Lake Garda adventures.

Up at 3 am. What a bloody stupid time to start a holiday but needs must and up with the lark we set off on that wonderful journey known as M2, M20, M23 to Gatwick. It was reasonably quiet (well it would be at that time wouldn't it?). We dropped the car at airport parking (Gatwick purple summer car park..what a name) and got the shuttle to the North terminal. We haven't flown since I got ill in America back in 2018 and  had no idea what to expect post pandemic/diabetic. I shouldn't have worried although anxiety levels were high. With far fewer travellers the staff didn't seem so stressed and there was none of that shouting to grab aa tray, take off your shoes, get into line etc. In fact everyone was very helpful and cheerful. Through and on the plane smoothly.

2 hours later it was equally as easy to find our TUI rep and board our coach but how come no matter where we go or how many coaches there are it's always ours held up for that one missing couple?

We were disappointed to discover that our hotel was so far away from the other hotels under the TUI umbrella that we didn't warrant a real live rep only a digital one (which basically was TUIs way of saying email or ring with any problems). This was even more annoying when the rep on the coach gave us lots of speil on all the hot tourist places to visit, punctuating every one with "Ask your rep for more information". We didn't even have a rep for the last leg of the journey as coach TUI got off at the hotel before ours. A tad worrying as he has been giving all the route directions to the lovely but slightly clueless coach driver. This driver didn't drive into one single hotel drive but dumped each client on the road leaving them to get themselves and their luggage to the hotel door. Of course guess who's hotel had the longest driveway?

Ours may have had the furthest walk to drag our suitcases, but ours was by far the prettiest of all the drop offs, and our accommodation is right on the edge of the Lake. Once settled we found the water view bar for a drink and toasties  where we enjoyed the views and the unexpected sun as it cleared the clouds.

We needed supplies incase of unexpected hypos for the diabetic in this group. The nearest supermarket according to Google maps was a mere 8 mins walk away. Except it was up a very steep incline away from the lakeside. Blood sugars took a huge dive as we struggled up the 1 in 8 and by the time we had purchased orange juice, biscuits and crisps I has to tuck straight in to replace the used energy.  Martin went back in the very small grocery store to buy a second haul but apparently we had bought the lot already. 

Aside from all that, and if you ignore the large burnt out building taking up most of the centre of the village and the long ago abandoned half built estate of holiday villas it looks like a great place to explore and have a pleasant break in. Next time out we will be walking DOWN the hill!