From the Sea to the Lakes

Yesterday we left the spectacular Amalfi Coast and Mediterranean Sea and traded them for the lakes of northern Italy. 

Front door and patio of our apartment in Praiano

Lemon Tree (lemons the size of grapefruits!) on our patio

We had a driver take us to Naples Airport (about a two hour drive away) for our flight to Verona via Roma.  There, we picked up a car and thanks to Mindy (my Garmin) we got out of the airport area and onto the autostrada without a problem.  Leaving the autostrada after about 15 km, we drove up the east shore of the lake north to our first stop, Val di Sogno, just outside Malcesine on Lago di Garda.  I first discovered this place 13 years ago and always look forward to returning.  The village itself is charming and this area also has breathtakingly beautiful scenery. And, who says you can't go back!  Today, we walked the village (about 2 km from our hotel) along the Lungolago (lake walkway) admiring the views of the mountains, lake and village in the distance.  It was all as perfect as it has been every other time I have been here.  The combination of the lake and mountains is captivating.

This is the view from Nawal's room - mine is similar

Looking north toward Malcesine

Malcesine on our walk from the hotel

 

View if the lake from the Castello

"My bar" in Malcesine - the red building

Our wine and the view from the bar - perfect!

We finished the day by having dinner at La Voglia, a restaurant I'd eaten at a few years ago with my friends, Mena and Trevor.  It was perfect then and it was even more perfect (is that possible?) now!  We had an amazing starter of pear and cheese bundles (the bundles were made of pasta) and garnished with pine nuts.  I think it was one of the best appetizers I've had anywhere.  And, we won't talk about our desserts:  a chocolate "volcano" and an amaretti semifreddo with a dark chocolate sauce.  Good thing we walked over 15,000 steps today!  Next up:  an all day boat tour of the lake with stops at Sirmione and Bardolino tomorrow.