Rest Day, Riva del Garda

This was a much needed and truly lazy day in Lago del Garda.  We woke to sunshine and made espresso in our kitchen.  Then headed to the harbour to catch the first ferry to Malcesine, about 25 km down the lake.  A very relaxing voyage with all of 4 other folks on the big ferry.  We enjoyed the many parasailers out on the lake for the fresh morning breeze.

Departing Riva del Garda

Nice place...

This is the path we hiked last night -- the horizontal line

Parasailers everywhere

Malescine

Malescine

Malescine Harbour

Malcesine is a small village with few people out at 0900 in the morning, so we had coffee and explored and did pretty much nothing.  We enjoyed that.

Next, we hopped onto the ferry for the short (5 km) ride across the lake to Limone (“lemon”) a small town that was once actually renown for producing lemons but is now more renown for producing very, very old people.  There is actually a study going on to figure out why there are so many people in the village over 100 years of age.  Maybe the Grappa?

Leaving Malascine

The pillars are former lemon houses in Limone

Centrale Limone

Of course, a limone tree

And flowering trees...

papillon

Limone street

A pram for a freakin' dog...and an ugly one at that...

We hung out in Limone and enjoyed more coffee and food, then hopped back onto the ferry destined, ultimately, for Riva del Garda.  But thunderstorms loomed and mid-lake we got caught in a big squall.  The rain was torrential, the winds howled, and the visibility was zilch.  Pretty fun.

The squall approaches

And gets strong

Really strong

There were a few worried passengers

But as they do, the storm abated

We eventually got back to our AirBnB where we rode out the storm, which lasted for several hours.  The village was empty.  Bad for business, I suppose.  Tonight we’re going to splurge for a nice Italian dinner.  Hope it is good.

Tomorrow it is all uphill into the Dolomites for several days of climbing before we head downhill into Venezia.

Cia.