23 October 2013

summer in Italy: Lake Orta

Our last stop was a hotel right on the shores of Lake Orta.
Hotel Giardinetto. You can see it, left, behind the boys.





 Lovely pool but we (and the other guests) spent most of our time swimming in the lake.
look carefully, it looks like Travis kicked Dylan into the water!
 
 
Can you spot Dylan and Marko? 
 
 the jetty 
 
 

 
 
The lake was the perfect size to zoot around in a little motor boat!
 
 




And that was the end of the summer holiday. These photos do make it seem as if it was endlessly long. Dylan is already looking forward to Winter. Me, I would never say no to a few more months of Summer!

16 October 2013

summer in Italy: the Ferrari museum

On the way to our last stop off at Lake Orta, we stayed a night in Maranello so we could visit the Ferrari museum. How happy can 3 boys be? Our hotel seemed to be more of a luxury dormitory type place for the employees at the Ferrari factory. No complaints on our side though... the fun started at check-in.
Reception  

 
 
 
then off to our room in the Daytona wing 
 
 
Once we were all settled we raced off to check out the museum.
models of each F1 Ferrari for every Grand Prix year 
the Victory hall, all the F1 cars from the World Championships that Ferrari has won since 1999 
 admiring 'La Ferrari'

 the champs!
 

15 October 2013

summer in Italy: Day trips to Florence and Siena

Being so close to Florence, we couldn't miss the chance to visit it. Like Venice though, I found it far too crowded and it was extremely hot. I think the next time we go, we will stay there and explore the city in the hours when there are no day tourists!

I was a little disappointed by the Ponte Vecchio, different looking bridge but I was expecting something more grand.



On the other hand, I was unbelievably blown away by the Duomo! Wow! Unfortunately my little point and shoot can't do these old cities and huge buildings justice...
 
 
 
Another day was spent in Siena. What a gorgeous city. It's no surprise that the historic centre has been declared a world heritage site.

 Another impressive Duomo
 Oh look, it's the de Munnik family in Siena...not looking at all hot and sweaty!

View from up high.
I enjoyed seeing all the people eating their lunch in the shade of the clock tower on the Piazza del Campo ( town square). This is also where they hold the Palio horse race.

They were setting up while we were there and you can see the giant yellow cushions they put in all the corners so that the horses don't hurt themselves (much?) if they slide.