Lake Garda - Day 3 (The mountain goat!)
The plan for the first part of the day was visiting the castle that dominates the town of Arco, where we were staying.
As you can see, it looks rather impressive and it's in a fantastic position at the top of a steep hill
Arco is not by the lake but not far, and its climate still benefits from its influence. The path going up to the castle is in an olive grove, something you wouldn't normally see at this latitude in nothern Italy.
You have some lovely views of the town and you can even spot the northernmost point of the lake on the right side of that rock
Adrian on a panoramic glass balcony:
I managed to make it inside the castle walls where we stopped for a drink at the cafe' on the lawn
After our pick-me-up we did try to carry on the climb to the main tower but it was just too steep and unsafe for me, and we had to give up!
So we walked back downhill (which for me, on crutches, felt way more dangerous), we got in our car and drove to Malcesine on the western shore of Lake Garda.
From Malcesine 2 funivie (cable cars) take you 1650 m (about 5400 ft) up Monte Baldo
Unfortunately as the day was gorgeous, half of Deutschland with a sprinkling of people from many other countries were queueing up for the ride.
We queued for about 75 minutes before we got in the first cable car!
The second cable car is a bit larger so no more queueing at the intermediate station. Its cabins rotate on themselves which means that no matter where you're standing in the cabin, you'll see everything (provided of course that you're not too short or you may just admire someone's armpit for the entire journey).
When we got to the top, we were in dire need of a sit down and some food.
We had a caprese on the terrazza panoramica.
From here, the view is quite spectacular. The lake and the mountains surrounding it. But you cannot see the northern part of Garda.
So I had the brilliant idea of walking to that little hill on the right you see in this picture
Of course the trouble is that distances are quite deceiving.. I think we walked for about 45 minutes going and 45 coming back!
Other people had those trekking sticks, I had my trusted crutches!
I don't know, I felt quite exhilarated to be up there with that fantastic view. The mountains are, after all, in my DNA.
Adrian said that I was a mountain goat in every sense, meaning that I was stubborn (I prefer 'determined'). But - bless him - he wasn't crossed with me for long!
And yes we did manage to see the northern part of the lake:
We could even see the castle of Arco.
Here are a few of my favourite pictures from Monte Baldo. I know that they are many but I just couldn't choose!
(unfortunately my compact camera has 'spots' again. oh well!)
Going back to Malcesine on the cable car involved another queue but much, much shorter.
Down in Malcesine, we visited the town centre. Quite touristy but nonetheless very charming.
We visited the castle (another one that belonged to the Veronese Della Scala) but sadly I couldn't climb the tower. (Sometimes I am sensible!)
Still we had some lovely views of the lake from the bastions and out of the windows.
(No, Adrian didn't feel a thing! LOL)
The castle was also being used for a wedding photo shoot.
That evening we had been invited to dinner by Mario and Walter, the owners of the B&B, back in Arco, but as we were starving we had some crostini with a Crodino in a bar/restaurant near the water
and we watched the sun (here seen from the castle earlier)
disappear behind the mountains
Arrivederci Lago di Garda! And thank you for the lovely memories.