Page 5 of Miltonrabbit Travel Blog Posts


Europe » Italy » Piedmont » Turin June 28th 2017

We wake to another wet morning. Thunderstorms have been sweeping across northern Italy for the past week. In the south it is hot and dry. In spite of all this rain we have not worn our raincoats. We have been lucky enough to get our sightseeing completed before the rain starts. We just hope we can pack the car without getting wet. Time for breakfast and a chance to say farewell to our friends in the bar. Today they are discussing the outcome of next year’s World Cup, a favourite topic in Italy. There is so much football on TV and in the papers. Perhaps they are discussing the future of their pension. We leave and thank everyone for making our stay enjoyable. Each morning we wake to the baking smells of the panificio next door. ... read more

Europe » Italy » Piedmont » Stresa June 27th 2017

This morning the weather is a little kinder but we have the feeling any sunshine will not be with us for long. There is low cloud around the hills that climb above the lake. Our plan after breakfast is to visit the resort town of Stresa on Lago Maggiore, a short drive away. We have heard so much about this town we felt we needed to take the time and pay it a visit. Also on the list for today is a visit to two factory shops selling home wares. But first, breakfast. Down in the bar the locals are in the middle of an animated discussion. We say a friendly “buon giorno” and receive the same in reply. Then the discussion continues. We feel on top of the world, the yachting world. We decide the ... read more
Stresa
Stresa
Stresa

Europe » Italy » Piedmont » Orta San Giulio June 26th 2017

It is a slow start today. This is Italy, we’re in the Italian lake district, and we can be a bit slow. On the other hand the forecast is not brilliant. We have to plan for thunderstorms. The temperatures have been getting hotter and the humidity is rising. Something has to give. So we decide on a plan. Breakfast is provided downstairs in the bar, then drive to Orta San Giulio for a lake cruise, lunch, and back before the rain. The drive to Orta doesn’t take very long. There is a ferry service but the timetable doesn’t account for the possibility of rain. On a day like this it pays to be independent. As we drive the short distance it is obvious the weekend revellers have gone. All is quiet. Once in Orta we find ... read more
Isola San Giulio
Lago d'Orta
Isola San Giulio

Europe » Italy » Piedmont » Pettenasco June 25th 2017

What an interesting day it was going to be. It all started about 3:00 am in the morning with the mother of all thunderstorms. The sound of the thunder booming around the mountains nearby was deafening. We likened it to the bass section of the choir. Back in New Zealand the thunder is more like the soprano section. Today we leave our hillside paradise, we only hope it is dry when it comes time to depart. Our hostess has told us, no need to leave too early. We pack all our bags, luggage and groceries: unfortunately we have finished the wine and eaten all the blueberries. We stop a while as we pack the car and chat with a local. He is sad to see us go. We tell him we came for three nights and ... read more
Pradella above Bellano

Europe » Italy » Lombardy June 24th 2017

When we arrived at our current location we told our hostess we have come to rest and relax. Today we intend to do just that. We hope to relax because at 9:35 am Italy time the All Blacks have their 1st test against the British and Irish Lions rugby team. We have to read a commentary via the Stuff website. As the test match is being played out on a wet miserable winter’s night in New Zealand we are relaxing in the air conditioned apartment away from the 35 degree heat outside. We have the washing machine doing its chores, a late breakfast being consumed. Oh those blueberries are delicious. And we think about the rest of the day. By late morning we know we can really relax. The All Blacks have won, the washing is ... read more
Bellano
Bellano

Europe » Italy » Lombardy » Bellagio June 23rd 2017

We wake late to the sound of birds outside. What a great sleep. We’re not in a hurry but we need to be on our way early because today is going to be hot again. We have seen programmes on TV pointing out that this period of hot dry weather is starting to have an effect on pastures. The Po River and its associated irrigation systems are becoming affected by lack of water. Arable land is drying up, crops are suffering, Now we realize why many of the rivers we crossed earlier were dry. Italy has been quite dry since the beginning of April. Chores are done so we head off for our drive down the hill and on to Varenna to catch the ferry to Bellagio, a town on the point of land that separates ... read more
DSC04194
Bellagio
Bellagio

Europe » Italy » Lombardy June 22nd 2017

After yesterday’s exciting drive over the Stelvio Pass you could consider today’s short drive boring. We are not expecting anything amazing but we need to get to Bellano for three nights of relaxation on Lake Como. Checking out the various routes we could take it was tempting to go via the Bernina Pass, St Moritz and the Maloja Pass. We have done that before. So the short route it is. We leave the key under the red carpet, feeling the eyes of a hundred grandmothers watching us, leave a thank you text for Jessica and head away. We stop briefly at a Lidl supermarket but the car park is full so we carry on. We’ll find some lunch somewhere else. The drive through to Sondrio is pleasant enough with many apple orchards on the flat and ... read more
Sondrio
Bellano


We leave the Dolomites having achieved our mission. The highlight of our stay in Corvara has been the alpine plants, especially the gentian. The other memories we’ll take away with us are the stunning scenery and our wonderful accommodation. In a week from now this area will be open for the Summer holidays. We found last night that some restaurants won’t open until next week. Instead of skiers the cyclists and hikers will arrive. After reading our blogs the botanists will arrive as well. After last night’s thunderstorm somewhere in the mountains it is blue skies and sunshine. Our first challenge today is negotiating one more pass, Passo Gardena. Once over this pass we leave the Badia area and head for Bolzano. The descent out of the Dolomites has us following river valleys. We continue to ... read more
Stelvio Pass
Stelvio Pass
Stelvio Pass

Europe » Italy » Trentino Alto Adige » Corvara June 20th 2017

We wake to another fine morning. The temperatures remain pleasantly mild here in the mountains. Yesterday we were more concerned about sunburn than hypothermia. Today looks the same but thunderstorms are forecast for later in the day. So, instead of the leisurely start to the day we’ll go sightseeing and be back before the weather changes. Today’s trip will follow the circuit that the cyclists used on Sunday but in reverse. It includes three mountain passes with one reaching 2165 metres. Looking at Google Maps there will be plenty of hairpin bends. We expect to see some great scenery. The road passes through part of a national park so we also hope to catch a glimpse of more alpine flowers. Who knows, today we might find the blue alpine gentian. As it is Tuesday, and a ... read more

Europe » Italy » Trentino Alto Adige » Corvara June 19th 2017

We look out of the window this morning and it’s not a sky we had hoped to see. There is low cloud covering the tops of the mountains. This was not part of today’s plan or the forecast. All might be different after breakfast. One of the reasons for coming to this area was to hunt for the elusive blue alpine gentian. To get to the area in which they are growing we need to get above 2000 metres, we are currently at 1500 metres. We have some choices, take the gondola located next to the apartment, walk, or drive to the chairlift that will take us further up the mountain. By the time we have had breakfast the cloud has gone leaving a brilliant blue sky. We pack our mountaineering gear and head off for ... read more




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