunch, we continued to Lake Orta including a visit to the island of St Giulio which has a basilica founded in 390

The pulpit is from the first part of the 12th century

We then continued in the bus to our next stop, on Lake Como where we visited the elegant Villa Carlotta, is an 18th private palace.

 

We then moved on to lake Garda where we spend 3 nights.  This was very welcome after the short stops.   We paused for a while for aperos.

Our first visit of the following day was to Salo on Lake Garda.  It has the distinction of having the longest promenade on Garda and has roman artefacts.

There is also a duomo with an impressive ceiling.

At Lake Garda we took a ferry to Malcesine where we had lunch. 

Photos along the way

In the afternoon we went to to a (not very interesting wine tasting

Our final day was to Verona and Sirmione. 

We ha e visited Verona on several occasions, and always enjoy it. 

Above, Juliet's balcony.  Below the arena where there is opera in summer.  This year, Aida is featured; a display in the car park shows some of the set.

We have visited Verona on several occasions, and always enjoy it. 

Our final stop was new to us.  Sirmione is an isthmus on Lake Garda, now a home to the rich (Maria Callas and George Clooney were mentioned) with a micro climate,  lot of history and a tourist trap.

The house of Maria Callas.

Now we are on way back. As always, we stop at a service station which is well stocked with pasta, wine, and other Italian specialities.  It’s not just the women who take interest in the produce, everyone wants their favourite pasta.