Slowly does it...our trip to north Italy
Oct 5th, 2019, 07:51 AM
#44
Nelson, that is near Coober Pedy, we lived there and in Andamooka.
St Cirq, I am wanting to create my flower boxes when I get home, but hubby says we had 36C today, and looks like a nightmare summer for gardening back home. Well below our usual winter rainfall, too.
St Cirq, I am wanting to create my flower boxes when I get home, but hubby says we had 36C today, and looks like a nightmare summer for gardening back home. Well below our usual winter rainfall, too.
Oct 5th, 2019, 10:32 AM
#45
Day 14: Malcesine
Did some shopping this morning, my mother loving a store with olive wood products, buying a chopping board, some servers, and a wooden spoon. Really lovely.
Olive wood boards
Lovely souvenirs
We passed some of the old olive groves on our walk later.
I calculated mum climbed 12 flights of stairs today, we are on the 3rd floor and we popped back in every now and again.
After the morning stroll and shop, we escaped the incoming throngs by walking the promenade south to Val di Sogno, maybe 2 or 3 kms, I guess.
Peaceful promenade
Quiet, just minutes from the crowds
Malcesine
Malcesine
Lounge / beanbag option at our lunch spot
Really peaceful and beautiful.
We had a brilliant lunch on the way, sitting in the sunshine, at the Lido Sopri. I had one of those delicious thick homemade pastas with zucchini and shrimp and my Aperol Spritz, while she had a salad. So pleasant to relax in such a fabulous location.
Continued on to the little bay of Val di Sogno.
Bay and island at Val di Sogno
Little island
Clear water
And we returned the same way....
Calm water
Elegant swan
Promenade walk
Did some shopping this morning, my mother loving a store with olive wood products, buying a chopping board, some servers, and a wooden spoon. Really lovely.
Olive wood boards
Lovely souvenirs
We passed some of the old olive groves on our walk later.
I calculated mum climbed 12 flights of stairs today, we are on the 3rd floor and we popped back in every now and again.
After the morning stroll and shop, we escaped the incoming throngs by walking the promenade south to Val di Sogno, maybe 2 or 3 kms, I guess.
Peaceful promenade
Quiet, just minutes from the crowds
Malcesine
Malcesine
Lounge / beanbag option at our lunch spot
Really peaceful and beautiful.
We had a brilliant lunch on the way, sitting in the sunshine, at the Lido Sopri. I had one of those delicious thick homemade pastas with zucchini and shrimp and my Aperol Spritz, while she had a salad. So pleasant to relax in such a fabulous location.
Continued on to the little bay of Val di Sogno.
Bay and island at Val di Sogno
Little island
Clear water
And we returned the same way....
Calm water
Elegant swan
Promenade walk
.
Oct 5th, 2019, 08:16 PM
#49
In fact, I think of Adelaidean every time we pass one as I know she loves a nice garden.
Oct 7th, 2019, 08:46 AM
#54
Day 15: Malcesine to Vipiteno / Sterling
Sunday schedules limited, so an early start
8:18 am Bus to Torbole Bivio 484 then bus 332 to Rovereto (only 3 hourly on Sunday). Also, no signage indicating bus to Rovereto at this stop, just has timetable for the 484, so a few mins of concern, were we at the right stop?
Bus was late and traffic continued to be heavy, so arrived Rovereto 30 min late. Still, trains every 30 mins. so no problem if missed in our case.
Made sure we had correct change ready for bus drivers this time.
Have to acknowledge the drivers, very polite and helping with luggage hold under the bus, and gently steering passengers from drifting onto road while retrieving bags. Cyclists also needing to disassemble bikes to fit in luggage storage, all takes time.
Rovereto to Vipiteno €20 each, takes 2 hours.
1 night at Steindl’s Hotel. €143 double room with balcony and breakfast
https://www.hotelsteindl.it/en/home.html
Nicely located at the end of the small historic core, by the bus station. It is near the main road, although noise is minimal (excellent glazing).
Huge room, very modern and high quality, nicely appointed. Feels quite indulgent after our more basic rooms previously. And the bathroom is bliss!
Quiet - with courteous guests adjoining, no street rubbish pick up at 5:30 am
Vipiteno / Sterzing is a really nice town, we enjoyed a soup and apple strudel in the sun, a stroll through the pedestrian area and then on to some suburban streets. Tiroler architecture, colourful facades and flower boxes, porticoes, outdoor dining, well kept homes and gardens and public areas, early autumnal foliage, so pretty.
Colourful begonias and facades
Autumnal colour
Porticoes
Gorgeous facades
Tiny chapel
Historic old town
Lovely homes
The pedestrian zone
Well kept homes
There is a cablecar to Monte Cavallo, and hiking trails.
Dined at the Hotel Lamm and retired early….
But not until after battling the Deutschebahn App though,
…..trying to buy tickets/ reserve seats for the intercity train tomorrow (Brenner to
Munich) as we don’t need to be standing for hours again. Alternative regional train option involves 4 changes and 3 mins in Innsbruck, a bit rushed.
Got message at end of online purchase ‘unexpected error occurred please try again’.
So I did. Got same error message.
Later checked my bank account: 2 deductions by Deutschebahn….I’d bought 2 sets of tickets. Grrr! €110 x 2!
Able to cancel 1 set. But, notice my refund hasn’t come through yet.
Very frustrating process. I would think that ‘error please try again’ implies the purchase didn’t go through, so it’s curious why I was charged.
One can either go through the ‘claim’ system, or just cancel tickets and accept the minor loss (seat reservation is not refundable if you cancel)
More annoyed that it made me so cross.
Oh well, best to finish my day with some lovely pics!
Autumnal plums, a dumpling dessert
Beautiful!
Autumnal foliage, so lovely
Sunday schedules limited, so an early start
8:18 am Bus to Torbole Bivio 484 then bus 332 to Rovereto (only 3 hourly on Sunday). Also, no signage indicating bus to Rovereto at this stop, just has timetable for the 484, so a few mins of concern, were we at the right stop?
Bus was late and traffic continued to be heavy, so arrived Rovereto 30 min late. Still, trains every 30 mins. so no problem if missed in our case.
Made sure we had correct change ready for bus drivers this time.
Have to acknowledge the drivers, very polite and helping with luggage hold under the bus, and gently steering passengers from drifting onto road while retrieving bags. Cyclists also needing to disassemble bikes to fit in luggage storage, all takes time.
Rovereto to Vipiteno €20 each, takes 2 hours.
1 night at Steindl’s Hotel. €143 double room with balcony and breakfast
https://www.hotelsteindl.it/en/home.html
Nicely located at the end of the small historic core, by the bus station. It is near the main road, although noise is minimal (excellent glazing).
Huge room, very modern and high quality, nicely appointed. Feels quite indulgent after our more basic rooms previously. And the bathroom is bliss!
Quiet - with courteous guests adjoining, no street rubbish pick up at 5:30 am
Vipiteno / Sterzing is a really nice town, we enjoyed a soup and apple strudel in the sun, a stroll through the pedestrian area and then on to some suburban streets. Tiroler architecture, colourful facades and flower boxes, porticoes, outdoor dining, well kept homes and gardens and public areas, early autumnal foliage, so pretty.
Colourful begonias and facades
Autumnal colour
Porticoes
Gorgeous facades
Tiny chapel
Historic old town
Lovely homes
The pedestrian zone
Well kept homes
There is a cablecar to Monte Cavallo, and hiking trails.
Dined at the Hotel Lamm and retired early….
But not until after battling the Deutschebahn App though,
…..trying to buy tickets/ reserve seats for the intercity train tomorrow (Brenner to
Munich) as we don’t need to be standing for hours again. Alternative regional train option involves 4 changes and 3 mins in Innsbruck, a bit rushed.
Got message at end of online purchase ‘unexpected error occurred please try again’.
So I did. Got same error message.
Later checked my bank account: 2 deductions by Deutschebahn….I’d bought 2 sets of tickets. Grrr! €110 x 2!
Able to cancel 1 set. But, notice my refund hasn’t come through yet.
Very frustrating process. I would think that ‘error please try again’ implies the purchase didn’t go through, so it’s curious why I was charged.
One can either go through the ‘claim’ system, or just cancel tickets and accept the minor loss (seat reservation is not refundable if you cancel)
More annoyed that it made me so cross.
Oh well, best to finish my day with some lovely pics!
Autumnal plums, a dumpling dessert
Beautiful!
Autumnal foliage, so lovely
Oct 7th, 2019, 08:58 AM
#55
Day 16: Vipiteno to Freising
Basically a travel day.
Vipiteno: Lovely, lovely breakfast. Lovely, comfortable bed. Lovely shower. Lovely town. Lovely dusting of snow on mountaintops today.
I think I could stay here a few days.
So, we are 2 highly strung ladies, one very grumpy (that would be me) - we left way too early and trained to Brenner (€3.50 each) arriving 1.5 hours early for that train ride that gave me grief last night.
The Brenner station doesn’t even have a waiting room with seats, just a space with a vending machine. Cold, unwelcoming station.
Had a wander, but tricky to get any decent shots. Bleak town. Obviously just a border town, but we’ve been spoilt by charm….would have preferred to spend extra time in Vipiteno.
The little church offered a waiting room of sorts!
(Very sad little cemetery with babies graves.)
Snow
Little chapel
Brenner street
However, it did have a cafe with rather excellent apple cake and strudel. It was also warm. And excellent toilet, ha. Win, win.
Boarded our compartment. Had one of those annoying loud talking, taking up lots of my personal space kind of guy opposite me. Once he stops talking, he hums. His knees almost in my face. Oblivious to others.
Yikes, really am cranky today…
Arrived Munich and went to DB info centre, took a ticket, only 130 people ahead of me (cue: hysterical laugh). The chap at reception was able to confirm that I will get my refund and if I email, I should also get the reservation fee refunded.
So, off to Freising for our pre flight night.
A nice town near the airport.
Freising
Freising
Freising
Freising
Bit of a wander and in house dinner of self serve platters and wine (great idea).
Mood restored.
Basically a travel day.
Vipiteno: Lovely, lovely breakfast. Lovely, comfortable bed. Lovely shower. Lovely town. Lovely dusting of snow on mountaintops today.
I think I could stay here a few days.
So, we are 2 highly strung ladies, one very grumpy (that would be me) - we left way too early and trained to Brenner (€3.50 each) arriving 1.5 hours early for that train ride that gave me grief last night.
The Brenner station doesn’t even have a waiting room with seats, just a space with a vending machine. Cold, unwelcoming station.
Had a wander, but tricky to get any decent shots. Bleak town. Obviously just a border town, but we’ve been spoilt by charm….would have preferred to spend extra time in Vipiteno.
The little church offered a waiting room of sorts!
(Very sad little cemetery with babies graves.)
Snow
Little chapel
Brenner street
However, it did have a cafe with rather excellent apple cake and strudel. It was also warm. And excellent toilet, ha. Win, win.
Boarded our compartment. Had one of those annoying loud talking, taking up lots of my personal space kind of guy opposite me. Once he stops talking, he hums. His knees almost in my face. Oblivious to others.
Yikes, really am cranky today…
Arrived Munich and went to DB info centre, took a ticket, only 130 people ahead of me (cue: hysterical laugh). The chap at reception was able to confirm that I will get my refund and if I email, I should also get the reservation fee refunded.
So, off to Freising for our pre flight night.
A nice town near the airport.
Freising
Freising
Freising
Freising
Bit of a wander and in house dinner of self serve platters and wine (great idea).
Mood restored.
Oct 7th, 2019, 08:39 PM
#57
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Adelaidean, thank you so much for your trip report. Just fantastic! And the photos are brilliant. Most of the places you visited were on our wish list for our upcoming holiday and sadly got chopped due to lack of time and a change in plans. You've certainly whetted my appetite to visit the area at another time.
Oct 7th, 2019, 10:51 PM
#58
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Wonderful photos again, Adeleadian! I do think you are allowed to have a few days with nerves on edge...I travel solo, so no-one knows about mine ..
Your and melnq8's posts always get me switching to Google maps to look at each new village and town you discover and post about, and it's so much fun!!
I've stayed in Freising twice to send off my nephew, and I like the town. We've stayed at the 3-star Bayerischerhof, right in town. He likes the Greek restaurant there.
Also, I'm wondering if you considered going to Munich through Verona? There's a direct train from there to Munich, and that's how I did it. I also splurged for a private transfer between the Verona station to/from Malcesine... I am too old and too tired to make all those changes.. lazy me!
Aaachhh, so sad that your trip is done!
s
Your and melnq8's posts always get me switching to Google maps to look at each new village and town you discover and post about, and it's so much fun!!
I've stayed in Freising twice to send off my nephew, and I like the town. We've stayed at the 3-star Bayerischerhof, right in town. He likes the Greek restaurant there.
Also, I'm wondering if you considered going to Munich through Verona? There's a direct train from there to Munich, and that's how I did it. I also splurged for a private transfer between the Verona station to/from Malcesine... I am too old and too tired to make all those changes.. lazy me!
Aaachhh, so sad that your trip is done!
s
Oct 8th, 2019, 04:26 AM
#59
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Travelling well for less. Your Journey begins here - Our Weekly Blog
We've just returned from Brescia visiting Bergamo as well as Lakes Iseo and Garda. Definitely recommend driving a car out there, wasn't too impressed with public transport to the Lakes. The cable car experience will give you the best view of Lake Garda. We've written a blog on our trip if you're looking any further detail as well as links to book etc - hopefully this helps.
https://bingetravelling.com/is-brescia-worth-visting
https://bingetravelling.com/is-brescia-worth-visting
Oct 8th, 2019, 06:46 AM
#60
Swandav, we stayed at the Bayerischer Hof, too, great hotel. Easy 10 min train ride to airport.
I like Munich airport, easy to navigate and access, and very orderly.
A direct train to Verona sounds good, I love Verona. Thanks for that tip.
Am in Doha airport now, had 4 seats to myself, Mum had 3!
Next leg is the long one.
Thanks everyone for chiming in, I like sharing my experiences as I learn so much from others.
I like Munich airport, easy to navigate and access, and very orderly.
A direct train to Verona sounds good, I love Verona. Thanks for that tip.
Am in Doha airport now, had 4 seats to myself, Mum had 3!
Next leg is the long one.
Thanks everyone for chiming in, I like sharing my experiences as I learn so much from others.
