Sunday morning, we slept in and were generally lazy. We had dinner plans with some coworkers that evening, but what to do in the meantime? Not far from here (Vicenza), is Lake Garda. The biggest lake in Italy. You can read all about it here. As usual, we took the mountain roads there, but it is only about 45 minutes away by highway. So this is mostly pictures of the drive there, then the drive around (one side of) the lake. Paul has been before, and you can easily spend hours driving around the entire lake. Not only because of its size, but because of its popularity. Anyone that has driven down the PCH in California, will know what I’m talking about. Miles of cars, going really slowly, either to gawk or to look for a parking spot. Surfers and swimmers changing and loading up on the side of the road. A million scooters squeezed in anywhere they can park, legal or not. Basically a never-ending row of tourist shops, rental places, and pizza restaurants. On a giant scale. Very much reminded me of Highway 1 in California, which Paul and I have driven many times.

The rock walls, complete with built-in steps to who knows where, easily date back to WWI times. All hand hewn, hand laid.

But anyway, the drive up was very switchback-y, and filled with tiny towns where you *literally* step out your front door and onto the road. 😮

Pretty sure I found Jabba’s Palace, transported from Tattooine! 🤔🤔

I’ve decided the ever-present dashboard sticker reflection is my new photographic watermark. 📸

And finally, the lake. ⛵

We managed to find a parking spot. Notice there are no guard rails or anything. Unlike Americans (I’m looking at you, idiots that drown at Yosemite), Italians seem to know not to act stupid and fall into an obviously open waterway. They don’t see the need to block out natural beauty with a million signs and an electric fence. #Darwinism

We had to get back for dinner, so after a quick walk around (a small area), we headed down the side of the lake. The traffic would soon come, though. 🚗🚙🛵

Once we got away from the end of the lake, the water wasn’t quite so choppy (it was a pretty windy day for here) and all of the kite boarders were out in the middle. 🏄‍♂️

There isn’t a sandy beach in site. Everything is basically aquarium gravel! Tiny rocks, and tiny slivers of land, no real deep beachy areas. But that didn’t stop people from shoe-horning into every available space.

And of course, what’s a drive through Italy without a Castle on every hill??