Well even though that was a whirlwind trip, crikey did we pack a lot in in just a few days. The weather was forecast as very iffy - which would have been pretty miserable to trudge around in - but as luck would have it it only rained on the way there and then on the way back when we got to the Mont Blanc tunnel. So perfect in every way!
I got up at 4 am to be sure to be ready for "kick off" at 6 am, but in reality I think 5 am would have been fine too. Still, I'd rather be early than run the risk of something throwing a spanner in the works. As I was getting ready to put my luggage in the car I realized that I'd left my front door open all night!!!! It was shut, but I must have forgotten to lock it, but then I reckon if anyone had tried to get in they would have set my alarms off anyway. Still, I'll have to be a bit more serious about this security business in future!
It poured all the way for the first few hours, but as I'd seen this scenery so many times before I wasn't too bothered about what I was missing so just plugged my earplugs in and listened to my book. We stopped for a picnic snack (provided by GAL - the tour operator) after about two hours so that the driver could take a break. Their picnics are always really good - ham, salami, different cheeses, bread, cake, coffee and the ubiquitous couple of bottles of red wine! Yep, that shocked me the first time I saw it because it was only 9 am but then I guess if you've been up since 5 am your stomach probably feels it's lunchtime anyway. To be honest, only one or two men ever partake anyway, but even so, it still surprises me. As the driver was setting up, someone on the bus started honking the horn which was when he realized that he'd been in such a hurry to get the picnic stuff out of the rain that he'd locked about six people on the bus!! Still, no harm, no foul as there was plenty for everyone!
While we were standing chatting a woman walked over to me and said "you're Treaders aren't you", and I realized it was my neighbour's sister, the one I'd previously met on our trip up to the Col de la Forclaz. My kids and her nephew had been friends until K was killed in a horrific car crash 16 years ago that involved four kids from our village. I don't see so much of K's mom, Isa, anymore as she and her partner are often up in the mountains but we've remained friends nevertheless. So I asked Thérèse if she had any news of Isa's ex-husband. The last time I'd seen him he was very "confused" and quite obviously didn't recognize me, even though our kids had been good friends and we'd been neighbours for 25 years. Turns out he's been in a nursing home for the past several years with what I'm guessing is early onset dementia. He would be about 66 now and was definitely unwell when I saw him about five years ago, but it still came as a real shock to know that he is now institutionalized. His family are a nasty piece of work (as was he, truth be told) and while Isa (his ex-wife) would gladly go visit him, they're keeping her away from him and won't allow any visits. Even now, 14 years after the divorce, they treat her terribly if they bump into her so I guess in the end she's better off staying away from her ex if she's going to face their nastiness. In all honesty, now that they are no longer married and his only son is dead, they're just waiting for him to die so that the brother can inherit. He has openly said as much actually, but what a sad way to live out your remaining time on this earth!
After our picnic we drove maybe another three hours for a lunch break. In Italy it tickles me because pasta is always served as a separate dish and before the main course. I suppose in the end it all evens out in that you get some form of pasta, followed by a meat and veg dish, but over there pasta is king and is rightly given the respect it deserves!!! One of the local specialities is "nettle" pasta and it's surprisingly good, although I'm not sure I would ever have tried it if it hadn't been on the set menu. Kudos to our driver though because to get out of that parking lot he had to manoeuver a 50-seater bus between a hedge and a brick wall with literally only an inch to spare on either side!
Our first stop was Bergamo, where we were met by our lady guide who was to show us round Upper Bergamo. We had to take a funicular to get up there and while we were waiting the heavens opened, but for only about 10 minutes, and that was the end of the bad weather for the duration of our stay!
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| A google image of the funicular - you can't get a picture from the lower level! |
Our guide was a wealth of knowledge but, like most people, I suppose, I can only take so much in. I know the library dates back to the 16th century and that Julius Caesar had also been there, but beyond that I couldn't tell you an awful lot more because of brain overwhelm.
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| The Basilica |
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| An ancient form of "sundial". The markings and where the sunlight fell allowed them to calculate the date and hour at any given time of year! |
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| Inside the Basilica |
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| Julius Caesar |
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| The bridge is 2,000 years old - and the river is apparently great for trout fishing! |
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| Bergamo! |
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