It's been a long 3 months since we had our Highland Fling and for a short while that "scratched the itch" - we flew on a plane, saw something different and got away from home. But having been used to fairly frequent travel in the past (the rapidly receding past; pre BC and Covid) the feeling didn't last long.
We had more or less decided to visit the Puglia region of Southern Italy but suddenly BA withdrew their flights so we havered a while and considered Spain or Portugal and then suddenly decided on Lake Como. We spent a wonderful 4 days at Lake Garda 15 or so years ago; Toby & Jay were working on a camp site on the southern edge of the lake which, purely by chance, Wendy, Richard, A & N had booked into for their summer holiday. It was magical swimming with the kids in the lake just after dawn (something they'd never done before) and also by chance some golfing friends were staying at Riva del Garda (North end of the lake) so we visited them one evening. Then, against all odds, we all met in the same street in Verona having gone there separately on day trips.
I've digressed somewhat, but Italy has always been reliable for lovely, memorable holidays - although I do struggle with the food (don't like pasta; lumps of meat; strange seafood etc etc) and there are only so many days running I can eat pizza), so we decided to book a self catering apartment and settled on the town of Tremezzo.
A fairly civilised flight time of 0915 from Heathrow but, because of the threat of Insulate Britain protestors blocking the M25 as they did the other day, we left early. In fact we had a very clear run through and were at Purple Parking just before 0600 and had soon dropped off the car and boarded the waiting shuttle bus. The bus was very small and not really suitable for many cases, luckily we were second on and Ian was able to put the cases on an accessible height rack; the others being either very low or very high. We than had a good 20 min wait whilst the driver stood around and the bus overfilled, with cases all over the place. When I booked it was for T5 parking but actually the bus also went to T2 and T3 although no one got off; why the driver didn't ask at the beginning of the journey I really don't know - rather wasted time. Never mind though, thanks to Ian's BA Gold status, we could check in at the first class area and go through the exclusive mini-security, straight to the First Lounge.
The food is sadly still not a patch on the old buffet food they served pre-covid, but it's edible and the Bucks Fizz is OK.
The flight was very full but we had priority boarding so sat down comfortably and watched in amazement as to how long it takes some people to settle down. One particular bloke a few rows in front must have got up and down 10 times, blocking the aisle each time. I hadn't been able to get emergency exit rows with extra legroom this time (popular business flight) but we were lucky that the middle seat was empty between us both. Despite thinking we'd already filled in all the paperwork required by the Italians, BA had yet more for us to do - one of which was a duplicate but we were so concerned of getting it wrong we completed it anyway. Of course no one in authority was remotely interested and you could have filled your details in as Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
Our "priority" tagged cases came through quickly and we soon found the Avis Car Hire desk. There were lots of people milling around and I asked one chap what the procedure was as we'd already checked-in online. He said he had too but that we just had to take a numbered ticket and wait - the next ticket number was 71 and the current one being dealt with 05 - some wait! Anyway whilst Ian went off for a comfort stop, I enquired over the counter and waived my phone, whereupon a chap told me that my name was on the board around the corner and OF COURSE that meant I didn't need to wait, just go and collect the car! Obviously a slightly longer conversation then ensued; ie. how was I supposed to know that and where do I collect the car from? To which I was told that I had chosen to check in online (no, it was the only option) and if I hadn't I'd be waiting 3 hours.
Anyway he eventually gave us directions, which either were 100% wrong or we failed to listen/follow, but we finally found our little car - a lovely new grey Fiat 500. However the rental contract wasn't in the car as it should have been, so I asked another couple who were about to drive off and they told me to speak to a man in a little box - yes, he had the required paperwork but hadn't had time to put it in the car! Then there was a query that we'd "chosen" to take the car back empty and be charged accordingly so back to the Rental Desk and another conversation with Mr Smartipants. We double checked what he told me with a very helpful lady in another Avis booth who explained if we returned the car full no money would be taken and in any case it would only be worth our while at their prices if the car was really empty. Most helpful.