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