September 26 – Stresa Italy

September 26, 2016 – Stresa, Italy
I have been told that auto correct has made me look like I’m making up words. Sorry. I am usually tired when I do these entries. I’ll correct when I am home and rested. George Clooney’s unused was really his villa. Pork mildness was pork milanesa. Let me know if anything else doesn’t make sense.
We had our orientation meeting where they tell you to be on time and respect others. Simona also went over the optional tours. I signed up for all four of them. You’ll hear about them as we do them.
We had an orientation walk through the town of Stresa ending at a restaurant where we were told about the local cheeses, salamis, and wine. This was followed by a tasting of each. We got the rest of the day off. Carol and I decided to split a Panino (sandwich) and sat out on a 2nd floor balcony watching people in the town below.
After lunch 21 of the group decided to join Simona on a trip to the top of mountain just a little north of town. It is called Mottarone and for 19 Euro you take 2 gondolas and a chair lift to reach the top. I have a fear of heights but I decided to try anyway. Going up was easy because I looked forward. At the top is took many pictures looking back down at Lake Maggiore as well as Lake Orta to the west where we will go in 2 days. Next to the chair lift was a track for small 2 person carts. Many in our group did the ride in the carts.
Finally it was time to go down. I am proud to say it wasn’t that scary. Carol and I got off after the first gondola to visit a botanical garden. By the time we returned to take the final gondola of the trip, we were the only 2 on it. It was a wonderful time.
We had our Welcome Dinner tonight. We had a delightful time at our table. The conversations spanned everything from Monty Python to religion.
Tomorrow we go to three of the Borromeau Islands.