Italy 2006 - Lago Maggiore (August 25 - 30)

Hi, we're back from our vacation. We took lots of photos, so we'll break up our trip into a couple of posts. These pictures are from Lago Maggiore in northern Italy. The lake was beautiful and peaceful, with stunning mountains all around.


There are three islands on Lago Maggiore and only one has a hotel. (The others are privately owned and can be visited only during the day.) We stayed on the tiny Isola dei Pescatore (Island of the Fishermen). It was a perfect place for Sophie because there were no cars and cats everywhere!


We were really excited that our room had a little terrace, and here is the view.


Each day we ferried to the other islands or to towns along the shore.


This is Isola Bella, famous for its Baroque villa and ornate gardens.


Jason and Sophie enjoyed this garden on Isola Madre.


We visited the Villa Pallavicino, sprawled on a hillside overlaking the lake and now open to the public. There are gorgeous gardens, animal exhibits, and a petting zoo and playground. It was very charming and we spent the whole day there.


And Sophie worked up the courage to pet a goat.


Another day we rode a cable car up the mountain so that we could take in the views of surrounding lakes and the nearby Alps. Here's Jason at the top making like Chevy Chase in "European Vacation."


That's Lake Orta behind Jay and Sophie.


Amy and Sophie enjoyed a stroll on the mountainside.


We stumbled upon a classic car show in the lakeside town of Baveno, and Jason and Sophie posed with the quintessential Italian car, the tiny Fiat 500.


Who, me? What? I'm not eating gelato.


Finally, we were relieved to discover that Italian supermarkets carry jars of horsemeat for babies. It's Sophie's favorite - NOT!!