Category: Iceland etc 2015

We woke to perfect weather and our plan was to head to the see the Matterhorn. It was a 3.5hr drive each way, but it looked amazing in photos and I hoped it lived up to the awesomeness of the ride at the Royal Show of the same name I enjoyed 25 years ago. God I’m old.

The drive there was, umm, interesting to say the least! So many close calls due to the extreme nature of the roads which looked one way at best as we criss-crossed our way through a huge valley and climbed and climbed. Amazing terrain, amazing roads.

After a long time on the road, we reached a town just short of Zermatt, a ski-town at the base of the Matterhorn. Zermatt is car/motorbike free so you have to leave your car and then get a train/van up. Once we reached Zermatt, we met up with Wade & Rhi who have been on the road all year and being good friends of Biddy & John, they’d driven from Spain over the past 2 days to meet up.

Was great to hear their travel stories over lunch and after, we made our way up to Gornergrat, an observation deck 3100m above sea level. Since Zermatt is 1400m, the climb up is steep to say the least so it’s a cog-train much like a roller-coaster. The trip takes about 20 minutes and goes from green, to snow covered trees, to just snow.

The top had a huge observation area of the surrounding area including the super impressive Matterhorn, one of the highest peaks in all of Europe and borders Italy & Switzerland. It’s considered the Mountain of Mountains in the Alps so it was pretty cool to be able to see it up (relatively) close.

The drive back was even more challenging given it was pitch black, but we got home safe & sound and we now had 2 more card players join us in Rhi & Wade. A top night of drinking and cards were had all round!

   

    
    
  

  
    
  

  

 

After amazing weather the last day or two, today’s was a bit average. Still reasonably warm, but pretty dreary and rainy. Still – heaps on offer to do so we went for a bit of an explore back over the border in Italy. But, not until after a game of golf at a rather prestigous course in Ascona, Switzerland.

It’s rather handy traveling with a golf pro as he can get us onto almost any course. They did ask what course I was a member of, implying I can’t play if I don’t have a club, so “Yes, I’m Mr Rosie, I’m a member at Blackwood and play off 13.” Boom, on the course we go!

Just an awesome course, fairways were perfect and it bordered Lake Maggiore where we had gone on the boat yesterday. It drizzled non-stop, but given we saw 2 people the entire time we were on the course, it was totally worth it. After a few holes, John showed why he toured and 1-putted from bloody everywhere whereas I had a bit of luck at times and had a couple of pars and a birdie somehow.

After a quick shower back at the apartment, the four of us set off for a very old town just on the Italian side of the border called Cannobio. We walked through, had sensational pizza for lunch and bought up some supplies for pre-dinner snacks. Imagine an old windy lane tiny town where cars can’t fit, right on the lake.

For dinner we grabbed some supplies and had some yummy steak back at the apartment, broke out the cards and had a sensational time of eating, drinking and cursing at the card game (and each other).

  

  
  
  

Our first full day in Brissago and it was a cracker!

The weather was fantastic, a rather warm 18 degrees or so (a huge increase over what we had been used to recently) and so we headed into Locano, a larger town 15 minutes down the road, also on Lake Maggiore. Very cute town, a good mix of tourist-friendly and a proper working town – heaps of restaurants and shops and so-on.

We decided to hire a boat to go out on the lake. We got what looked like a small ski boat, but with a tiny, tiny engine. But, it fit the 4 of us nicely and we took our picnic supplies we’d purchased earlier and out we went for a couple of hours!

Incredible couple of hours just being on the lake, taking in the surroundings, having some sandwiches and beer/wine… perhaps too much enjoyment that Glen didn’t quite listen closely enough to the instructions given and may or may not have missed the signs of a sandbar and, well, we got beached. I got us into the mess, so I figured I should get us out – so I jumped in the rather chilly but very clear water and pushed us off. Was rather amusing it must be said!

The photos don’t do it justice (I’ve said that a lot this trip) but it was a great experience and a hell of a lot of fun!

That night, we had reservations for a pretty special restaurant up in the hills of Brissago. It came with high recommendations, and a very high altitude. 5km of hairpin turns up the mountain, we were greeted with a spectacular view of the lake and mountains around. We also learnt it’s a Michelin Starred restaurant, so that was a first for all of us!

We had a bottle of prosecco (similar to champagne but Italian) outside first to take advantage of the view, then moved into begin our taste extravaganza. We all had an entree risotto (possibly the best pasta meal I’ve ever eaten) and then we each ordered a main and had a bit of each other’s. We had: local deer stew, a chilli & pesto pasta, beef fillet and pumpkin ravioli. Each were unbelievable. We topped it off with 4 desserts and basked in the best food coma we’ve experienced.

So that was a pretty special day and one that won’t be forgotten any time soon!