Visiting Italy's Lake District: Part IVb - Orta San Giulio

After returning by boat from Isola San Giulio,

we were left to explore the placid little town of Orta San Giulio and to have lunch on our own.  When we were there, Orta San Giulio was not overrun by hordes of people like us.  Because school was still in session, we passed a class of young Italian students, accompanied by their teacher, headed for a tour of the Sacro Monte, where we had visited earlier in the morning.

They looked curiously at our group of English-speaking tourists.

Some of us made a brief stop at the Piazza Motta, browsing in a small market being held that day.

The market stalls impeded viewing of the lakefront somewhat,

but we and others - intrepid travellers all - made out just fine.

This building, with a partially decorated facade still remaining, used to be the City Hall.  The new City Hall is now located behind it.

We explored some of the bright little local shops that formed a backdrop around the piazza.  Here was a little memento shop, with locally-made products.

A gelateria (ice cream shop) is always a welcome sight!

In case pasta with a different look is ever needed, here are some colorful ideas.

And there were souvenirs galore for every occasion.

We then walked behind both City Halls to discover a literal treasure trove of al fresco restaurants,

as well as shops with Italian gourmet specialties

and dried Italian mushrooms displayed in unique fashions.

We bypassed the string of al fresco restaurants - the day was very hot - and headed for the cool interior of this restaurant,

where HWMBO and I dined for the first time on the most exquisite cheese that we had ever tasted: burrata.  "Burrata" means "buttered" in Italian.  The outer shell of burrata is like mozzarella, but the inside is pure cream.  I am not alone in my appreciation.  Interestingly enough, on our return to Switzerland, we actually found burrata on sale in our nearby Manor store.  It was very good but not as delicious as that we had tasted in Orta San Giulio.

After our meal, we wandered through Orta's shadowy back streets

and noticed at least one resident who was sunbathing in the beautiful May weather.  That weather is even more appreciated now that June is cold!

HWMBO needed to change his camera battery - both cameras had rigorous workouts that day - as, in fact, they had received each day since our arrival.   He then used the moment to rest his weary legs.

We wandered back to the piazza to rejoin the group and to find that the market had been cleared.  The little Trenino di Orta was waiting there, ready to take on passengers.

But no, because we were on a "walking tour," our group had to leg it back to the bus for our return to Stresa!