Tag 41 RANCO 15.09.2022

Now the day after our wedding anniversary! Today is all about 'lounging around'. After a very extensive breakfast (fried eggs, boiled eggs, sausages, boiled ham, various juices, ample cake corner, yogurts, ....) we took a leisurely look at the hotel grounds.

Behind the hotel, after a strip about 200 meters wide, is the lake. On the hotel grounds there is also a pool, which is surrounded by many sun loungers and umbrellas. However, they are not arranged in a straight line, but are spread out over the corresponding garden area. In addition to palm trees and fig bushes, there is a tree here that we cannot identify because its blossoms have a strange shape. You can find the picture of it above! This garden then merges into an open area marked as a bar, which also includes tables, loungers and a children's corner. The entire area is also marked towards the lake side (we know this from our water excursions in Germany) and ships have a concrete boat dock. All together, it strongly reminds us of the swimming pools in Venice, or elsewhere! These lounges are open to paying customers and they can feel comfortable here, just like the hotel guests. But with prices of €22 for a lounger and €10 for a parasol per day! That's just Italy and especially in tourist centers! We are in the off-season and have all this almost to ourselves! So in the afternoon, Karin lies on the lounger near the lake and with my help today she doesn't get a bottle of Prosecco like yesterday, today it's half a bottle (yes, there are 0.375 l bottles here) of white wine with mineral water. When I explain to the lady at the reception that we mix the wine with the water, she looks at me in horror and emphasizes that something like this is impossible in Italy. I should take separate glasses for the water! My explanation of apple spritzer only made her shake her head even more!

In any case, we went swimming in the lake, even though getting in is not that easy. At the end, the boat dock has stairs, but the water is not high enough at the moment to simply push off. The underwater stone slabs and stones, on the other hand, are slippery due to deposits! But in the water I found it wonderful and warm. Relaxing in every form! Back in the room and on our terrace, just hanging around and waiting for dinner, that's what we hoped for. If we can stop the gardeners who have been busy for the past two days with various electrical appliances to make the facility look good, everything would be perfect!

So, we confidently arrange dinner, feel good and enjoy the very good cuisine. Still not so reasonably priced, that's how it is everywhere on Lake Maggiore, every tourist pays for the location! We do too, and we end the evening on our terrace, this time with particularly remarkable calmness. We didn't even have such silence in France, and we've been to many different places there! Very beautiful with stars, more than five!