Day 83 16.6.23

Milan to Feriolo, Lake Maggiore.

The night was very, very warm, thank goodness we were on a Sosta so we were relatively secure to leave the windows open (though we obviously had the blinds up to block out the light). We had showers in the van before we left which made us feel human again…..for 5 minutes at least .

The entrance route to and from the Sosta is very narrow and at times only wide enough for one vehicle. Gareth mastered this like a pro in and out, but as we were waiting down a narrow one way road for the level crossing gates to be raised, the Italians started shouting and gesticulating at each other.

From this we gathered that the gates weren’t going to open any time soon, so along with all the other drivers we had to reverse.

Now, I think someone somewhere is testing us, especially Gareth, he on his skills of manoeuvring this huge van and me for helping him by waving my arms here, there and everywhere . We managed to reverse out, round the tight bends and back out onto the access road, whilst Italian emotion was being exercised around us (not at us I must add, I think they were quite impressed at our British coolness ).

Up onto the main road we went and then, trying to not enter the ZTL again, we headed for the San Siro Stadium. It’s impressive, but sadly the car parks weren’t open so we had to drive on by.

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We were heading towards Switzerland, our 12th country of this trip and decided to stop at Lake Maggiore for our last Italian night.

We chose a little ACSI campsite right by the little town of Feriolo. Camping Orchidea.

It had everything you needed – but with lots of conditions. There was a lovely pool that was €4 to enter, that’s ok, though you also have to wear a swim cap . Not the first time we’ve come across that. There’s a great little dog beach. It’s absolutely forbidden to allow your dog to mess on here or in the campsite and your dog is allowed to use the beach only between 9am and 6pm and must be kept on a lead .

It’s a very lovely campsite but these conditions seem to take the shine off it. Nevertheless, we went to the beach and, for the first time ever, I joined Gareth and Meg for a swim in a lake. I did have my water shoes on though, I’m not completely stupid .

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After a freshen up we went out for dinner along the lake promenade. There were lots of lovely restaurants to choose from so we stopped about halfway along. All the seating is along the waterfront, the view was gorgeous as the sun set over the hills behind us. Once again, the waiting staff were very attentive and the food was delicious.

Gareth chose pasta with big shrimps and courgette for starter and seabream with ratatouille and local spinach for secondi.

I had a mixed salad with pizza, couldn’t resist it once I read it had spicy salami AND gorgonzola on it yum yum yum. We had a local bottle of Rosé too, which was just right to seal the end of our Italian journey….for the time being .

We wandered back to the site and stopped for our last gelato . The night, thankfully was cool and we all slept like logs.

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