Italy's Lake Garda

Today we drove to a beautiful B&B overlooking Lake Garda from the western shore.  We were reminded that you need cash for the autostrada tolls. Hertz gave us a very well-equipped Mercedes A200D instead of the Fiat I expected.  Getting acquainted with our Mercedes rental caused a scare.  We couldn't lock it.... The car senses your presence with the key and will not lock if you are standing too close.  The Lake Garda view is spectacular; the lake is huge.  The weather is perfect; warm days but cooling at night to where you add that extra blanket since we are in the southern edge of the Alps. Dinner was at a nearby restaurant; absolutely packed on a Wednesday night.  A nearby German family ordering dinner with an Italian server.....why, of course, they ordered in English.... the international language.  Last night at dinner we met a wonderful couple visiting from Victoria, B.C.  We had much in common.  At our B&B in Venice we met a hippie couple from (of course) Northern California. What weirdos!  They couldn't eat eggs or croissants because it "would interfere with their meditation pathways".  So instead they ate all the fruit and nuts that had been put out for other residents. Travel is broadening.

A partial view of Lake Garda from our B&B on the western shore.  The B&B is high above the lake and accessed only by narrow winding roads.

A waterfront view of Salo on Lake Garda.

The Arcangeli boat company is located on the shores of Lake Garda.  They have an entire building full of these beautiful runabouts.

The Riva Ariston; seeing such boats in real life is a significant reason we came to Italy.

Exploring Lake Garda today, our expectations were exceeded. I got photos of a Riva Ariston runabout on the lake. Rivas, by many polls, are considered the most beautiful boats on earth, and they are built in Italy.  Italy is known as a center for art and design: great leather goods, beautiful Ferrari automobiles, paintings, statues, women's' fashion clothing, and food preparation. As well as famous foods, throughout Europe Italian gelato (ice cream) is considered the best.  Dawn and I will vouch for that, although my lactose intolerance limits me to sorbet. Many tourists here but mainly Italian, a significant number of Germans, a few British voices, and not much else that we could discern. We met an interesting couple from York, England today. They have traveled extensively, so we got advice from them on some destinations. They were traveling with their 14-month-old baby (and she is 50 y. o.) We were able to take a long walk along the shore in the town of Salo and later at Siramione. Tomorrow, we move to Lake Como.