Next stop Lago Maggiore. After leaving Scaparone and Alba we drive to Verbania, Michael has an apartment there so we will stay there for the next few days. We arrive in the town late in the day, the lake is covered in mist and fog, stunning mountains with snow soar above the lake and it’s pretty islands. We want to explore but it is already too late in the day so we head into the mountains for another spectacular dinner. 
We save the adventures for the following day, Michael and Carrie will visit a friend in Switzerland, about a 2 hours drive away. While we will visit the botanical garden and the town of Taranto.
We start the day early and walk to the Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens, they are set just off the shore of the lake and have amazing views, winding trails, beautiful flowers and trees…
The gardeners get around on scooters.
Our picnic, some treats from a local shop Michael pointed out to us.
Looks like we were a few days early for the tulip labyrinth. After a few hours wandering around the garden we walk along the lake to the next town.
We go into a church and the organ is being played, we stay and listen for a while. It starts raining so we go into the Museo de Paesaggio and admire sculptures, paintings and artifacts from the area.
When we come out of the museum the sun is shining again, throwing beautiful beams of light onto the lake…
We continued along the lake back to meet with Michael and Carrie. Passing abandoned homes and beautiful homes along the way.
Seeing the ferries out on the lake we are excited for the next day when we will visit the islands!
sierrajohnrambleon 