The boys got a long long weekend and so we decided like most Italians to go somewhere, with the weather not looking great all over Italy we decided for a terme, which is fine in the cold or rain, and Antonio had been to this one the week before and said it was very good. So Jayne found a apartment near by, infact we found out only 600 metres, called Corte San Carlo, which was run by Margot who was most helpful. We arrived in Cola around 5pm and went to visit the terme , just to check it out, we then decided to go back , pack a dinner and visit the terme for a few hours. For we noticed many Italians walking in and out with eskies and bags of food and drink. The terme which is Parco Termale del Garda, is huge, imagine the botanical gardens main pond, double it and make it a metre deep full of warm water with two large pools in it with hot 37 degree water, connected is a cave to hide in, and bridges. Alongside is perfect lawn with lounge chairs and picnic tables and chairs, dotted all over. A large art deco style pavilion that also has lounge chairs in it, if it rains and a restaurant, bar and change area. The restaurant we did not know about, but its better to bring your own food, one odd looking family, set themselves up at two tables in the bar, right in-front of the tv, to watch a soccer match, and set up their dinner from the baskets, along with bottles of wine, not to feel shameful, they ordered a bowl of salad from the bar, which all seemed fine with the staff. They finished their meal and desert, the match was over and they left. Meanwhile others were floating in the terme pool, there where couples cuddling in the darkness of the water as the light faded, there are signs saying don't get to amourous, which brought great sadness to Jaynes face, l guess the couples in the pool, could not read Italian.
The boys of course loved it, and splashed and swam their way about, always visiting the cave which had a waterfall over the mouth, or sitting under the large showers that poured warm water into the pool. And when they began to cool, they would pop into the smaller ponds inside the pool and warm up in 37 degrees.
So we left back to the apartment around 10.30, it closes around 12-1 pm. And slept very well in our lovely apartment. The next morning Ewan went down to the entry office area, and got some muffins and coffee from the espresso machine for breaky, an act he performed every morning, much to the delight of Margot the owner. That day was not so good, it rained on and off all day, fortunetely we went to the terme the night before. So that day we went to Mantova, a near by town, steeped in history, and surrounded by three large lakes, that were man made back in the 12th centuary. A very impressive town with two main palazzos, Ducale and Te, we only got to Ducale, which has 500 rooms, full of art, taperstries and frescoes. The main food in the town seems to be dry pastry with nuts and you drink it with Lambrusco. We went to Palazzo Te, but got there at closing, so we will return there another day, as it also is well worth seeing apparently.
That night we did not have dinner, as we had a late lunch and were very tired.
The next day was much the same, but began well, so we headed to the theme park, called Gardaland, like Tivoli in Copenhagen but not as good, but not bad, and reasonably well organized. We saw some great musical, magic light shows, a 4d short of Ice Age, with the chairs in the cinema rocking about, and water spraying. Hunter was as usual keen to go on the frightening rides, and so the first thing we did, and when l say we l mean Hunter and l, it was called Raptor. The line took 20 minutes, and that did not help me, as l waited in the line surrounded by cyclone fencing and the screams of the ride above us. So we sat in the machine, and it slowly cranked up a long and steep hill, l waved nervously to Jayne and Ewan, and then it just fell over the edge and twisted and turned, it was a short ride, but that first drop was not enjoyable, Hunter even agreed, but we both are glad we did it, especially first. The rest of the day was more rides on water craft, trains, most Jayne did not do, as she said her leg was hurting, l wish l had a sore leg!
The boys of course where attracted to the games, of basketball, and throwing at plates, as the large stuffed toys as prizes where too much to ignore. we left with no stuff toy, and lots of money missing. It rained on and off in the afternoon, but over all it was well worth the trip, and it is well visited, the only bad thing, is the wait for the rides. We left just before a thunderstorm.
That night we had a perfect meal at a osteria ( Dal Pansa) 200 metres from the apartment, family run, cheap prices and lovely honest meals, l think we were the only non locals there, and they seemed surprised that the boys ate so well, and such exotic meals.
The next day, Sunday, we went to a Borghetto, which is a small walled hamlet style fortress, usually on hills, more common in the south. Nocars enter the place, and this one was full of restaurants, bars etc, ans surrounded by a market stalls. A river runs through it, and it is most pleasant and beautiful, though highly visited by locals and tourists. Its called Borghetto Valeggio sul Mincio, and is aabout 20 minutes from Cola where we were staying.
We had a great lunch at Lo Strappo, which sits on the river that runs by and powers an old mill. From there we walked around and then left to return to Bologna.
Borghetto bridge
Borghetto
Lunch in Borghetto
Borghetto Sul Mincio, river
Nervous faces on the floating log
The Raptor, Gardaland, i'm in green
