T
he EBU Autumn Overseas Congress was held
at the Grand Hotel in Gardone on Lake
Garda, Italy's largest lake. Among the 120
bridge players were many new faces. By next year we
hope they will be old friends.
There was a good bus service to the nearest town,
Salo, but the more interesting form of transport was
on boats which plied the lake's resorts from just
outside the hotel. Sirmione, standing on a 4km
peninsular, topped by its fortress (top right), is one
of the most enchanting.
There were several organised trips including one to
Verona to see its magnificent amphitheatre built 2000
years ago. For me this was the winner. Few tourists
leave without viewing the Romeo and Juliet balcony.
Half a mile uphill from the hotel, reached either
on foot or by Noddy train, is Il Vittoriale Degli
Italiani (The shrine of Italian victories). This vast
estate created by the poet D'Anuncio, a one time
friend of Mussolini, contains a museum, a
mausoleum, a 1000 seat amphitheatre and,
strangest of all, the warship Puglia. Keen gardeners
also visited a botanic garden on the walk down.
The bridge was expertly directed by David and
Marilyn Jones, Neil Morley and Peter Jordan, with
help from Winnie Morley and Barbara Jordan.
Three years ago, the congress was held at the same
place. We hope players from this year will be
looking forward to a return in 2019 or before. r
Overseas Bridge
Overseas Bridge
Holiday bridge on Lake Gardaby Roy Garthwaite Photographers: Heather Hobson, Winnie Morley & Denis Murphy
48 English Bridge December 2016 www.ebu.co.uk