Day 10 & 11: Departing Milan/spending time on Lake Maggiore

We departed Milan on Monday morning and our hotel key from Hotel Nacso deserves special recognition.  This key quite possibly weighed at least 3 lbs and I don't think anyone would want to keep it as a souvenir.

We checked into a very lavish hotel, right on the Lake Maggiore, the room was beyond expectation, complete with a painting over our bed(s).   

It was not a clear day though we had sun on and off, and enjoyed some leisurely time around the Baveno area.  It’s quite spectacular with the mountains in the background and we had wonderful views off our balcony.

We found a friendly sidewalk café to enjoy the view and wait off the gentle rainfall.

In late evening, we headed to our hotel restaurant, which had direct views of Lake Maggiore.  Joe had a rather spectacular risotto in a parmesan shell and I enjoyed some fresh gnocchi.

Tuesday proved to be full of more sunshine and we spent the day at the Turkish baths:  whirlpool, sauna, steam room and salt room.  We were in bad need of an R&R day and this was the perfect solution. 

Later on, we went to a local restaurant that our cabbie had recommended (ironically, this cabbie was also the same person to inform us of the killing of Osama Bin Laden by US Troops).  Dinner was the best we have had in Italy so far.  Stand-outs were the gorgonzola mousse with celery and pears, as well as the handmade pasta and house-made tiramisu.