After a disappointing dinner yesterday, it was nice to enjoy an excellent meal this evening at Ristorante Giuly in Brenzone sul Garda (just South of Malcesine). The restaurant’s menu is fish focused, and their wine list is impressive. We enjoyed a Tenuta Roveglia Lugana Riserva (Lugana is the local white wine) with our whole roasted turbot, which the server filleted table-side. It was all delicious. #travel #food #wine
After our little hike on Monte Baldo, we stopped at a mountaintop restaurant and enjoyed a tagliere (meat and cheese board) for lunch. I took advantage of them catering to the large number of German tourists that visit the area by ordering a liter of beer. Heather took advantage of the same by ordering the Apfelstrudel. (I got the tiramisu.) #travel #food
The views from the top of Monte Baldo are stunning. We walked the ridgeline out-and-back for about a mile round trip taking in the views and watching the paragliders. #travel
This morning we took a series of cable cars from Malcesine (elevation 230 feet) to the top of Monte Baldo (elevation 5800 feet). The second cable car rotates 360° so that everyone can enjoy the view no matter which way you face. #travel
Malcesine is beautiful once you get out of the touristy city center. We’re staying in Hotel Val di Sogno. It’s a little bit of a hike from the docks to the hotel 1.5 miles) but we were able to take a lakeside walking path the whole way, and took in the views. Our room has a small balcony overlooking a bay that’s filled with moored boats. #travel
This morning Heather and I left the group, striking out on our own. We drove to Milan and caught the train to Desenzano on the South shore of Lake Garda. After a quick pizza lunch, we boarded a boat for the two hour ferry ride to Malcesine on the Northeast shore of the lake. I’m onboard the ferry right now, but once we arrive in Malcesine, we’ll be using it as our base for next few days. #travel #food
We finished the night with dinner at Osteria Della Aie in Castagnito. Osteria Della Aie was fun because they go out of their way to be a “locals” restaurant. I don’t even think they have a website. Their menu changes often, is delivered orally, and every ingredient and wine in the restaurant comes from Langhe. Every meal includes wine, and every bottle in the house is a magnum (1.5 L). Bottles are left on your table to pour as you wish. And the food was amazing. #travel #food #wine
Next, we took a tour of Langhe with stops in Serralunga and Barolo. The landscapes are amazing. In Barolo, Heather and I each bought a glass of wine at the Borgogno tasting room, and enjoyed our drinks from their rooftop terrace. #travel #wine
