Think of all the joy you’ll find …….. Update - January 06

[dizneeat]

Well I never !!!! Must be a new Brit. TraDITION!!

tHSE pIZZAS WERE AMAZING , ESPECIALLY THE SEAFOOD ONE, HOW BIG WERE THEY CUZ I SAW 3 DIFFERENT ONES

Rosie, when I saw the hats, it really reminded me of the Ascot races. Then hearing their accent proved it.

Pizzas were pretty big, given they are just the regular size. Tom had the seafood one and they brought him a medium size bowl for all the shells and it did fill up.

I love your vacations.....the food always looks so good!

Jill in CO

Thank you, Jill!
Food is a big part of why we travel, but you know that by now. Now, the trip to Lignano is one to just relax, as it is a very touristy town, with not much to do apart going to the beach and I am not someone who likes to do that there.

Look at all that glorious food!!!

Looks like a very delicious relaxing vacation

It definitely was. The Cinque Terre trip was wonderful, but we always were on the go and were tired coming home, even though we had taken it slow. The second one was all about enjoying and relaxing.

How did you eat the seafood pizza?

Your school schedule sounds like it will keep you on your toes.

Well that's great that you were able to combine the Passau cruise with your aunts visit

They will serve you a medium size bowl with the pizza for all the shells. Tom picked off the seafood that was in shells and had the pizza base just like bread to go with it. It smelled delicious.

And as you have noticed, this years schedule does keep me on my toes and needs a lot of preparation, especially as some lessons are only every other week, so I tend to give a little more homework for that timeframe. Then I need to go through that to mark it. Talk about punishing yourself.

Yes I was wondering too how to eat that seafood pizza! It looks delicious though
Looks like you had a nice getaway, the beaches are very different there then they are here, the set up is interesting to see. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to more

As you can read in the reply above, it was actually pretty easy to enjoy that pizza. It not only looked delicious, it smelled and tasted wonderful too, being that the seafood is really fresh.
It was such a relaxing little getaway and just perfect before I had to go back to school again.
The beach setup is pretty much the same all over Italy. I just love seeing the coloured umbrellas all put up in line. Makes for nice photos.
More on the Cinque Terre trip coming up shortly.

 

[dizneeat]

Is it bad that I seem to always end up commenting about your food porn???

Not at all! You always comment on the essential things in life.

Not exactly sure what this is, but it sure looks yummy!

It is the European version of a doughnut. As you can see I had already taken a bite when I remembered to take a photo.

I have to admit I never had much experience with prosciutto before trips to Disney (okay, probably none actually), but I have really grown to love it.............and combined with some really good bread and that looks like a super choice to me!

We actually grew up with it and it is not something all that special, but there are some kinds of prosciutto that are much better than others. And this one was a really good one and it came as an add on to the wine, which was nice.

Looks like one to me...............

Thank you for agreeing with me.

I know not to catch up when I am hungry and yet I still do it. stupid me!

You should know better, Jen. We have been friends for a long time and reading each other's trip reports.

The area is so beautiful. That beach is very pretty...especially with the sun shots.

It is a nice tourist destination. There are more beautiful places, but it is a great get away.

 

[dizneeat]

7

Day 2, August 17

I never knew Lake Garda is quite so large … Part 4


The boat really criss crossed the lake several times in the two hours we were on board and finally we arrived at the southern end of the lake at the peninsular of Sirmione. The sight we wanted to see there was the water castle and we were happy to see that the pier where we got off the ship was right opposite the castle. So we walked the few steps over and explored from the outside,

looking out for a shop to get something to drink. While we were still walking around looking for a snack bar that I had found on Tripadvisor we walked by another restaurant which I had seen on Tripadvisor.
And even though their homepage had said that today was their day off, their door was open. Tom peeked in and asked if they were open and low and behold they were, so in we went, into Leo’s Hamburgeria.

Not the Italian food that you would think we would look for, but it had had great reviews and we had wanted to try it. We were seated at a small table for two

and handed their menu,

which left both of us a bit clueless. But soon the server was at hand to explain. You order what kind of beef you want and how much and the burger is prepared to order. Every burger comes with a bun, bacon, cheese, tomato, lettuce, onions and thick cut fries and you put it together the way you want. They also put four small pots of sauces on the table and you can experiment which and how much of any you want on your burger. So we both ordered our burger and

our drinks, beer for Tom and a Diet Coke for me and waited for our main courses. It did not take long at all and they were brought out and after putting all the toppings on they were delicious.

We were pretty happy with our lunch opion. Bellies filled we headed back out into the now blazing heat

and walked around Sirmione, exploring the castle and its surrounding areas a little more.

In the end we had walked back and forth so much that we lost a bit of orientation, but since the peninsular is so narrow it was easy to get back on track again.

To be continued ..........​

 

[dizneeat]

7

Day 2, August 17

I never knew Lake Garda is quite so large … Part 5

In the end we had walked back and forth so much that we lost a bit of orientation, but since the peninsular is so narrow it was easy to get back on track again.
All too soon it was time to head back to the pier again to wait for the hydrofoil.

There was already a line and we were wondering if we would be able to get back on board, but we even still scored seats on the upper deck. Unfortunately ALL the seats were filled quickly and sitting so close together and the AC not working all that well, it got pretty hot pretty soon.
But after two or three stops quite some people got off and we headed towards the back where we got seats for three just for the two of us. There we sat for the rest of the two hour journey battling the heat. We took a few photos but because there was a window in the way they did not come out as well as I would have wanted.

And finally we made it to our next stop, the town of Limone.
The village “climbs” up into the mountain and some of the buildings’ walls actually ARE the mountain. It is another sweet little town and since we had an hour and a half to explore we walked around a bit,

explored some of the shops, which live off selling the product that gave the city its name, lemons and lemon products. On the way back we went past a nice looking café and decided to sit down

and have a treat. Tom ordered

an espresso, while I just wanted a Diet Coke, but I also wanted some more gelato. I ordered two scoops and left the choice to the server and he did very well. Once scoop was

lemon sorbet and the other something I would never ever have ordered myself, watermelon. I do not eat watermelon, there is something about the way it feels in my mouth that I just don’t like, but the taste of the sorbet was unbelievable. I really enjoyed it. On the way back to the ship we bought a few small souvenirs and then headed towards the pier again.

A ship had just left (they go in all different directions and are not really on time) and we asked where the next one would go and it was ours, so we got in line. Well, we actually started the line and stood there in the sun for some time. Suddenly you could see another ship coming towards us

and when it was close to the pier quite a few people started moving in and when the ropes were pulled back and we were to enter the ship quite a few people had gotten ahead of us.

To be continued ..........​

 

[dizneeat]

7

Day 2, August 17

I never knew Lake Garda is quite so large … Part 6

Suddenly you could see another ship coming towards us and when it was close to the pier quite a few people started moving in and when the ropes were pulled back and we were to enter the ship quite a few people had gotten ahead of us.
Luckily we still scored some seats on the outside at the front of the ship and off we went again.

After about half an hour we stopped at Torbole

and finally got off in Riva, where we only had to walk a few steps to our hotel.
We were both feeling hot and sweaty, so we took showers and then quickly got ready for dinner

in the dining room. When we arrived we already knew where our table was and walked over and were greeted by the head server. We had been handed a menu while having breakfast to pick out what we wanted for dinner, so there was no surprise. Again, we ordered a bottle of

still water and a bottle of the wine we had had the day before, which was from a local winery before heading to the buffet for the antipasti. They were different from the day before and picked a

puff pastry shell filled with stewed mushrooms (oh, such a reminder of the 70s), a piece of puff pastry vegetable strudel, parmesan potatoes and grilled veggies. Tom picked

the same, plus a baked scallop and we both enjoyed our starters very much. And soon after our hot starters were served. We had decided to share the

Pennette Pasta with pumpkin cream and bacon and the

Baked Cannelloni with ricotta and spinach. We gobbled everything up and in the end were happy we did. Our main courses, the

Grilled Chicken Breast, which was as dry as the desert, served with roasted potatoes and broccoli and the

Pork Escalope with lemon and the same sides did not really live up to what they promised.
Dessert didn’t look any more promising than the day before, so after having a few bites of the main course and finishing off our bottle of wine we left the dining room.

After a short visit to the room we headed out and walked around the town for a bit and when we returned I picked up the third ice-cream of the day at our hotel’s gelateria.

We sat out on the balcony while I enjoyed my “dessert” and Tom had a liquid dessert,

an Italian beer. Since we had only had two nights at the hotel we still had to pack up our stuff, but it did not take too long and by 11pm we were in bed drifting off to dreamland.

To be continued ..........​

 

[Flossbolna]

I have to say that after reading the whole Lake Garda tour day, I totally agree with you: I had no idea how large Lake Garda is!!!

Seems like a lovely boat trip around the lake though. I guess it would have been more pleasant in May or October though... ;-)

I was very amused by the Hamburgeria!!! But I am not surprised that the current trend of burger restaurants has reached Lake Garda. Nuremberg has gotten 4 or 5 new places within the last 12 months that specialize in "gourmet" burgers and in Copenhagen they were all over the place...

I think you were smart to not eat the dry half board dessert and instead get some more gelato. Your flavors look good, I guess the top one is hazelnut?

And Tom's Italian beer looks very cool!

 

[englishrose47]

The towns you stopped in looks interesting . I love how unchanged Europe looks compared to when I visited a few times back in the 60"s Did Itell you my first ever European vacation was to Austria in that area that is close to Italy and Switzerland !!! I ca still remember waking up to the sound of Goat Bells as the walked down the street>>

 

[dizneeat]

Seems like a lovely boat trip around the lake though. I guess it would have been more pleasant in May or October though... ;-)

It most definitely would have been more peasant. Unfortunately until I retire those months are out of the question.

I was very amused by the Hamburgeria!!! But I am not surprised that the current trend of burger restaurants has reached Lake Garda. Nuremberg has gotten 4 or 5 new places within the last 12 months that specialize in "gourmet" burgers and in Copenhagen they were all over the place...

I read about it on tripadvisor and really thought that even with the reviews being really good we would never ever end up in a "hamburger joint". It was interesting when we actually found it and looking back we both were happy we tried it, as it was such a nice treat.
I would not mind a "gourmet" burger place around here. So far we have not seen any around here.

I think you were smart to not eat the dry half board dessert and instead get some more gelato. Your flavors look good, I guess the top one is hazelnut?

There were some really nice offerings on the buffet, it was just the desserts that did not look appealing and I guess my ice-cream was much better than anything else. I looked at my notes and this was actually pistacchio and tiramisu ice cream. Both very yummy!

And Tom's Italian beer looks very cool!

He was pretty pleased with it.

The towns you stopped in looks interesting . I love how unchanged Europe looks compared to when I visited a few times back in the 60"s

That's exactly how it felt to me, Rosie. I remembered those cities from when I travelled with my grandparents as a child and they were pretty much the same, just much smaller, but I guess that was because of the perspective of a child.

Did Itell you my first ever European vacation was to Austria in that area that is close to Italy and Switzerland !!! I ca still remember waking up to the sound of Goat Bells as the walked down the street

You never told me that, Rosie! I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed your trip so much that you fondly remember it. And in some areas you might even have the same experience today.

 

[linetbo]

Looking at your pictures makes me want to go back to Italy!!!! but maybe in 4 or 5 years Next year its North Europe with DCL

 

[Pinkocto]

I was going to ask if they had a boat schedule posted or on paper, I guess it's not as organized as that? But what a nice system to have to get around all those beautuful towns!

Too bad about your dinner entrees, but glad the rest of the meal was good and all that delicious icecream!!!

Were you able to go inside the castle?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Wow that is such a cool boat tour. Do they have any hotels in the towns? I was wondering if you could explore a little more slowly and return the next day if you wanted to?

Oh those gourmet burgers.
so delicious, so many calories and way overpriced! You could get a steak for the price sometimes

 

[englishrose47]

I am glad I remembered to tell you about my first European vacation !! We flew from Luton airport , my first time flying , it was not a jet plane and the inside walls were material and the flapped I remember screaming when I thought we had hit an air pocket and would crash and my friend told me to knock it off we were landing . I also well remember the autobahn and the hairpin bends. But the Austrian Alps were magnifiv-cent and the air so fresh, I could go to bed in the early hours of the night and be up with the goats and fully rested !!
Looking at those HATS again, it does remind me of the Gentry at the Race Tracks !! Also some of the ROYALS wore hats like that!!!!

 

[franandaj]

It's amazing the lake was so large that it took so many hours to drive back and forth across. They always tell us that the "Hamburg Steak" came from Germany so I'm surprised that it is only now that it is getting popular in Europe!

You sure got a lot of Gelato! I would have passed out. As much as I like it, the dairy knocks me out and once I have an Ice Cream, I'm pretty much out.

 

[dizneeat]

Looking at your pictures makes me want to go back to Italy!!!! but maybe in 4 or 5 years Next year its North Europe with DCL

Let me know when you come back to Italy. We would love to hook up with you again. Guess it's not gonna work next summer as we are doing the Panama Canal cruise.

I was going to ask if they had a boat schedule posted or on paper, I guess it's not as organized as that? But what a nice system to have to get around all those beautuful towns!

Yes, they do have a printed schedule. But due to weather conditions the boats can run a little late. Wasn't a big problem, they were always within a 15 minute window and if you needed a connecting ship, they would wait for the other to arrive. It was super nice to go by boat. I had originally planned to drive around the lake and we were happy we did not, as we could see far more of the lake while using the ships.

Were you able to go inside the castle?

No, again, we did not have enough time. We might have been able to, but then we would have had to skip our lunch break. But it also gives us a reason to return and spend more time in the different towns and explore more.

Do they have any hotels in the towns? I was wondering if you could explore a little more slowly and return the next day if you wanted to?

Yes, there are plenty of hotels in the towns. The plan was to just spend the night at Lake Garda and drive on the next day, but when my school holiday started I started to play with the plans and decided to add a day at Lake Garda.
All I wanted to do was giving Tom an idea at what the lake was like. I had been there as a child, but Tom had not, so it kind of was a first impression. Given we can always drive there in just 6 hours we will definitely return and explore more.

I am glad I remembered to tell you about my first European vacation !! We flew from Luton airport , my first time flying , it was not a jet plane and the inside walls were material and the flapped I remember screaming when I thought we had hit an air pocket and would crash and my friend told me to knock it off we were landing .

Sounds like some of our first flights to England. We used "Dan Air" or Dan Dare as a friend called it. We always said that they kept the parts together with gum.

Looking at those HATS again, it does remind me of the Gentry at the Race Tracks !! Also some of the ROYALS wore hats like that!!!!

They always tell us that the "Hamburg Steak" came from Germany so I'm surprised that it is only now that it is getting popular in Europe!

We have always had a "hamburger", but we never called it a "hamburger" and it is not eaten in a bun. And I am pretty sure it was German immigrants who brought the "hamburger" in a bun to the US. It is just not eaten like that here.
Don't get me wrong - we do have a lot of McDs here. Just the original "hamburger" or "Fleischlaibchen" as we call it in Austria is usually served with mashed potatoes.

You sure got a lot of Gelato! I would have passed out. As much as I like it, the dairy knocks me out and once I have an Ice Cream, I'm pretty much out.

I just love to try the different flavours. I always only get one scoop and European scoops are far smaller than their US counterparts. I could never eat as many if they were US sizes.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Oh we call that hamburger steak , Karin. I had lots if it growing up, served with mashed potatoes. Poor man's steak my dad used to say.

 

[momof3princes]

Love all the scenery, so pretty! The hamburger placed looked interesting...it said you can choose your meat? What different kinds did they have??

 

[Poolrat]

Hidden Mickey??

Absolutely!!!!

I know you and Tom aren't huge fans of the beach, but I know a certain "water person" and I would love spending some time here!

Just to relax on a beach for an hour I would love!!!

the trip to Lignano is one to just relax, as it is a very touristy town, with not much to do apart going to the beach and I am not someone who likes to do that there.

It all looks like you had a wonderful relaxing vacation.

Back to the Italian road trip - A day all over that huge lake looks tiring but in a good way. Nice that you had an active vacation and then a relaxing one.

 

[englishrose47]

Just keeping up with the chatter !!I certainly never had Hamburgers growing up or hot dogs as I now know them. Meals were so much simpler and BLAND!!!

 

[jenseib]

I always love seeing all the ports and areas you visit. These towns are just beautiful. There is nothing like that around me and I couldn't even drive to something like that if I wanted to. I will have to live through you.

 

[dizneeat]

Oh we call that hamburger steak , Karin. I had lots if it growing up, served with mashed potatoes. Poor man's steak my dad used to say.

I guess it has all kinds of names. It is just comfort food here. We had it pretty often when we grew up.

Love all the scenery, so pretty! The hamburger placed looked interesting...it said you can choose your meat? What different kinds did they have??

The area around Lake Garda is really pretty. Even for us, who are used to that kind of scenery it was really beautiful.

Choosing your meat - they had several different weight options and they let you choose where the meat came from. I think mine was Italian and Tom's was Australian if I remember correctly.

Just to relax on a beach for an hour I would love!!!

So could I! Sitting home and it is all grey outside is NOT what I need at the moment.

It all looks like you had a wonderful relaxing vacation.

Part two of our Italian vacation was just so nice and relaxing. There is not much you can do there, so we just had to slow down.

Back to the Italian road trip - A day all over that huge lake looks tiring but in a good way. Nice that you had an active vacation and then a relaxing one.

Part one of this trip was another story. It was awesome seeing everything, but we were dead tired every evening. Neither of us would have wanted to do much after dinner, so we just enjoyed the balcony and went to bed early.

Just keeping up with the chatter !!I certainly never had Hamburgers growing up or hot dogs as I now know them. Meals were so much simpler and BLAND!!!

Thank you for checking in here again and again, Rosie. I feel really bad for not updating more, but somehow 24 hours don't seem to be as long as they used to.

I always love seeing all the ports and areas you visit. These towns are just beautiful. There is nothing like that around me and I couldn't even drive to something like that if I wanted to. I will have to live through you.

I am glad you enjoy them, Jen.
It was nice to be reminded of how beautiful Europe really is. Living here, you forget what is around you and we get so used to our weekend trips to Italy and Germany that it takes someone else to remind us that we are pretty lucky with the area we live in.
And I still keep my fingers crossed for you to sometimes make it across the pond. Tom and I would love to show you all around.