Chilling out

Literally.

It got down to 8c here last night.  I slept with blankets etc for the first time on the trip.  I think I have become a Sicilian ( Italian version of Queenslander ), when it gets below 20c I freeze up.

To start the day a trip to the lavandaria was planned - exciting holiday fare. My mind wandered back to 5terre where I overheard an american woman talking about walking the trails: not my idea of a vacation ( long nasal drawl ).  As the clothes were whirring I took the opportunity to do some shopping.  The blogger would be proud - I bought some shoes, which increased the cost of the laundry quite considerably.  It had already cost 3 euro more than it should. Second note to self: read the instructions BEFORE putting the money in.

This place has some lovely old hotels right on the foreshore, but I am not staying in any of them as the prices aren't so lovely.  My 1 star hotel does me fine: fast internet, view of the square, very central and nice people.

A leisurely boat trip took me to Villa Taranto - why?  Because that is where the people in front of me in the queue were going and I figured if it was good enough for them...  It turned out to be a masterstroke.  The place has the most magnificent garden.  Quite a botanical garden really as it has species from all over the world.  My favourite was the dahlia maze.  Most of you won't know I come from a long ( at least two ) line of dahlia growers.  My grandfather used to exhibit them, my father grew them and I just admire them.  En mass they look fantastic.  I will let the pictures convey the impact.  The whole garden was just so vibrant with colour. On the return journey I disembarked at Isole Bella as it had what appeared to be an interesting garden attached to the villa, but you had to pay to see the villa to get to see the garden and I couldn't be naffed.  Once off the boat you have to wait for the next one..

Having done my touristic homework ( while waiting for the next boat ), I decided to visit Parco Della Villa Pallavicino, a garden/zoo just outside Stresa. Of course I arrived at 5.30 when the ticket office closed at 5. We had come across the Pallavicino clan down in Genova so I knew their style.  As I ambled back to Stresa I noticed a mini golf layout just below the villa. It looked about as old. Who would have thought the Pallavicinos would have been into mini golf?

In case some of you may have been wondering how Di and I have been getting along at such close quarters for nigh on a month now I can report that she now has the bug I had, so there, we have been getting on just fine.  Some of you may have missed that caring sharing side of my character.  I think I only got a few text messages about technological matters today, so Di must be paying attention?

I like it so much here I am going to stay until Di returns and just wander a bit in the car to some other lakes.  Just chilling!

I just had the nicest meal so far this trip, Il Vicoletto in Stresa. I also had time to play with some photo editing software so the pressure is right on the blogger now!