Stresa

Wednesday 8 June, 2017.

At 9am on this morning, we departed Zermatt by train bound for Stresa on Lake Maggiore, in Northern Italy.

We had 2 train changes. The first at Brig, still in Switzerland and the second at Domodossola in Italy. From the moment we alighted from our Swiss train in Domodossla, we were acutely aware that we were in a country of fewer financial resources, as noticed in the condition of trains and platforms, graffiti and efficiency.

Our first view of Lake Maggorie from the train.

Typical streets to explore and enjoy in old Stresa.

             

View across the street from our hotel.

Using my 30X zoom lens, I was able to capture the Alps we had come from.

The island of Isola Bella, which we visited the following day.

It was impossible to capture the true beauty and grandeur of the Grand Hotel, given the position of the sun. It was quite magnificent.

Again using my zoom I was able to capture this iconic Italian town, further along the shore.

Time for a relax and a refreshing drink in this shady square.

The Wind Rose or La Rosa Dei Venti, was a waterfront restaurant that we just happened upon, not far from our accommodation. What a wonderful find it was, from the service of our delightful waitress, to the food, view and the herbs, tomatoes and zucchinis, growing in pots right beside where we were sitting. Added to this was the glasses of limoncello and a plate of sweets that arrived after we had paid the bill.

Twilight views as we returned to our hotel.

Then our perfect evening was capped off, when we discovered the full moon rising!

Thursday 9 June.

The day dawned overcast and remained so throughout the day. We couldn't complain after all the blue skies we had experienced to date. We took the 9am ferry across to Isola Bella. Up until 1632 the island was a fishing village on a rocky crag. In that year Carlo 111, of the House of Borremo began building a Baroque palace for his wife, Isabella, with luxuriant Italian style gardens. All totally sensational.

Looking back to our hotel - left.

Where the ferry docked and our luncheon venue.

Views to and from Isola Bella.

The palace.

The summer, sea shell lined quarters. 

Entrance to the gardens.

Sculptural features.

I have been unable to discover how long the white peacocks have been on the island, but their magnificent tails add to the opulence of these gardens.

View back to the mainland.

One of many eye catching doorways.

The circle of yellow is around the trunk of the grapevine flourishing on the upper level of this restaurant.

Mid afternoon, we left Isola Bella to take the ferry to Isola Madre.

Isola dei Pescatori is the only inhabited island of the Borromean Islands. Our ferry called in here on our way to Isola Madre, but our ticket didn't permit us to disembark.

The lovely view as we docked at Isola Madre. Unfortunately, unlike Bella, there was little for us to explore unless we were prepared to pay for another palace entrance fee. We chose to relax and enjoy the lake views, until our ferry returned.

Looking back to Isola Bella, after our ferry docked back at the mainland.

The muted sunset colours of our final evening in Stresa were a delight.

The following morning, it was time to farewell Nic, until we meet again in Budapest in June next year. Here he is seen looking for his, quite late train, for his return journey to Geneva. Our destination was Milan, to take a connecting train to the Mestre, Venice.

Storing our luggage was quite a problem.

Thankfully for the Milan / Venice leg, Frank had been able to buy discounted business class tickets, so space and comfort was no longer an issue.

The  l o n g  platform - Venice Mestre. One of the wheels of my suitcase was all but broken, so I did not enjoy this.

The temperature had soared to 32C, so it was a hot, hours wait for our express bus to Cortina in the Italian Dolomites. Cortina was to be our base for the next seven nights.

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