After a few hours walking around Verona on Sunday morning it was time to escape to the lake again. This time we got off the train in Peschiera, waited an hour for the next bus and drove for maybe 20 minutes to get to Sirmione. Which is located on a little spit of land sticking out into the lake. The only way to get into the old village and right up to the headland in across a small bridge which bring you through the town walls and beside a little castle. There are as usual a lot of little shops scattered around the streets (mainly gelaterias) and just outside the walls they sell some delicious fresh iced lemon. My friend thought it was too bitter – you can probably tell by his face in the photo – so I pretty much finished both of them as we strolled through the small packed streets.

Walking along the coast bring you to small stony beaches where you can sun yourself on giant flat rocks or make your way out through the shallow water across reaaaaally slippy flat rocks to perch like a mermaid on another rock or dive off the edge of them into the water. We wallowed and napped for an hour or two, enjoying the view out across the lake and over the mountains.

Then continued back up and around to the top of the hill to take a snapshot and peek through the gates into the Roman Ruins which were much to expensive to visit considering that large part were closed. So it was back through to the town for some more gelato, an attempt to skip stones, a browse through the lemon scented goods and herbs in the shops and back onto the bus to Desenzano del Garda.

Desenzano is larger and maybe a little more well known since it is easier to get to by train from Verona, but I preferred Sirmione. Desenzano is nice with a small castle, marina, cute town centre, lakeside restaurants and little beaches. We stayed only for an hour before catching a late train back to Verona where we ate a spectacular meal in a great little restaurant.