Sharing a Bedroom

Yesterday's drive was more exacting than the previous ones.  The roads were narrow and the views were beautiful (but you will be glad to know that, as the driver, I saw very little and kept my eyes on the road).  The motorways were busier and, on occasion, the rain was torrential.  So when we eventually arrived at Castelfiorentino in near Florence at about 7.30pm we were very much in need of a stop for the night.  We landed on our feet once again as Diane saw a sign for Albergo La Pieve and took the instant decision that we would head for it.  Good choice!  The young lady at reception spoke immaculate English (with an English accent) which, given how tired I was, was a Good Thing.  It turned out that she also spoke fluent German (with a German accent).  I assume her Italian was good too! (OK, Frances, I didn't really need an ! but it seemed like a good idea.)  When I wrote the last few sentences I didn't know the whole story about the young lady.  That will be a separate post.

The food and local wine was good, the rooms were large and the bathrooms large and clean and very well appointed with lovely towels and plenty of them (although for a one-night stay I only use the large bath towel).  One thing I have noticed in all the hotels - and it makes a big difference - is that they have all used expensive toilet paper.  

When I arrived in my room after dinner I was asleep as my head hit the pillow.  Until 4.30am.  I have no idea why I woke but I had this uncanny feeling that I was not alone.  I wasn't!  Those of you who have heard the insidious whining buzz of a mosquito will understand.  I covered my head with the sheet and tried to get back to sleep but I was too hot (rich food still trying to be digested generates heat I guess).  I can't blame the hotel because the windows have mozzie screens on them.  I showered.  I went back to bed.  At around 5.30 I fell back to sleep.  Oh how I sympathise with people who don't find sleep easy.  I usually do.  I should make that a Thankful Thursday post one day.

I'm not usually mozzie fodder (the little sandflies love me though) but I guess this lady was not going to pass up a meal and feed she did.  I've decided that I definitely don't like sharing a room any more.

Dark morning and rain over Lake Como from Menaggio

A typical community clinging to the hillside above the lake

And again

Have you anything for me?  At La Pieve

Albergo La Pieve

Our first Tuscan evening view (taken this morning when the sun deserted us - oh dear).

Thankful Thursday: Switzerland and Lake Como

I started this post late evening Thursday and finished when I woke early Friday morning.

This evening we are on Lake Como at a place called Menaggio at the Hotel du Lac.  In the mid 1980s I read Anita Brookner's book of the same name.  I can't recall the detail other than that it was about the people staying at the hotel. but I still have the book.  I shall try and re-read it when I get home to Lewis.

I cannot tell a lie by saying that I was not disappointed when I woke to see clouds and rain this morning.  I had hoped for a dream drive through Switzerland seeing the Alps in all their glory.  As it was what we saw was rain-shrouded mountains of awesome proportions with a few glimpses of something better.  I also drove through the St Gotthard Tunnel (the tunnel is just under 16.4 kilometres (10.2 mi) in length and is the third-longest road tunnel in the world after Norway's Lærdal Tunnel (24.5 km), and China's Zhongnanshan Tunnel (18 km).

We then drove down to Lugano on the Lake of the same name, stopped and had a coffee in a lakeside cafe and then drove over to Menaggio on Lake Como.

After booking in at the hotel we found a very friendly and typically Italian trattoria for our dinner.

Then we came back to the hotel and sat on the roof terrace overlooking the lake after nightfall with all the noises and voices in the square and harbour mingling.  It was as lovely way to spend an evening with friends as I can imagine.

So tonight I am exceptional;ly thankful for the fact that I have such wonderful friends and for the opportunity to share this experience with two of them.

I managed 350 photos today despite the rain and so on so here are a few.  Hopefully at some time I'll share some more.  The first stop was at Beckenried on Lake Lucerne.  It appears to be a popular walking centre and has the longest cable car in central Switzerland.

The A2 autobahn which was our route South through Switzerland.  An amazing feat of engineering.

Through the St Gotthard Tunnel at the rest stop in the pouring rain.  Note the magnificent mountains that you can't actually see for the mist and rain.

Then a stop for coffee at Lugano:

The cafe on the lake where we had coffee

Quite a lot of Lugano precariously perches on mountain sides

And finally Menaggio on Lake Como:

View from the hotel bar

The hotel showing the terrace on top of the hotel.  My bedroom is in the 'attic'.  The most luxurious attic bedroom I'm ever likely to sleep in.

A nightcap on the terrace overlooking the lake and the town square.  Bliss.