fred_jb
Registered user
This follows on from the previous parts of my trip report:
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/516677-Fred-s-Italian-Job-Dolomites-Trip-Part-1?p=5490735#post5490735
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/516680-Fred-s-Italian-Job-Dolomites-Trip-Part-2?p=5490738#post5490738
This covers the return part of the trip, where I met up with my wife in Bergamo for a few days, before heading home, including a two day stop in Chamonix along the way. We chose Bergamo due to the availability of cheap flights for my wife from our local airport, East Midlands, with a convenient 20 minute, 2 Euro bus ride from the airport into town, and its proximity to the Italian lakes. It turned out to be a really nice place for a short break, so we didn't do much riding, with the only destination of note being a day out around Lake Iseo, where we found a nice lakeside resort with pool and restaurant, so spent an afternoon there.
Excellent apartment in Bergamo, within a short walk of many restaurants and shops:
Great choice of restaurants:
Rack of lamb - yum!
Funicular railway to old town:
Old town square:
View from castle:
Ride out to Lake Iseo:
Off on my own again and heading home, but had decided to have a couple of days in Chamonix. I found a good deal on booking.com for a chalet about 3 miles out of Chamonix, run by a friendly fellow biker, and a nice place to stay, even though the interior was not exactly luxurious.
Fairly basic accomodation:
Got the bus into town for an evening meal so that I could have a drink, but had to walk the three miles back due to the limited bus service, but an enjoyable walk anyway with tremendous scenery. Had a dish called Tartiflette which consists of potatoes, melted cheese and bacon bits - very filling!
Took a cable car trip on day 2. Had a look at the Mont Blanc cable but there were massive queues and it is very expensive, and I've been up it before, so instead took the Brevent cable car from the other side of town which goes up the opposite side of the valley to Mont Blanc. This goes up in two stages and if you take the option which includes the second stage (about 30 Euros) you get tremendous views from the top.
High altitude refreshments:
Scenic route back from town avoiding dual carriageway:
That's about it apart from the rest of the trek back across France to get the ferry from Le Havre. Hope that has been of interest.
Fred
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/516677-Fred-s-Italian-Job-Dolomites-Trip-Part-1?p=5490735#post5490735
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/516680-Fred-s-Italian-Job-Dolomites-Trip-Part-2?p=5490738#post5490738
This covers the return part of the trip, where I met up with my wife in Bergamo for a few days, before heading home, including a two day stop in Chamonix along the way. We chose Bergamo due to the availability of cheap flights for my wife from our local airport, East Midlands, with a convenient 20 minute, 2 Euro bus ride from the airport into town, and its proximity to the Italian lakes. It turned out to be a really nice place for a short break, so we didn't do much riding, with the only destination of note being a day out around Lake Iseo, where we found a nice lakeside resort with pool and restaurant, so spent an afternoon there.
Excellent apartment in Bergamo, within a short walk of many restaurants and shops:
Great choice of restaurants:
Rack of lamb - yum!
Funicular railway to old town:
Old town square:
View from castle:
Ride out to Lake Iseo:
Off on my own again and heading home, but had decided to have a couple of days in Chamonix. I found a good deal on booking.com for a chalet about 3 miles out of Chamonix, run by a friendly fellow biker, and a nice place to stay, even though the interior was not exactly luxurious.
Fairly basic accomodation:
Got the bus into town for an evening meal so that I could have a drink, but had to walk the three miles back due to the limited bus service, but an enjoyable walk anyway with tremendous scenery. Had a dish called Tartiflette which consists of potatoes, melted cheese and bacon bits - very filling!
Took a cable car trip on day 2. Had a look at the Mont Blanc cable but there were massive queues and it is very expensive, and I've been up it before, so instead took the Brevent cable car from the other side of town which goes up the opposite side of the valley to Mont Blanc. This goes up in two stages and if you take the option which includes the second stage (about 30 Euros) you get tremendous views from the top.
High altitude refreshments:
Scenic route back from town avoiding dual carriageway:
That's about it apart from the rest of the trek back across France to get the ferry from Le Havre. Hope that has been of interest.
Fred