Claudio shows us on the map where we will go hiking, and the area’s wine country

We considered ourselves fortunate to have found the Romy Rocker B & B.  The next morning Claudio took us, and the two other Russian guests, on a personal tour of the nearby mountains.  He has walked these hills and trails all his life with family and his own children.  He said there were no tourists in that area, and he was right.  It was all local people out for a Saturday hike.

Local wine country map

We also stopped to pick up some locally made cheese for the B & B.  These are lucky cows to live in the mountains in the clean air and eating the fresh grass.

Cheese shop, up in the hills

Local cheeses

Local wine

Local cow

Claudio talked of the history of the area as we climbed higher.  We should have been able to see Lake Garda from up in the hills, but it was too hazy on that day.   We did see lots of walkers with dogs, and a marmot.  One man coming down the trail said he had seen some mountain goats up higher.

Map of the park and the area

Claudio and Augie early in the hke

A little higher up the mountain

Near the top of where we hiked, but not by any means near the top of the mountains

After the hike, we stopped to have lunch at a small farm.  We had “poor man’s meal”, a wonderful pasta with onions.  The pasta was really good, paired with home made beer and local wine.  Back at the house, Claudio gave us a demonstration of the difference in sound between his two bass instruments, and even played a few tunes on the piano.  One is 250 years old.  It was an unexpected and appreciated treat.

Claudio plays the double bass

The Music Room at the Romy Rocker B & B

We would have liked to stay longer, using the Romy Rocker B & B as a base and explore more of the wine country, but we had a train to catch for Milan, and three nights hotel already paid.  Claudio generously gave us a lift back to the train station and we were on our way back to Milan.

Back on the train. Our last big train ride between cities. Only local Milan trains from now on