Sirmione

 I have had to pinch myself several times over the last 24 hours, because the beauty of this place just doesn’t seem real.  We moved to our VRBO yesterday morning, a traditional Italian home that is well furnished and generously provided, especially in the kitchen.   As luck would have it, we are very close to an excellent market, so that was our first stop yesterday.   As we walked over I noted dark clouds and grumbling thunder, but we didn’t give it much thought, not until the first few fat raindrops landed on us as we hurried into the store.   About two minutes later, there was an immense flash of lightning and the skies opened in earnest and rain of biblical portions landed.  Meh, no matter.   Italian markets always have a coffee corner and so we shrugged, ordered an Americano and croissants and settled into a corner to wait for the worst to pass.  By the time we completed a very leisurely shop, it had ceased and so we headed home, loaded up like two camels with bags of deliciousness - cheese, pasta, smoked salmon, wine.

As soon as we stashed the goods, we hit the pretty pathway alongside of beautiful Lake Garda.  

It was about a two hour walk to reach the very end of the peninsula and the castle and grotto.  We passed through a very busy and lively market, brimming with temptation and treasures.   At last we crossed over the ancient bridge and climbed our way back several centuries. The view from the top of the turret made me gasp  in delight.

A crumbling grotto and more castle ruins exist on the very tip of the peninsula, where the land disappears into the lake with wide, flat rocks, well populated with happy families and kids enjoying the water.  A bell from the first century still stands guard, and close by a sign admonishes to ascolta il silenzio, “listen to the silence.”

Truly an ineffable day, and we counted some 25,000 steps before collapsing over a fantastic ravioli and plenty of Prosecco at day’s end. 

Today we will head in the opposite direction on the trail, and this time will climb onto the bikes provided by our villa to do more exploring of this enchanting and evocative corner of the world.  On deck is a day trip to Venice, likely on Monday, before moving on to our next port of call in Florence on Tuesday.  Stay tuned.