Day 12
B Team's log
Good to firm...
B ed.
Wow! It's been an amazing 12 days so far. It seems an age ago since we left Bedford (Dad's cautious nature - but not so cautious driving - ensured we left over 4 hrs early. 'What if you get a puncture?' Nonno sagely suggested), the Gypsy caravans parked on the local green whizzing past in the distance (we'd be staying in a similar caravan only a few days later!). At the airport, the weigh-in went well - S whizzed straight through but they said I was simply too fat - Tree had previously suggested that I would need to change my name to Barrel-meo by the end of this trip - looks like her prediction was already coming true! With nervous anticipation and a glint in our eyes we flew off to Bergamo enjoying Ryanair's piped music and covering our ears to block out the hoards of Italian teenagers trying to outswear each other - Soph's feminine sensibilities are still recovering!
The beaming sun hit us as we left the plane in Bergamo and we encountered the first of many surly Italians we would meet (passport control) - I still haven't mastered the true Italian 'stare of suspicion' but Soph says I'm nearly there.
A bus, 2 trains and a traghetto later and we arrived at Menaggio in Lago di Como. We felt like Steve Martin and John Candy (a la 'Planes, trains and automobiles'). We couldn't decide who was who - me with my emerging white hair (S ed - he pulls them out!) or both of us continuing the 'Barrel-meo' theme. We stayed in 1 star luxury (il Vapore) overlooking the lake and the owner took me in as a surrogate son - impressed (?) by my broken Italian. The lake was stunning, with lush green mountains all around and fading old builings filling the village. For 4 days we enjoyed chilling, dining, drinking & sunbathing. We took in lake and mountain walks (the 700m ascent nearly finished us off but the views were worth it), a visit to Bellagio (said to be Italy's most beautiful village) and relaxed in the lido - adjacent to the glistening lake.
Our next stop was Torri del Benaco on the west side of Lago di Garda.
We had no idea where to get off on the bus but somehow a mixture of nouse and luck got us through. We stayed in an awesome B&B with a fantastic buffet breakfast and a lovely private terrace. The 2 brothers who owed the albergo were a cross between Cannon and Ball and the Chuckle Brothers but they did a good job of keeping us amused. More lakeside walks, beach bathing, swimming in the cool lake and picnics in the mountains and we were really starting to get used to our adventure.
It was time to move on from Garda and we headed off to Verona. We were totally and utterly overwhelmed by what a beautiful and ancient city it is, with a really relaxing feel - a great place for a weekend break. Our home for 2 nights was a gyspy caravan in a campsite overlooking the city - we had a fab time and the views were amazing. We took in all the sights and rounded off our time there by watching a performance of Romeo e Giulietta (set in Verona obviously) in the 1AD Teatro Romano - as the lights dimmed down, we looked into each others eyes and were both thinking: 'well, it doesn't get better than this'.
So as we are here in Bologna, day 12, we guess it's time to reflect on what we have learnt so far - a Jerry Springer final thought if you like:
It's often the characters you meet that define your experience:
-the top-gun style ultra-vain traghetto crews in the Lakes posing on each boat like catalogue men
-or the irrate Dutch grandad in the Verona campsite who queue-jumped the toilet/shower line while I was in the shower and banged on the door non-stop shouting 'pi-pi, pi-pi' until I got out. I responded 'due minuti' repeatedly until I left. He later confronted me, grumbling 'Mister duo minuto!'.
But all that aside, it's the simple things that give the greatest pleasure - a picnic in the mountains, a strong embrace in the cool lake or gorging on an Italian gelato smiling like children.
Until next time - hope all's well back in Blighty - keep us posted
B&Sxxx
B Team's log
Good to firm...
B ed.
Wow! It's been an amazing 12 days so far. It seems an age ago since we left Bedford (Dad's cautious nature - but not so cautious driving - ensured we left over 4 hrs early. 'What if you get a puncture?' Nonno sagely suggested), the Gypsy caravans parked on the local green whizzing past in the distance (we'd be staying in a similar caravan only a few days later!). At the airport, the weigh-in went well - S whizzed straight through but they said I was simply too fat - Tree had previously suggested that I would need to change my name to Barrel-meo by the end of this trip - looks like her prediction was already coming true! With nervous anticipation and a glint in our eyes we flew off to Bergamo enjoying Ryanair's piped music and covering our ears to block out the hoards of Italian teenagers trying to outswear each other - Soph's feminine sensibilities are still recovering!
The beaming sun hit us as we left the plane in Bergamo and we encountered the first of many surly Italians we would meet (passport control) - I still haven't mastered the true Italian 'stare of suspicion' but Soph says I'm nearly there.
A bus, 2 trains and a traghetto later and we arrived at Menaggio in Lago di Como. We felt like Steve Martin and John Candy (a la 'Planes, trains and automobiles'). We couldn't decide who was who - me with my emerging white hair (S ed - he pulls them out!) or both of us continuing the 'Barrel-meo' theme. We stayed in 1 star luxury (il Vapore) overlooking the lake and the owner took me in as a surrogate son - impressed (?) by my broken Italian. The lake was stunning, with lush green mountains all around and fading old builings filling the village. For 4 days we enjoyed chilling, dining, drinking & sunbathing. We took in lake and mountain walks (the 700m ascent nearly finished us off but the views were worth it), a visit to Bellagio (said to be Italy's most beautiful village) and relaxed in the lido - adjacent to the glistening lake.
Our next stop was Torri del Benaco on the west side of Lago di Garda.
We had no idea where to get off on the bus but somehow a mixture of nouse and luck got us through. We stayed in an awesome B&B with a fantastic buffet breakfast and a lovely private terrace. The 2 brothers who owed the albergo were a cross between Cannon and Ball and the Chuckle Brothers but they did a good job of keeping us amused. More lakeside walks, beach bathing, swimming in the cool lake and picnics in the mountains and we were really starting to get used to our adventure.
It was time to move on from Garda and we headed off to Verona. We were totally and utterly overwhelmed by what a beautiful and ancient city it is, with a really relaxing feel - a great place for a weekend break. Our home for 2 nights was a gyspy caravan in a campsite overlooking the city - we had a fab time and the views were amazing. We took in all the sights and rounded off our time there by watching a performance of Romeo e Giulietta (set in Verona obviously) in the 1AD Teatro Romano - as the lights dimmed down, we looked into each others eyes and were both thinking: 'well, it doesn't get better than this'.
So as we are here in Bologna, day 12, we guess it's time to reflect on what we have learnt so far - a Jerry Springer final thought if you like:
It's often the characters you meet that define your experience:
-the top-gun style ultra-vain traghetto crews in the Lakes posing on each boat like catalogue men
-or the irrate Dutch grandad in the Verona campsite who queue-jumped the toilet/shower line while I was in the shower and banged on the door non-stop shouting 'pi-pi, pi-pi' until I got out. I responded 'due minuti' repeatedly until I left. He later confronted me, grumbling 'Mister duo minuto!'.
But all that aside, it's the simple things that give the greatest pleasure - a picnic in the mountains, a strong embrace in the cool lake or gorging on an Italian gelato smiling like children.
Until next time - hope all's well back in Blighty - keep us posted
B&Sxxx
