Riva Del Garda

Had a bit of a sleep in this morning before heading down to the waterfront for a look about.  The lake that Riva sits on is so big and with the buildings, wharves and jetties similar to those on the ocean it is easy to think you are by the sea. 

Riva Del Garda waterfront.

Talked to the tour information office and grabbed all the requisite information about Riva Del Garda before hitting up the mountain bike shop for some trail maps.  

Riva Del Garda is a mountain bike haven and people come from all over the world to ride here.  

There are literally hundreds of kilometres of trails and the hardest thing to do is to find out which ones to go to.

Riva Del Garda waterfront.

Found out about one that started in the mountains and finished at home so Nicki and the boys were kind enough to drop me off there in the afternoon.  It was cloudy and wet and I wasn't sure of the actual directions but luckily I met a Czech bloke up there who agreed to let me tag along.  

Garda lake in the background. 1200m below.

Of course "my English is not very good" equated to me talking all afternoon to him in English without him having barely a problem.  What a asset to speak another language. (Him not me.)  30kms all up.  540m of climbing and 1800m of descent.  Absolutely, hands down, best riding I have ever down.  

Home at 8pm and shattered.  

View of mountains I came down from opposite shore.  Riva Del Garda middle right.

Stray observations: 0.5L beer in pub - €4.50.  Pizza in restaurant by the water €7 - €8.  Mains €10 - €14.  Glass of wine at restaurant €2.50.  

Swiss, Germans & Italians don't like microwaves.  There hasn't been a single one in any apartment we've been in since we got to Europe.  Not sure why.  A culture of eating fresh food perhaps?   

Tattoos and body piercings are in very short supply over here.  We would see more in 5 minutes at home in any public space then we have seen here in 4 weeks.

Also, dogs don't bark much either in public or in the yards.