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The Gerrard Chronicles 2014 - Traveller's Tales - Stresa |
An unusual trip to the Alps & into Italy - a short stay in Stresa
September 11th & 12th
The Hotel Royal could only accommodate us in one room when we got there & another for the other two nights but the view was splendid, over towards Baveno. Dinner was a short menu for €25 each, which was ok. The Head Waiter, who had worked in London, was quite a card & fluent in French & German as well, so we used all languages. It was a bit dull at first on the Thursday but we took a boat (there seem to be a number of different lines, all charging the same) to the near islands, Isola Pescatore & Isola Bella. We had a good walk round both, not having been here since 1996, including the ridiculous gardens of the Palace on Isola Bella. These now have a café, where we had lunch. After taking the boat back, Avis snoozed while I walked into Stresa & looked at the sculpture show commemmorating 11-9-2001. After dinner in the hotel again, we talked to a German coach driver who spoke five languages. |
Hotel Royal from Isola Bella |
Baveno & Isola Pescatore from our 1st room.
Isola Pescatore from the Hotel |
On Isola Pescatore |
The small boat harbour on Isola Pescatore |
Isola Pescatore is rather laid back
The Church on Isola Bella |
Inside the Church |
Model of Isola Bella in the Palace |
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Above: The ghastly gardens on Isola Bella Below: Isola Bella from the boat (leaving)
The next day, we walked to downtown Stresa (it's about 20 minutes from the hotel) passing first, two derelict palaces near the waterfront & then, the giant expensive hotels full of rich bastards, with whom, we would not wish to associate. We explored the town a bit, then walked back to have lunch by the cable car station.
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Some of the sculptures commemorating 11-9-2001 |
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Views around downtown Stresa & us imbibing coffee. |
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After lunch, we went up the cable car to Mottarone for the splendid views. It is two stage & there are Alpine Gardens a short walk from the middle station.
North across Lago Maggiore from Mottarone
East across Lago Maggiore from Mottarone
Towards Monte Rosa |
Lake Orta |
The Alpine Garden |
Now, go to the next page for our onward trip to Milan to see Liz' family & off home.
Contact: Ken Baldry or Avis Saltsman, 17 Gerrard Road, Islington, London N1 8AY +44(0)020 7359 6294 or e-mail him or her
This page's URL: http://www.art-science.com/Xmas2014/travel2.html Last revised 1/12/2014 Copyright: ©Ken Baldry 2014 All rights reserved but print it off if you want to.