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Good morning Traveler,
Last Sunday it was rainy and humid in NH. Not an ideal summer day. But it was the perfect opportunity to remind myself of our recent trip to Italy.
Out came the pasta machine and the Italian cookbooks. I recruited my son, Trevor, to help me make homemade fettuccine in a wild mushroom cream sauce and prepped the potatoes for sweet potato gnocchi.
Cooking is one of the ways I reminisce about a trip. Another is using small momentos I brought home with me. On this trip two of these came from my bike trip on the Ponale Road with my guide Giovanni (read about it in the Highlight below). We made a quick stop about 3/4 of the way up the mountain at the Panorama Cafe. They served peanuts in a little glass, beacon-shaped Campari soda jar which I loved!
We each ordered a beer (even smaller than a caña in Spain, as it was not quite 11am so a larger one was unwarranted!) and I loved the tiny beer glass.
When we left I asked the bartender if I could buy them. She said generously said (in Italian) - they are yours. Now they are two of my favorite items from the trip and I know will forever remind me of my amazing bike ride that day.
Jason chose to bring home some bottles of Brunello, which is another favorite way to remember a trip. Often when traveling you can get wines that never make it to the States, and that makes them extra special.
As with most places, in Lake Garda there are a wide variety of accommodations to choose from. Jessie and I love being able to walk to town so we chose to stay at the Lido Palace in the town of Riva del Garda.
The town is charming! Full of gelaterias, narrow pedestrian streets lined with outdoor cafes, small boutiques and shops full of lemon and pasta products.
With 90+ degree temperatures and lots of sunshine, the weather was perfect for laying by the hotel pool, lounging on the beach people watching, taking a dip in the lake and eating gelato.
The lake was FULL of people - laying in the sun, teenagers jumping off a pier into the water, people sailing, on eFoils, windsurfing, kite surfing, kayaking and taking out paddleboats with slides, walking and biking the lakeside promenade. It felt like an idyllic summer destination! I was pleasantly surprised by how many Italians there were as it all felt very authentic.
Nighttime was just as beautiful and fun with people out for a stroll, cafes full of diners enjoying late night meals, music playing and a festive mood all around.
The food and gelato we had on this trip were all so delicious!
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