We left the next morning for Italy, i was really sad to leave. It had been such a simple and enjoyable time there. We had played, walked, relaxed and spoken, it was really really good. Such an enjoyable holiday with my awesome family. But i was already invited back in Winter to go skiing there. That was an invitation i was surely going to take up!!!
We left Switzerland, with her beautiful mountains, green meadows, and ice creams that cost about $40! But we were heading south before we could go east. We were going into the thick of it, heading to the birthplace of bruschetta, the land of linguine, the only place in the world where you can have a mullet for a haircut, and wear sunglasses that are about 1m wide and be called 'fashionable', ITALIA!
The drive from Switzerland to Italy was fine, i love crossing the border, because the dents in all the cars, and the relationship between the number of lanes on the road and the number of cars driving on the road (hey 4 lanes, that means 5 or 6 across does it not?), tells you as clearly as the italian number plates, where you are. Simply put, the driving in Italy is as crazy and psychotic as you hear.
We stayed for 3 days in a beautiful place just outside of Garda, on Gardasee. The hotel was called San Vigilio, and we had the upper level of a small villa. There are only 12 rooms in this place, and it is so gorgeous. We swam at the pool, ate so well, and then in the afternoon went down to Garda to swim at the beach. I even got a little spot of fishing in, that was good fun. The beach was a good change, even if, like every beach in Europe, it has only stones to walk on, no sand!
Europeans on the beach are one thing worth mentioning. I dont want to sound politically incorrect or condescending about this, it is more of a commetary on a social aspect (wasnt that well put!). But Europeans are the people in the world, you look most out of place on the beach. The Italians are better than the germans, and the Austrians fit somewhere in the middle. Its not just a day at the beach, its an expedition. It doesnt help that they have the pay for the beach, and probably explains why they make the most of it. But people take their huges bags, with enough stuff to equip the British army. And then after every dip in the water, out comes a new swimming costume or suit to change in to. They have the massive chairs, and every form of entertainment stashed away in the bags. It was just a funny thing to see people really trying to enjoy themselves, like overly so. Im not having a stab, but it was funny to see the people on this beach. But it was an incredible couple of days in Garda, i love italy, and i love the place we stayed, it couldnt have been a nicer holiday.
Paz