Where are we going? To GARDAAAAAA!!!!

Yesterday we got up at stupid AM after the 70's party at Frida. We piled into a very small caravan and head out to GARDAAAAA!!! Apparently, after all this time Andrea suddenly thinks to mention that his parents have an apartment on the beautiful and also famous lake in Northern Italy, and that he has a set of keys. Epi, Denise, Carolina, Ricardo, Fabri and I were off.

We stopped for lunch upon hitting the lake then went for a stroll in Sirmione. It's a penninsula that juts out into the lake (well, an island really, connected to the mainland by a castle) and boasts the home of Maria Callas and giant hotels hidden by trees as well as thermal baths, pebble beaches and an impressive and frightening Gelato (ice-cream) district. I had Mela and Lampone.

After Sirmione we drove past Gardaland (Italy's #1 theme park), Movieland (Italy's #18 theme park) and finally arrived at Andrea's apartment on the water. It was overcast, but we still headed down to the pebble beach and all got our legs in the water. It was 17degrees, but I reckon I could have had a swim if I had thought to change into my bathing suit. We practiced skipping stones and had fun throwing pebbles at Ricardo while he slept on the dock. It was about 15 minutes before he woke up. In all this time Michele was "trying" to get to come meet us and we finally realised he was actually on the west side of the lake as opposed to the east side where we were enjoying the sunset and the horrible neighbor's' leaf burning. We decided it was best to meet him in Cola'.

At Cola' we debated for a long time whether or not to spend the 18euros to enter the Thermal park. In the end, Fabri and I grabbed a pizza with the others then our bathing suits and decided to try it out. It was amazing. They've built a false lake over the thermal spring with pebble bottom, grotto,waterfalls and massage point. Really, it was the most fantastic 'pool' I've ever been to. Did I mention that it's around 34degrees? Oh, and that within the lake there are 2 hottubs, one at 37degress and the other at 39?? It was WONDERFUL. I'm so going back there. Check it out here: www.parcotermaledelgarda.it If I can managae to organise it maybe I'll force everyone to go back there for my birthday in July.