Saturday, May 16 – Lago d’Orta

We awoke ready for a day at the lakes. And it was our first truly sunny day! Perfect pairing! We were scheduled to go to Lago d’Orta, and Lago Maggiore (one of Ruth’s Italy checklist locations) was not far away, so we went to both.

Lago d’Orta is my type of lake (versus Lago Maggiore – a major tourist destination surrounded by 4 and 5 star hotels and full of buses of day-tourists that we briefly visited later). Lago d’Orta is absolutely picturesque with the Isola (island) S(aint) Giulio in the center. There is still a convent on the island and an amazing, ancient church with art and architecture from all eras and styles formed together just right. Our Rotarian hosts knew their history, religion, and mythology of the area. We walked through town, then took a boat out to the island.

View of Orta rooftops and the Isola S Giulio

Boarding the boat to the island. Two of our Rotarian hosts are behind the captain.

Kelli looks over the lake.

We first visited the church, particularly impressed by an ancient carved stone piece. We next walked the way of silence...a circular path around the island with regularly placed signs directing pray and meditation that could be performed while walking the circle. Circling in the other way and reading the signs would give you completely different food for thought.

Standing on the stairs to the church.

Me by a well along the Way of Silence.

Our hosts, Kelli, and Stephanie waiting for the return boat on the dock.

The whole group on the dock.

We then returned to the main land and ate outside under vine-covered trellises. Our walk back up to the bus was a completely different route so we saw more of the town.

On the boat back to the mainland.

Ready for lunch under vines with the island across the water.

Gianni enjoys the sun.

Me with a painter sculpture.

Roses climbing a wall.

Most of the group was tired, so we decided upon an hour at Lago Maggiore. We went at our own paces, sort of leap-frogging down the shoreline path as we stopped at different places to rest, watch, snap photos, and of course eat gelato!

Boats in Lago Maggiore.

One of Lago Maggiore's islands, framed by palms.

Kelli and Jim try out the lake.

Back at the hotel we said “a lunedì” to Gianni (meaning “till Monday”) as Sunday was our first free day. During our Friday evening walks back to the hotel from the Mole we had noticed a huge concert set-up and rehearsal, with a sign saying there was an Amici concert at 8pm on Saturday. We split up, most of us planning on heading to the concert. I know Kelli and Jim watch the whole thing. I went to the square to check it out a little before 8:00 and decided on a leisurely dinner at a restaurant with umbrella-ed outdoor seating. It was a lovely meal and I caught up on journaling about the past couple of days while waiting for the concert to start. It ran on “Italian” time and really started at 9:30pm. In the mean time there were sporadic mic checks and the screams of pre-teen fans of the Amici. It turns out “Amici” is a song and dance competition TV show, a relative of American Idol. I could not see the stage from my restaurant, so I missed out on the dancing, but did get to hear some of the singers and the critiques given to them (one judge spoke English that was then translated for the Italians!). Kelli and Jim reported the next day that it was a sort of show-down between the best-of a few seasons worth of the Amici show. It didn’t end until well past midnight. I had long since gone “home”, but they found some great young performers – Jim later bought a CD of one of the female singers – thoroughly enjoyable pop music! What fun!

Some of the Amici.

The legions of fans packing the square.

Back at the hotel, I watched the end of a different, singing-only American Idol relative, with much younger kids involved. Then a classical ‘Concert for Europe.’ Wonderful music! Lovely day and great evening!