THE NORTH OF THE GARDA LAKE

 

 

This is the Lake of Garda it is 52 km long (32 miles) and 17 km large (10 Mi)

 

 

15 km from there my husband Rick was born. It is a beautiful place for tourists which of course he never realized  ! He lived there, had to go to school and played on the canon you see below, on the left on the picture. The orange church had a cloister annexed, which had been transformed into modern apartments. Rick's best friend lived in the yellow house which shared the walls with the church.

In summer when the beautiful Dutch, Swedish and German girls arrived as tourists, he and his friends went "Tourist" hunting. But it was not there that he caught me, it was in Brussels. 

From the first time on, when I went with him to know his family I fell in love with the lake ! It was so beautiful when you arrived. And then of course we spent nearly each year at the Garda Lake where friends put our huge tent up for us, as at that time it was nearly impossible to stay with a toddler in a hotel. It was a real luxurious  camping !  in the evenings we were always invited by the family and my SIL did our laundry.  I had to drink and eat a lot !! And never say that you have enough, then your plate will be filled again.

My American aunt when she came once with us stated at the end of our holidays "here people are killed with love !" As she had to taste the self made wine from all uncles, she had a hangover every day (a little one ...) She never forgot these holidays and my poor uncle had to squeeze himself in these very little cars the Fiat 500 ! When he got out he was white like a blanket.

Linking to

TRAVEL TUESDAY

THROUGH MY LENS 

AWWWW MONDAY

As Rosie after 13 years of being and inside/outside cat, and now lives on the 4th floor, each time I find a feather from a pigeon or a magpie I bring it to her as a little gift. Then she is happy and runs around with the feather and doesn't even realize that the bird is missing ! 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

*********

My son and grandson came this weekend. Son wanted to visit his Dad, I stayed with Toby because we didn't want that he sees his grandfather in such a state.

In the morning we were parasol hunting ! Not easy as there was not much choice left and after 3 stores we finally found one which was suitable for my terrace. One is not enough as I have sunshine the whole day. 

When they arrived I stated that Toby has grown again ! So before we entered the shop, my son took these pictures of us. I have to point out that I measure 1.71 m and Toby is nearly as tall as I although he cheated in one picture when you consider that he is 11 years old and taller then his mother I wonder when he will stop growing. We had a lot of laughter during the photo session. 

Then we bought the parasol. In the third store we found a suitable one it was the last ! 

Then we returned and my son put it up ! I never had problems with my old parasol and it was a lighter one, but this heavy thing flew in the hedge of the neighbors house the next day, when of course I was alone. The two girls from the first floor helped me getting it back, they knew the neighbor in the next building, but we first had to go through the garden of my neighbor on the first floor. And while I was angry because of this dammit parasol,  my son was with Toby and his best friend in a swimming pool. Of course they had told me so, but I had forgotten. My memory is like a sieve ! 

Saturday evening we went to an Italian restaurant, the one which Rick liked so much, because the food was real Italian. We were all tired but before we went to bed we had an ice cream ! Which Toby ate in no time together with whipped cream. 

On Sunday I prepared the terrace for several people and waited for my two men plus Benji, of course they didn't come because they were in the swimming pool. Finally I had my lunch and then the parasol flew away. A little later they showed up armed with two big hamburgers and chips and ate with appetite. Dario returned to Rick again, while I didn't have to go, it becomes more and more hard for me to see him, or rather what was left from him. 

While Dario visited his Dad, he left me the two boys. As they were probably tired from the swimming pool they behaved like two angels. They were busy with a game and I didn't hear a word. After having finished their ice cream they put the plates in the dishwasher and then tried to put this silly parasol back in the box, because I will try to change it ! It's not normal that this thing flow away with a little wind !

Meanwhile my son has come back and gave me the last news of Rick. Now he only speaks Italian, which Dario hardly could understand and had taken off all his clothes ! Good that the doctor and I had decided no visitors anymore. Anyway it only agitates him, and anyway besides me and Dario he doesn't recognize or remembers anybody. The friend who always played cards with him and visited him twice a week, is not allowed to come anymore. Sad for her, I have to say she has disappointed me very much, not once had she proposed to help me or invited me for lunch or tried to cheer me up a bit. The patient is well taken care of, but the spouse who suffers more could have needed a bit of support. Some people are strange. Fortunately I have got support from a lot of people and want to thank you all for that. It really did me good.

I really was happy to see my "little" men again and suppose that in a short time at least Dario will come back for a day. Meanwhile I visit Rick and check that he has everything. 

A friend and my niece called from Italy and asked me how I feel. My friend is the wife of Rick's best friend who died two years ago, so she knew how I felt and my niece had seen it with her father and comforted me too. Good to know that some people take care of me too. 

Meanwhile little Rosie keeps me company !