Ingrid and Tony's Travels

Did we take the wrong turn? And end up in Germany?  Tad disappointed with Sirmione – seemingly the German tourist capital of Italy. Even the restaurants have German translations.  While our hotel is very pretty and the outlook pleasant, there is not much to give Sirmione a big tick for – certainly by comparison to the Lake Como district.  After a visit to the town, which comprises lots of tourist outlets, designer labels and ‘chain’ restaurants, it looks like tomorrow may be a day for lounging around the pool and getting some sun, which in itself is not a bad thing!

A few photos of Sirmione.

Our place, Hotel Olivi

Some of the town’s tunnels provide a cool respite

Beautiful bougainvillea

The piazzas – don’t eat in them

Some of the laneways leading away from the water

Wow, a bit of Italy in this German town,

German translation kindly provided on the restaurant menu

Today was a day on the lake, visiting some of the beautiful towns on Lake Como.

The Swiss influence is very evident in this part of Italy – guess that is likely when it’s just across the border. The photos show you what I mean.  Each town is just as beautiful as the next.

When we arrived at Como,  George Clooney  was nowhere to be seen. Thought he knew we were coming.

But Tony managed to get a photo of his house – not shown below, but now in safe keeping!

Lunch at Varenna was special – a very pretty garden township with lots of interesting things to discover.

Check out the photos

Bellagio from the water

Bellagio from the water

One of the many villas on the lake

The Swiss influence

The towns on Lake Como

The hazy conditions don’t do justice to the Lake’s beauty

Our police escort on Varenna

These old guys know how to get around

Tranquility on the lake

Plenty of steps on Varenna

Just love these shots

Taking a breather

A view of the lake

Calorie-free gelato. Mmm.

I  simply can’t describe the drive out of the Monterosso this morning because I had to keep my eyes closed all the way. Sheer panic at the width of the road and the  drop down the cliff (on the passenger side). I have decided I’m not made for this type of touring.

But after the initial anxiety, the remainder of the trip was uneventful although we almost  drove back to France to take the turnoff to Milan as there was no quicker way to get to our destination. When you think about it where else could you drive across half a country in just four hours? Certainly not Australia. You’ll be pleased to know  Tony resisted a side trip to Monza to do a circuit of the Grand Prix track in our Citroen Picasso – unfortunately it just doesn’t have the grunt of a Ferrari F1.

But Bellagio, home of the rich and famous, is really quite beautiful and we are really enjoying these first few hours just meandering through the town and sitting looking over  Lake Como.

Stairways from the lake to the township

Bellagio’s beautiful buildings

The side streets

So much character

Life on the lake

Our Hotel Du Lac

Behind the wheel, a picture of concentration

Today we went to explore one of the five towns of Cinque Terre – Manarola. This has some memories for me (and our family). The last time we visited, let’s say I had what I am now calling a ‘Manarola moment’, although the moment probably lasted a good bit of our trip to San Remo. I was unaware of the ‘diversion’ to Manarola, and when we arrived, like most of the towns here, you have to leave your car at the top and walk down. Easy you may say, but remember, you have to walk back. In 40+deg heat, that is not a pleasant experience. Suffice to say that my mood did not match the sunshine on that day.
However, coming back today, by boat, was a much more pleasant experience, and I can ‘hand on heart’ say I was certainly nicer to be near. We had a lovely seafood lunch after trekking around the hillside. Certainly a beautiful spot, and some amazing vistas.

Manarola and its homes up close

The town hanging off the side of the cliff

Peaceful setting

The way families get around from town to town

Waiting at the landing bay

The Cinque Terre are five little hamlets on the west coast of the Riveria.  They are the villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore

Like the Amalfi Coast (particularly Positano), the houses in these towns cling to the sides of the cliffs and it never ceases to amaze us how the people can live like this.  Just imagine for example, having new white-goods and other furniture  or essentials, delivered to some of these places where there are no roads and incredibly limited access.  And I have complained about our driveway in Howrah!

Below is some of the beauty that is this region. Tomorrow we will go back to Manarola.  (Old scores to settle).

Two little boats

Riomaggiore – where we pottered and lunched.

Us, putting on a brave face in the heat

Some of the boats in the harbour in Monterosso

A man and his car

Not a spare bit of pebbly beach to be seen

Restaurants adorn the rocks

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiorre

Not many photos taken today – bit difficult on the freeway with mad Italians driving like the clappers around us and me feeling quite panicky on the drive into our next destination in Cinque Terre. Ok so I don’t handle sheer drops to my right and winding bends that seemingly can only fit a motor scooter.

So just a a few quick pics of us leaving our friends in St Jean Cap Ferrat, a fleeting glimpse of Monte Carlo where we picked up our car, and then the first shots looking from our B&B  in Monterosso al Mare (by the sea) looking out to the sea. More later.

Basil, Clare with Pocha, le chien, moi et Tony.

Monte Carlo in a flash.

The view from our B&B

Another aspect from the B&B

Eze, the town high above Beaulieu Sur Mer, and overlooking where we are staying at St Jean Cap Ferrat, is a trek that doesn’t align with its name. It’s views though are pretty stunning. And it’s also steeped (quite literally) in  history.

The area surrounding Èze was first populated around 2000 BC as a commune  near Mount Bastide. The area was subsequently occupied by not only the Romans but also the Moors who held the area for approximately 80 years until they were driven out by William of Provence in 973. Won’t bore you with too much detail but a check of the various Wiki sites and what we’ve hotlinked here, will show the historical importance of this region.

And now to the visuals.

Following the old Roman road

Pretty spectacular huh?

More views of St Jean

Looking down on to St Jean Cap Ferrat

The one hour walk that Basil and Tony will attempt next visit

The view towards north of Nice

Looking up to the medieval village of Eze

Ancien Voi Romain is the sign to the ancient Romaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan

Scenery here is amazing

Had a great trek today, although the bus was certainly a welcome respite along the way. From here at St Jean Cap Ferrat we went to Mont Boron  a small, affluent suburb of Nice that occupies the mountain that rises up on the eastern edge of the city. It creates the scenic divide between Nice and neighbouring Villefranche-sur-Mer curving out into the ‘Baie des Anges’ forming the famous sweep of Nice’s sea front. From its heights, as you can see below, you  can look down over the entire sweeping cityscape of Nice, the horizon of the Mediterranean sea and also over the picturesques Bay of Villefranche

After that trek, it was downhill all the way (thank God) and into the  quaint town of Beaulieu where we could catch our breath, eat lunch, before the trek home around the foreshore to St Jean Cap Ferrat.

The new monorail runs through the city

Great shopping

Another aspect of the city from the top

Cruise liners make a beeline for this city

The fort at Mont Boron – we walked up to this point

More of the bay of Nice from up high

Nice, from up high

Yep, we agree with that. particularly if they’re whinging.

Quite grand convention facilities in Beauliue

The main street of Beauliue

The Port of Beaulieu

David Niven’s original home in Beaulieu

The Town Hall in St Jean Cap Ferrat

The Port at St Jean Cap Ferrat down the road from where we are staying

Very little to say other than we are very fortunate to have friends who allow us to stay in their beautiful villa in the south of France. They are extremely generous and we are very grateful.  A lovely few days just enjoying this magnificent setting. It’s  great for the spirit.

The vista

Breakfast of champions, fruit and vegemite on baguettes.

Everywhere you look, cruisers

This villa’s beautiful gardens

Perfectly manicured lawns

A restful place

A man and his pool, well for four days anyway.

The bay attracts masses of cruisers at this time of the year

We’ve been here often, but it’s always so beautiful to come home to! We are staying for a few days with friends Basil and Clare Sellers in their magnificent villa in Cap Ferrat on the Cote D’Azur.  It really is the rich and famous’ playground and when you come here, you can really see why.  Just sitting on the balcony of our apartment as I write this, looking out over towards Monaco – the photo below gives you the picture.

Our last night in Paris was in a fabulous restaurant in Le Marais district in Paris. What a food find and what a beautiful area is Le Marais – very fashionable, very trendy, lots of magnificent art, very bohemian. The focus on the food at Robert and Louise is meat – and plenty of it. Beef, lamb, duck – no seafood in sight! Not for the feint hearted is this place. Go with a very healthy appetite. Excellent for all of you ‘paleo-ites’.

This morning we hopped on the train down to Nice, about four hours, but very relaxing.  If only we could get the packing down to a fine art.  There is an opportunity for some IT geek to develop an app that allows you to store your luggage on a ‘cloud’ so that you can just pick up what you need, when you need it, without having to carry the real thing with you.  Please make it happen Anthony Harrison. Up and down those railway station stairs is a nightmare.

Robert and Louise is such a great restaurant

Le viande – and plenty of it…

Le train!

Reaching the Meditteranean by train

Our apartment views

Take 2.