Hotel Art 14 - Stresa

There is nothing whatsoever on the wall in our room - unless you count the fire directions - but the rest of the hotel more than makes up for this in the public areas. Here in a corner of the lobby, we are treated to a 12ft hexagonal table with five enormous pieces of silver upon it. This is set in front of a 20ft wide mural, spanning the area between two columns. Elsewhere there are similarly extravagant pieces, a stained glass dome and plenty of gold here and there.

Interesting really, for our room is decorated in quite a spartan fashion, which contrasts strongly with the crystal chandeliers and the opulence elsewhere. It's a kind of "fur coat, no knickers" approach, I think.

Entertained by a wedding

As we decided to sit under a very large umbrella and have a drink in the cafe by the Town Hall in Stresa this afternoon, we watched guests starting to gather for a wedding. Sadly, umbrellas were needed for the rain was pretty non-stop.

We soon identified the groom as being the chap in the green tie, green stripy shirt and yes, even a suit with a green stripe. Very sharp!

Of course, this being Italy, some interesting shoes were in evidence.

 

Several guests did a little impulse shopping in the shop selling "pashmina" shawls and bought something warmer to wear whilst they waited, others took refuge in the bar next door.

A flurry of excitement stage right told us that the bride was about to arrive and, sure enough, there she was on the arm of her proud father, both wearing touches of green in their outfits, he in a green tie, she carrying a bouquet of lily-of-the-valley and wrapped with a green chiffon stole.

A cheer went round as she was greeted by the bridegroom and the pair went hurriedly inside, followed by their guests.

Well, most of the guests.

Some preferred to stay outside and have a cigarette. (Fancy getting dressed up to stand in the rain and smoke!)

The bridegroom's chums (I assume) preferred to go back into the bar next door.

Very soon, the happy couple reappeared, to be greeted by their family and friends and the odd tourist (can you spot which he might be?) As they made their way out of the building, the sweet Auntie with the carrier bag (which had been worrying me, I must say - how smartly she was dressed, yet with a carrier bag?!) pulled out a bag of arborio rice (only the best will do) and proceeded to share handfuls amongst the guests.

Hugs, kisses and much celebration followed, for by this time the rain had stopped and everyone was in a more relaxed mood as they left on board a boat to the next stage of their ceremony. There was a warm, happy atmosphere around the square and even those of us not directly involved with the wedding shared the rosy glow that only a happy bride and groom can create.

Just one thing - I know I ought not to comment on personal choice, but a tattooed bride?

After the wedding party had departed, we too thought it was time to gather ourselves together and move on through the remains...

In Italy. It's raining!

We (my Mum and I) are in Stresa, on Lake Maggiore. When we landed last night, it was overcast but ok. By the time we'd got our luggage and reached the car, it was thundering, lightning and the rain was of epic proportions. We woke this morning to a grey and miserable looking day but decided to make the best of it and head on out nevertheless.

Let's hope the weather improves during the next couple of days - but sadly the forecast isn't so promising.

Enforced diet

Our flight from Birmingham to Milan left one hour late because the snack trolleys needed to be unloaded "due to the fact that the aircraft was too heavy".

That's a new one. So no snacks for us, then.

Done and not quite dusted

This is the first posting from the studio - we've spent the day moving stuff down from our old study and Mark has successfully installed a new wireless network which works beautifully, unlike previous wi-fi attempts in this concrete and stone house. I still need to devise some paper-control system and get used to a different workspace, but I have to say that I feel very much at home!

He remarked that I'd probably spend ages "staging it all" for my blog, but you know me better than that and what you see is what you get....for now. There are a few tweaks to be done, some boxes still to empty (we are awaiting some more suspension files to get all that paper away once and for all) and I have another table to come in, for my sewing machine to sit on. But right now, it's covered with most of Mark's CD collection (3000+) and I can't hurry him with that - they will eventually find their new home upstairs in the new music room which will be created in the now almost-empty study.

I had a little wobble when I thought that my machines might not quite fit in those cupboards I'd planned for them...but they fit perfectly, as if IKEA had intended them for that very purpose!
Mark fitted another hook rail on the end of the cupboard run for the rulers and quilting squares. We keep coming up with new ideas to resolve problems we didn't know we had until now. I like WyeSue's idea of the vacuum bags for the wadding and will be putting my Lakeland order in soon! Thanks Sue!

Finally, on one of the hooks underneath the steel shelf hangs my indulgence from last night. I spotted this scrummy felt bag made by friend Anne in the sales tent at last night's show and as it matched the shirt I was wearing perfectly, I snapped it up before anyone else did. I shall now enjoy looking at it for a while in between outings and am pleased to have the perfect place to put it!