After last night's storm the weather is again sunny and warm. We have decided that today we will take the cable car that we can see in the distance from our camper. We did do some reading up about the cable car and it was described as a two man 'bucket' up an 1100mts mountain. Now this is really pushing the boundaries. At the best of times I can't get close to the fence at lookouts so this will be a real challenge.
Dee and Pat don't want to go in the cable car due to height and have decided to go to Stresa shopping. It is market day today. I would have liked to go to the markets but I may never return to Italy and have decided to go on the cable car. Although John has a fear of heights, he has decided to keep me company. Paul and Trevor have been to the lake before and had decided previously that they would make the trip to the top of Monte Sasso Del Ferro next time they came. So today is the day and they are very excited.
We dropped Dee and Pat off in Stresa and we made the 30 min car trip to Verbania. We had to catch a car ferry to Lavena-Mombello which took about 30 mins. We were able to admire the lake from a very different perspective. The drive to the cable car took about 5 mins but finding a car park was difficult as the roads were very narrow and the car par for cable car was very small. It could only park about 6 cars. Paul parked the car after about a 10 point turn. There was just enough room for the other cars to get out.
We watched the transport we were going to take and sure enough there was only just enough room for two people to stand in the carriage. Sure was a bucket. The handle part attached to the cable.The carriages had no roof and some had mesh floors. Every second carriage looked like a coffin because it was completely closed in. There was no way we would get in the enclosed ones as if you didn't feel well you got no fresh air.
So the open bucket it was. The bucket slows but doesn't stop. Paul and Trevor got on the first open bucket. Then John got on the next one and nearly fell and I followed him into the bucket and we were on our way. No turning back now. The climb was very steep till half way. Both John and I were anxious initially but started to relax a little as we went. John faced the view the whole time but I needed to look down at the ground in front of me. We were not far from the ground, about 30mts. When you looked up you realised how far you had to go. Trevor and Paul were constantly taking photos.
Half way up the ground levelled and there we some hikers stopped for a drink. But then the bucket again made a steep ascent. The view was magnificent of Lake Maggiore, the towns that are on its shores and the Alps in the distance. There was still snow on them. The ride took about 15 minutes to get to the summit. It was good to touch solid ground however I was worried about the trip back down.
Today for the first time I encountered one of the old toilets that were throughout Europe. It is a hole in the ground with foot prints where you put your feet and handles on the wall and you have to squat to go to the loo. Your aim has to be good. Hope I don't have to do that again.
We then admired the view in front of us. We could see about 300°. The last 60° was more mountains. Trevor and Paul took lots of photos. It was more than any of us had expected. The day was so clear and you could see so much. You could even hear the dogs barking at the base of the mountain.
We enjoyed a drink and then lunch admiring the scene. We stayed for about 2 hours just taking in the scenery. There were a lot of people there but we had noticed that not many were on the buckets. We found out there was a road up the mountain as well. I think taking the bucket was the way to go though. The restaurant, which seats about 100 people, was set up ready for World Cup to be watched and it would have been difficult getting everyone up in the buckets.
When it was time to leave Trevor decided to stay in the restaurant to take a photo of us going down and Paul went ahead of us. Trevor was going to take more photos on the way down but ended up about 10 buckets back because by the time he got to the bucket the hikers we had seen half way up were lined up. So he couldn't see us. The trip down was much better and I was able to appreciate the scenery all the way down. It was well worth going.
We made the return trip to Stresa to pick up Dee and Pat. They had a great day at the markets and managed to do some shopping for Trevor and Dee's great granddaughter. They were very relieved not to have gone with us today.
Again we had a thunder storm this evening but it didn't last long. We were kept awake till after one as the Netherlands played Spain in the World Cup and there was lots of cheering from the large number of Dutch campers on site. They won 5-1. There was a lot of partying. England plays Italy tomorrow night so I suppose there will be a lot of cheering again tomorrow. Trevor and Paul don't expect England to win so we should be safe from the Italians.
The blog is long but I hope you enjoy the read xxx