Buon Anno! A Look Back -- And Forward

It's easy to mark the cycle of a year in Stresa, where there are so many annual events, so many feste, such a predictable flow of tourists coming and going, like a wave that advances in the spring and then recedes away in the fall. Now we are in the quietest period of the year, when Stresa sleeps and rests and prepares for the next season of visitors. Here at Stresa Sights we'll do the same. During these quieter months we can spend time planning, reviewing, and thinking about what we'll do in the next year. Let's start by taking a look back at 2010, at some of the places and events that we visited:

In the winter we stayed warm by drinking Fil da Fer atop Mt. Mottarone and read about some romantic spots, including tiny Hotel Belvedere on Isola Pescatore. In spring, when Stresa starts to awaken, we began with the annual Mostra Nazionale della Camelie flower show, and also visited the Sacre Monte, La Rocca Angera, and i Castelli di Cannero. The summer was so jam-packed of course; I tried to touch briefly on what it's like to be here with a post almost each day depicting little bits of August in Stresa. And in autumn, with its cooler days, we talked about walks on the Stresa-Belgirate trail and to Carmine Superiore and ate Porcini mushrooms. And we ended the cycle with winter again of course, this year by profiling some of the special presepe and Natale related sights to see, both here in Stresa and in Milan.

In addition we answered so many reader questions and mail, and profiled some books, restaurants, and shops. We added a list of Stresa hotels on the blog, and some tour ideas as well. In sum, we expanded greatly the amount of information available here in every way, making Stresa Sights we hope an even better resource to help you learn, plan, and visit.

Thinking about it now brings back so many great memories. And it makes me think about all I still want to do here, all I still can tell you about. So, with 2011 just beginning, let's do it! Happy New Year to one and all, thank you for visiting here, and let's have ourselves a GREAT 2011!

anno nuovo graphic courtesy of: campibisenzio.files.wordpress.com