Another enjoyable holiday in Italy with Great Rail Journeys. Mum and I set off for London on Sunday 30th June. Packed after Castle Cary with the Glastonbury crowd - lucky for us, we had seats. We stayed at
St Pancras Renaissance hotel for a treat. On Monday we met up with the tour leader, Colin Deller and the other 20 people in the tour. A short Eurostar to Paris where we stayed at the Mercure, Gard de Lyon. I took a stroll around the Jardin des Plantes.
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| The Grand Staircase at Renaissance hotel, St Pancras |
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| Jardin des Plantes, Paris |
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| Binturong at the zoo in Jardin des Plantes |
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| Red Panda at the zoo in Jardin des Plantes |
Up early the next morning for the long train but scenic journey to Stresa with a change at Geneva. The others in the tour are Jean and Tom from Lincolnshire, Jean and Richard from Oxfordshire, Margaret and Roger from Ottershaw, Jenny and Roger from Colchester, Eric and Sue from Reading, Maureen and Trevor from Minehead, Keith and Doreen from Beckenham, John and Elaine from Torquay, M'bub and Li lu from Rochester, Carol and Richard from Liphook.
In Stresa, we stayed at Regina Palace hotel and had a free day on Wednesday. Mum and I strolled around Stresa. Toasted mum at lunch with a glass of Prosecco - her 86th birthday. I then visited the Villa Pallavicino which was supposed to have animals strolling around. Only the peacocks were out of cages but I finally managed to snap one displaying. A place to visit earlier in the year when the camellias are out. Mum had a swim in the pool at the hotel.
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View from Villa Pallavicino and peacock displaying.
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Thursday was our first excursion - to the Borromean Islands. |
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| gardens on Isola Bella, one of the Borromean Islands |
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| View from the coffee shop on Isola Bella |
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| One of the noisy frogs in the lily pond |
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| Hydrangeas |
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| Strolled around the few streets on Isola Bella |
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| A couple of shops on Isola Bella |
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| view of Isola Bella from Isola Pescatori |
We moved to Fisherman's island for lunch and another stroll around this delightful place.
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| Common Wall Lizard who joined us at lunch at Cafe Toscanni |
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| Images from Isola Pescatori |
Another free day on Friday. I went up in the cable car after a coffee and visit to the market in Stresa. Unfortunately, I was already too late for the views. Although it was very hot, there was a heat haze. The good thing is that is was slightly cooler on the mountain. I had a lovely lunch at the bar on the half way station then visited the Alpine Gardens. The view of Lake Maggiore was better from there. The 20 minute walk from the hotel was the best bit of the day. Realised at the end of the week that mum could have joined me as the ferry stopped at the cable car station.
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| Regina Palace |
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| Market in Stresa |
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| view from central square, Stresa |
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| chapel at top of the cable car |
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| Cafe at the halfway station |
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| Lake Maggiore from Alpine gardens |
A 2 hour coach ride on Saturday took us to a grappa tasting and tour at Mazzetti 'Altavilla'. I should mention our knowledgeable guide, Sylvia, who was with us on our excursions. We then went on to a farm for an excellent lunch. Mum and I fell on our beds on our return to the hotel.
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| Lounge at the Regina Palace |
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| At the distillery |
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| Sylvia explaining what happens |
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| The barrel store has been extended at the distillary. |
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| The final resting place for the grappa - each barrel has a different flavour in it. |
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| A view from the coach. I failed to take the many rice fields we passed. Italy provides 50% of the rice for Europe. |
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| View from the farmhouse |
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| Geraniums in the garden |
A trip to Locarno on Sunday. Colin made the good decision of getting to Domodossola more than an hour before our train on the Centovalli. We were able to have a stroll around the wonderful old town and have a coffee before our 2 hour trip to Locarno. It was too hot in Locarno to do more than have a lunch and watch the grebes feed their young. There is an old town here too but I missed it.
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| 3 images from our walk towards Stresa rail station |
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| Domodossola old town |
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| Never could resist an open doorway. |
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| main square in the old town |
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| I managed some out of focus shots of the young one eating the fish. |
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| On the return home by ferry |
We had a free morning so while mum had a swim, I went off to the last Borromean island - Isola Madre. I could have spent a few more hours here - I failed to go around the palace, but we had an excursion to Lake Orta in the afternoon.
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| A few sculptures in the gardens. |
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| The great cedar with sculpture. The tree fell in the 2006 tornado but had been saved. |
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| The palace on Isola Madre |
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| This white peacock which I hoped would display. However, he did put up his feathers when he was grooming. |
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| One of the garden terraces |
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| You can just spot the white peacock walking past |
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| Blossom from the silk tree |
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| Lily pond |
I met mum for lunch and another glass of prosecco before a short coach ride to Orta. We had free time in Orta then a boat ride to San Giulio and free time there. I walked the way of silence before we returned to the hotel.
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| More images from Regina Palace |
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| Sylvia and her twin sister Barbara do some beautiful embroidery. These cushions were designed for the Principessa - she chose the gold cushions made by the talented sisters. For more of their work see www.picasaweb.google.com/arabrab192 |
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| Sylvia and some of the group |
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| images of Orta |
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| images of Orta |
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| If you click on this for a larger pic, you may just see the sculpture of an artist under the arch |
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| Audrey Heburn pops up again (see my Olympic posts) |
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| Jean and Tom with Roger and Margaret at the front. |
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| San Giulio |
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| Beginning of the way of silence |
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| San Giulio |
Colin arranged for us to have a tasting at one of the delis in Stresa. In the event, only four of us went but we were given very personal service. I could have bought loads of spices and wine here. I thought of my suitcase and only bought the chilli pasta and the recommended packet of spice. I can recommend anyone visiting Stresa to visit La Cambusa on Via Cavour.
We returned to UK with an overnight stop at Dijon. Luckily we arrived earlier in this interesting town so I was able to visit the old town. We stayed at the Mercure and I found out later that the tram went from the hotel to the main square with fountain. From there you can catch the free tourist bus which takes you around the town.
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| Someone spotted this refraction of light peeking through the clouds while we were traveling on the train through France |
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| Took loads of images of the girls playing in the fountains. This one is a composite of two images. When I returned from my walk there was a group with cameras waiting for people in the fountains to snap. |
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| On the way to the old town |
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| A cafe in front of a wall painting |
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| The old town |
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| The small tourist wayfinder with the bigger sign telling you were at something significant. |
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| Wonderful shop displays - you can just see me in the image |
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| Inside the cathedral |
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| More images in the old town |
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| Another open doorway |
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| street scene - deliberately wonky |
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| I did not buy mustard |
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| A hat shop - Keith was looking for a large floppy hat for the sun but failed to find one. |
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| A lovely door handle to end the trip |
