Harwich to Italy
Gillyb
Wed 4 May 2011 15:42
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Hello All, We have survived all the way to
Lake Garda where we have a hotel overlooking a marina and boats! (just in case
we'd forgotten what they look like)
We had a super cabin on board the Stena Hellanica
and a great view from the huge porthole as we arrived at the hook of holland
early in the morning. We were off the ferry quite quickly and immediately
into the right hand driving and tom tom giving us valuable instructions.
It was a nice dry day and we made good progress south. Looking at
the map we decided a first night stop might be in Wiesbaden. (Lynette used
to live there and I knew it was quite pretty). Using the Bubbs
trusty hotel guide we eventually found our way to the right place only to be
told it was some sort of congress week and all the hotels were FULL. Doh!
back in the car and a quick look at the map and book again and we went on to
Darnstadt. (Sadly Darnstadt was not pretty but it did have a pretty
good hotel rooom!) Also- next door was an Aussie
pizzeria? We had to try one! In case you're wondering an Aussie pizza
is not as good as an Italian but Huge! Had a lovely restful
night with a good breakfast the next morning and set off towards the Brenner
Pass and intending to stay in Innsbruck.
All went well with me doing some of the driving and
coping (just) with some of the hundreds of lorries on the inside lane and the
aggressive German motor cars steaming up behind us at speeds of over 100 mph. on
roads no better than the A12.. Getting into Innsbruck we had a few
arguments with the tom tom as we searched for the hotel. Graham did well
in the end and dived into the underground car park of the hotel as he spotted it
at the last moment. We thought we had it all sorted only to find
that again Innsbruck was FULL! No room at the inn so back in the car and
continued on to the Brenner Pass. We stopped at a rest station which was
supposed to be a tourist information place as well. Wrong! just a lady
selling coffee but we asked about places off the main road and she said take the
next exit and try. That was a good move so we spent the night in a
village in the mountains (see picture) and it was a lovely family run hotel and
I managed most of my lovely home cooked wiener schnitzel! (It was almost
as big as my Aussie pizza!
Next morning - after a continental breakfast - we
said goodbye to the parrot (He lived in the hall) and set off back on to the
main (toll) road through the Brenner Pass and Dolomites - at some point
going from Austria into Italy. The weather got sunnier and warmer as we
drove south and headed to Verona which we fancied seeing. Well we
saw some of it but guess what - Verona was having some sort of festival and it
was FULL. The lady in the hotel told Graham she would go to
Peschiera. (?) We got back to the driving and just a few
kilometers later we were looking at a pretty town on the edge of Lake Garda -
see pictures. So here we are near the marina and have enjoyed a long walk
along the lake and an Italian ice cream.
Tomorrow we set off to Venice where we know there
is a hotel room for two nights with our name on it no matter what
congress/festival is in town!
Best Wishes
Gilly B
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