It was wonderful to once more enjoy the Grand Canal on the way to the station. The weather was not quite as nice as yesterday, but it was all still beautiful.
It was lovely to view the rows of gondolas from the water. They look so impressive lined up.
As I mentioned earlier, the Rialto Bridge is being restored. On the other side it still looks fantastic, but I can't say I liked the idea of a massive advert on the other.
We had only seen the Canal at the weekend, so it was really interesting to see it being used during weekdays - postal services, building materials, furniture deliveries, everything has to be moved on water. Unbelievably complex I imagine.
As we neared the Rialto we swerved to one side to let an emergency vehicle through. It was incredible watching it weaving between the armada of boats and gondolas , at very high speed.
And now here we are in Iseo, a pretty little town on a lake surrounded by hills and mountains, with the largest island in a lake in Europe! We are staying at B and B la Veranda, a cute wee place with, surprisingly, a veranda!
Our rooms go out onto this and our wonderful host immediately opened a bottle of local sweetish bubbly for us to sample along with a massive piece of panettone. A fabulously watm welcome and more chance to speak Italian.
It was gorgeous on the veranda with such beautiful autumnal colours all around
The lake must be amazing when weather is fine, but was still lovely with the low cloud.
Flaminio, the owner of the B and B insisted on driving me to the hills to wine taste, a local Brut Franciacorte. . It was absolutely delicious. To my mind equally as good as any champagne I have ever had. The visit to the cellars was interesting too and the museum with bottles from different years, was fantastically lit with bottle lamps.
What a pity about the weather. The vines would have looked even more colourful and there would be a view of the lake and mountains!
Never mind. We had an amazing evening eating some absolutely delicious local food and drinking local wine tonight at a typical osteria full of incredibly noisy and fun people. It was fantastic watching a table of 9. Unlike us, they don't just talk to the immediate neighbours, but hold great conversations with those at the far end of the table, hence, deafening but so animated!
It was so wonderful to hear such loud laughter and to watch their expressions of joy. Our landlord was there helping out in the osteria and completely spoilt us with a welcome prosecco and antipasti , and at the end a delicious chocolate liqueur.
We finished the evening sitting on the veranda with him, chatting about the special event here in Iseo, the Floating islands. It was brilliant to get a local's view of it.
Here the artist's view 👍
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