POSTCARD FROM SIRMIONE ITALY - 19-24 JULY 2018

I left London Gatwick on Thursday afternoon with my Foreign Office friend, Barry, for a long weekend in Sirmione, on Lake Garda.  We arrived on time and reached the Olivi Hotel in time for a very nice dinner under the stars.

On Friday morning we had an easy start and spent most of the day by the pool.  I moved rooms during the morning as I wanted a room with a bath.  Unfortunately, as with so many hotels these days, the upgrades of the rooms have taken out the baths.

In the afternoon we took a stroll around Sirmione, and then had an early dinner as we were heading into Verona for Nabucco in the Arena that evening.  It was quite a good performance but sadly we interrupted by rain at least three times, and we did not have the best of seats – could see perfectly well but very uncomfortable.  We did not get back to the hotel until 2.40am!

So…. Saturday was spent relaxing by the pool in rather indifferent weather.  The sun struggled all morning and it rained in the afternoon, so we took a walk around the town.  On Sunday we took a ferry over to Garda, and enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the town before walking to Bardolino.  We enjoyed a few drinks as we walked and returned to Sirmione around 5.30pm.

Fortunately, our last day in Sirmione was glorious so it was spent by the pool soaking up the rays, and of course a final stroll into the Town for an Aperol Spritz before dinner.

We had a good flight home on Tuesday, and I was home by 2.45pm, just an hour and three quarters after landing at Gatwick!