Cruisin' round Garda

Another beautiful day, so after a couple of hours at Grotte di Catullo, we took the opportunity to board one of Lago Garda's ferries, our goal was to disembark at Gardone Riviera for a roam around then lunch!.

Sirmione's main Piazza where the Ferry wharf is

Lovely olde hotels line the lakes edge

including our "pink" one below

By this time we have started chatting to an english couple and the 4 of us had climbed up to the ferry's top deck (it had four)

we start cruising north up Garda - she is Italy's largest, 51.9kms in length, and 16.7kms at its widest part.

We called into a couple of towns en route - delightful villas and hotels line this part of Garda

We then cruise past the Isola del Garda - one of the 5 Islands on Garda

In 1180 Francis of Assisi believed it to be an ideal place for his monks, so far from the world, Biemino of Manerba donated a part of the island to him.

Napolean played his part of course, but eventually in the late 1800's the new owners dedicated their time to the elaborate gardens and palace restorations, and it has since been passed down to the Cavazza family, whose 7 children continue to passionately look after the park and the palace they live in today.

We are approaching Gardone Riviera - but alas the four of us forgot we were on the top deck!!!

By the time we descended all those decks stairs, the ferry had already left the Gardone's wharf - heading north to Maderno

When the crew realised we had missed our stop - one just looked at us and said "are you English" we nodded, and he shook his head!!!

This time we stayed on the lowest deck till we reached the Maderno Wharf.

We purchased some more tickets, had a wander then waited for the return ferry to Gardone.

The views on the way back were stunning - gorgeous villas and churches high on the surrounding mountains

We are back at Gardone again

and it's Grande Hotel - a big favourite of Winston Churchill

such a pretty place with so many potted plants

The roses were in bloom

we wandered around the town and botanic gardens

then chose a cafe for a long and relaxing "special of the day" lunch on the waterfront

We then waddled back to Gardone's wharf

and fortunately no extra decks on this ferry back to Sirmione

Sirmione is so lovely to cruise into

passing our little Hotel Pace again

Hotel Sirmione - all in yellow below

Lois and Glenn - is this the Hotel you stayed in - looks nice!

Trina's in the Himalayas

Petrina is still tutoring in Macleod Ganji near Dharamasala- She was delighted that she was in the audience a couple of weeks ago to see the Dalai Lama inaugurate and hand over his political leadership to the new Prime Minister (Lobsan Sangay) for the exiled Tibetans - Tibet in exile was now officially a Democracy. The Tibetan bagpipers were there, in Tibetan dress and with fur hats and kilted bagpipes. Trina found the whole service extremely moving .

Tibet's Prime Minister promised to continue to fight to free Tibet.

The views of Macleod Ganji on Trina's trek to yoga (pre monsoon)

And a sunset, after the rains have stopped.

Last week she decided to trek into the Himalayas to Triund The monsoons were in force, and that path above doesn't seem to encourage any stumbles - a long drop down!

These mountain goats were standing high, and the monkeys were playing near the waterfalls, she said even within the clouds it was superb - but her description of some of the Mountain hut accommodation was quite graphic!!!

Sirmione on Lago Garda

Our next task was to get our luggage across to the Venice bus station Terminal, to pick up our "rental car". Not all that easy - as the Venetians have built this new very large and extremely expensive bridge over the Canal to the Bus Station - however not one ramp - strictly all steps, up and down, very difficult with pulling even the normal load of luggage. In fact as one person in our group had said - Venice is really only for the very fit and healthy, if you are ageing or have a handicap - don't even think about it, really not sure what their elderly do - leave I guess..

*****

To sum up Venice, we were so pleased we went back again, however, were really more thankful we had visited 36 years ago, we had stayed on the Lido, as you can park your car there, and caught ferries across - so much more pleasant, and a lot less people. Anyway, now to pick up the car from Hertz - also not easy, piles more steps up to their office and car pick-up garage from the Bus Terminal for our bags and our muscles, only to be told the car was back down those same steps - which one we said - the reply was it's the Volvo wagon with it's boot up down there - no marks on it as it is brand new, here are the keys, and again we descend these damn steps avec luggage. Of course it took some time to work out how this thing worked, mirrors and piles of new toys, but eventually we headed off through the bus station - hit the highway and headed straight to Lake Garda, Italy's largest and cleanest lake. The town of Sirmione was our venue for the next two days.

Whew, we made it, absolutely no trauma from the moment we left Venice, and on our arrival at the gate, our hotel had advised the Guard they were expecting us, and he downed the bollard and let us through.

We drove across the bridge and through the gate

I had checked out the reviews on Tripadvisor, and booked us into the Hotel Pace

How charming it was, and our hosts - and the breakfast, wow !!

It's cafe was on the Lake Garda's waterfront.

After unpacking, we needed to drive the car to the Hotel's parking area- a little drive away through the one way system "via lights" .

After parking the car, we walked back toward the main Piazza in town to check out the Trattorias

And en route called into a church - San Pietro in Mavino - we felt great we had arrived so safely in Sirmione!! This church was built in the Lombard era, and was reconstructed in 1320 - the bell tower from 1070. Three apses enclose the double sloped structure.

The irises were in bloom

Inside there are frescoes from different eras

Not far from the church is the house the Opera Singer - Maria Callas lived in during the 1950s - charming, it is all apartments now.

It was time for a late lunch, and celebration in our peaceful surroundings We had a super Pizza and some italian vino at "il Girasole" (the Sunflower)

Sirmione has been famous since ancient times for it's health giving spa water. The peninsular on which it stands sticks out into the lake's water about 4 kms. In Roman times villas were built here - and in 13th century a medieval castle - the Rocca Scaliger, was built by Mastino 1 della Scala, Lord of Verona as a berth for Scaliger fleet and as a fortress for the Scaligeri family - the rulers of Garda.

It has a large dock

and the surrounding walls cut the town off from the mainland.

The old dungeon is 37 meters tall

It is rumoured that the Poet - Dante - was entertained here.

Stunning ancient walls

The wall gates rise

A boat rushes through underneath us on the bridge to the other side.

A totally relaxing few hours.

*****

At night from Hotel Pace