Every time you turn a corner you catch your breath at the gorgeousness that is presented to you. It is difficult to believe that such a place exists.

I soon learned that I didn't actually need to walk up this alley to reach the hostel, but it was worth doing so anyway for a photograph:



After I moved from the hostel to the hotel, this was the entrance:



Now just how European is this?



The gang in a piazza; I think we might have been discussing going to get ice cream:



and in another place:



Roaming the streets:



Now we were definitely on a mission to get ice cream:



Anybody fancy eating out?



This was the road down from my hotel. The festival venue was just at the bottom of the road:



And looking back up it from the bottom one evening:



Me risking death by standing in the middle of the road:



Actually, given that the Italians are notorious for their lousy driving, in Verbania they are very calm and courteous. Although I did observe that a large number of the cars had scratches and dents. So I guess they are not particularly careful.

A roundabout, next to the gelaterie where we finally fulfilled our desire for ice cream. The road sign actually points to Locarno, which I believe is where Heidi and Call Me Wesley live:



Some streets:



The gang, on our way to the lake to go swimming. I did that four times in a week:



On a street corner:



Only in two countries, France and Italy, can you get away with driving something like this:



Mind you, with the price of petrol going the way it does, maybe future rednecks will drive pickup trucks like that too.

Road signs:



Everywhere you look there are reminders that Italy is the home of the Roman Catholic church: