Sunday
On our way to Italy with British Airways, listening to John Cash and Willy Nelson with my noise cancelling headphones, what could be better.
We booked a taxi to take us from the hotel in Harrogate to the airport, a trip said to take 45 mins. It took us 20 nail biting minutes, the driver obviously taking a break from his Formula1 day job!!
Anyway, down to Heathrow for our next adventure.
Arrived in Milano collected the bags with mild surprise that they arrived as the check in at Leeds was a bit casual. A quick taxi ride to the train station, with Jean once again mastering the purchase of the public transport tickets while I guard the luggage, thereby avoiding any tricky questions, and it's onto the train to Desenzano, arriving around 10pm. One lone taxi at the station, which was good because we only needed one, and we are deposited in the hotel 5 mins later.
Then, it's drop the bags in the room and out for a Gelati and a stroll around the piazza before falling into bed around 11:00.
Monday
A beautiful day, high 20 degrees, light breeze off the lake and after a relaxed start, we are out and about by 11:00. First stop, tourist info to collect the necessary maps etc then to a huge retail outlet centre, but alas, came home empty handed.
Another Gelati and an afternoon siesta before facing the decisions of where to eat. We were both looking forward to an early night because we are off to Verona first thing in the morning, but down in the piazza, directly below our balcony, they are setting up a stage which suggests to me at least, that sleep might be delayed. Oh well, that's one of the joys of travel, the unexpected.
Tuesday
Well last night didn't happen. It's all on tonight and what we are in for I do not know.
Today we went to Verona which must be a close second to Venice for crowds. They all congregate on the Via Mazzini which is THE place to shop, Piazza Erbe and Juliet's house with a bit of a spill over at the Roman Arena.
So we did the tourist thing then went off piste as it were and explored the back streets unencumbered by crowds.
The highlight of the day was after we returned to Desenzano and got off the train only to realise that we had only bought a one way ticket, not a return. Just as well we both dozed off on the way back with Jean holding the ticket in her hand as the conductor went past, twice, without checking.
All in all it was a pretty good day. The only stairs were up to the top of the Arena so that's not too bad.
Tonight we are off to a nice restaurant that I went to when I was here in May, so looking forward to that.
Last night we were a bit tired so we ate at a place just opposite our hotel - a pizza because we wanted a quick meal. Unfortunately, the upmarket wifi ordering system that the waiters use didn't transmit our order and after nearly 1 hour, they finally noticed us turning pale from hunger and sorted it out. Apologies all around and anyway the food was good and it was nice to just sit and watch the world go by, particularly as we were outside next to the little boat harbour and it was quite a pleasant night.
So that's it for this one. Off to Vicenza tomorrow, with return train ticket for two.