50,000 Miles

Moblogging

Swimming in Lake Garda is great fun!! For more cool ideas see below.

posted by MrB @ 3:45 PM

Well here are my top tips for Lake Garda, a little later than promised due to work commitments.

We happened upon Lake Garda by chance looking for somewhere to go after the European Cup Final in Milan in 2001 and loved it. The holiday spot of choice for German’s who just drive over the Alps and local Italians, the Lake itself is the main attraction and cruising around it, swimming in it or sitting by it with an ice cream or a glass of wine all great options.

There is a huge range of accommodation but as with the rest of Italy the best way to see the country is to camp. There are a number of campsites around the Lago some with private pontoons or beaches to laze around on.

Getting there from the UK isn’t expensive if you fly with one of the budget carriers such as Ryanair. Verona Brescia is the closest airport to the Lake and latest prices can be found here. From there, there are a number of options, the easiest being a taxi (if you can get one) or take a bus into Brescia itself and get the train back – times available from www.trenitalia.it

You can also cheaply fly to Milano (Bergamo) with Ryanair and get a direct bus to Desenzano, or fly into Verona proper or Venice but these are a little more expensive.

My 5 to tips for things to do when you get there are;

1. Get in the Lake! – Yes, it’s usually a bit cool, but after lying in the warm sun nothing beats it. The sense of massiveness is inspiring and it’s much nicer than swimming in the sea, although you do get a bit of chop now and again.

2. Navigazione di Lago! – Cruise the lake, jump on and off and enjoy the little towns all a little different. Take your time and try a glass of the local vino. For the best wine and not just the rubbish they give Americans find a little ‘hole in the wall’ like the one in Sirmione. A glass of cold prosecco, with some cheese shavings (sounds weird I know, but trust me on this one) makes the perfect aperitif.

3. Watch the sunset! – The foothills of the Alps make a perfect backdrop and coupled with the soft sound of the Lago and the soft pink sky it is very romantic. As with most things in Italy best enjoyed with an ice cream, black cherry ripple, amaretto and good, old vanilla are my choice from the tens of flavours available.

4. Get a chicken! – Hot rotisserie chicken from the local supermercato with some fresh bread and if your feeling extravagant a bottle of the local fizz makes for the perfect lunchtime picnic by the lake.

5. Think Italian – Look around you and see what the locals are doing. Take away pizzeria are not the rubbish you get here so sit outside on the plastic chairs, order a pomodorro e mozzarella, or the special, which will be whatever’s fresh, with a cold peroni and enjoy. Or in the morning buy the pink Gazzetta della Sport order a café (espresso here) and watch the world go by.

posted by MrB @ 10:07 AM

Hello from London!

Hotel by the Thames, steak and chips for tea, it almost makes up for being away from home.

posted by MrB @ 8:23 PM

Lake Garda at Sunset 

Look out for more details tommorrow of how to get to Lake Garda, current deals on Ryanair, train times and what to see, do eat and drink when you get there

posted by MrB @ 5:51 PM

Welcome to the 50,000 miles blog relaunch!

Over the coming weeks this willl hopefully build into my first attempt at travel journalism!

I'm going to begin posting deals I see to places I love to go, such as Italy, along reviews of the growing number of hotels I stay at in London with work, and bit by bit I'm going to do little city guides with my 5 top tips.

So check back on regular basis, click a few links and enjoy!

posted by MrB @ 11:53 AM