Lake Trasimeno

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A visit to a huge lake, just down from Castiglione del Lago. The guide book had recommended a particular restaurant in town for a local traditional dish of white bean stew and the carp caught in the lake, so we headed there for lunch. The town was glorious, in what seems to be the usual Umbrain style, built ontop of a hill, we drove and parked and went straight to eat. We loved the restaurant and those white beans, cooked in a broth and served with what ever, Karl chose Pork, Onita had the Carp. Then on for a Gelato, which ended in the usual story of Asha eating it neatly and efficiently without too much mess, whilst Jay just not getting the hang of licking all round the sides, so getting most of it melted on his cloths. We then decided to wander through town, taste a few of the local offerings in local wine, cheese and hams, which the kids enjoyed too, being spoilt by all the local shopkeepers.

We still had the afternoon ahead of us, and the lake beneath the town looked so inviting from this hillside town. We drove down parked walked towards the lake with promises of swimming and beach, and then we smelt it, and then we saw it ……… sewage in the lake. Yet everybody was there in it, swimming, we weren’t too sure what to do, as we walked further up the beach it got marginally better, and with the constant please from Asha to get into the water, the spotting of showers to use afterwards, and realising you couldn’t get much deeper than your ankles, Karl took Asha off into the this murky water, with a frown on his face and promises from her that only her ankles would touch the water, and nothing else. Jay absolutely decided he was not going into a pooey lake, still upset about his Lake Garda experience, I wouldn’t wonder he never visits an Italian Lake again in his life! So Onita and Jay made sand castles on some dubious sand, and then every one cleaned off before a beer or two was really needed to relax.

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Photos

Outside garden of "La Cantina"
Amazing restaurant (see text) in Castiglione del Lago. Asha and Jay liked the very old table, out of use and falling apart

Main street
One of the main streets of Castiglione del Lago, just after (yet another) gelato

Town gate
Entrance to Castiglione del Lago. Funny thing in Italy - these gates that would say "no vehicles" anywhere else, are open to cars. Not easy once inside, but often worth a try

Castiglione del Lago
Typical scene from the town, just off the main square

Gelato-buzz
Trotting (almost literally) on sugar-rush

Jay (oh - & Asha)
Up to no good...

On the wall
Kids & Onita on the wall, just outside the main entrance to the old town of Castiglione del Lago

Beautiful lake
...shame about the water. They still pump sewage out here. Rather hard to believe when it's a lake and a tourist lake at that. There was a metre of "froth" all around it. Pretty poor, really. The water was warm, though. Hmmm.

Lago de Trasimeno
A view of the lake, taken from the foot of Castiglione del Lago

Football
Sign of times to come...?