After the morning’s rain we take the car and drive to the town of Arco, just a few miles from Riva del Garda. We stop at a cafe right alongside the park and enjoy watching both couples and families strolling along the grounds on a peaceful Sunday morning. The playground is full of children squealing with delight on the swings while parents and grandparents watch from close by.

We then walk the narrow pedestrian road through the business center, admiring the shops filled with many mountain climbing gear stores as bicyclists navigate their way through to the end of town and the cycling path that wends its way along the river. Not as blatantly touristic as Riva, the town is also charming. Could we live here? We could.

Once back at the car we decide to take a different route home. Narrower streets. Turn left. Turn right. We pull over for cars impatient with our pace. Then we pass by a sign on on our left, Berlera. What is it? We circle back as it looks interesting. Omg! An incredible building carved into stone with a tasting room and restaurant. We were drawn here by unknown forces and enjoy a spectacular meal made by artisans that crafted flavor, product and technique with love. What a find!!! One of those, had we not turned off the beaten path, would not have been discovered places! Just wow!

We love it here. Every day Bill asks, “what will we do here? What will be our purpose? I can’t answer perfectly, as I believe the answer will change as we change in our new surroundings, but I believe we can make a fulfilling life here, surrounded by beauty and with activities and new friendships made. I’m counting on it…