We are so excited to share with you all about our recent trip to Sirmione to celebrate a very special occasion – Russell’s milestone birthday! (or as you might also know her, Rita). We knew we had to do something extra special to celebrate, so we packed our bags, grabbed our pup June, and headed out to the picturesque town of Sirmione, located on the shores of stunning Garda Lake.

We were all so excited to spend some quality time together and explore this beautiful part of Italy which we have never been to before. And let us tell you, it did not disappoint. The scenery was breathtaking – from the colorful houses lining the streets, to the crystal clear waters of the lake, to the incredible panoramas we saw during our boat ride when the fog finally allowed the mountains to appear. We were in awe at every turn. The weather wasn’t exactly ideal, but it was better than what the forecast predicted. There was a huge chance of rain, but luckily it held off and we stayed dry throughout the whole trip.

The town is situated on a narrow peninsula that extends into Lake Garda, and it is surrounded by crystal clear water on both sides: actually we’ve been told that the lake is much lower than it used to be/should be. We loved strolling through the narrow streets of the historic center and see people eat pounds and pounds of gelato (it’s too much even for us LOL). The town is also home to some stunning Roman ruins, including the famous Grotte di Catullo, an ancient villa that was once owned by a wealthy Roman family and that has a gorgeous view on the lake. (those people knew where to build)

Of course, we couldn’t forget about the amazing food and drinks we had during our trip. We ate at some delicious restaurants and tasted amazing fresh seafood : we do love ourselves some pasta and shrimps! And let’s not forget about the drinks – we indulged in some delicious spritz (especially the limoncello spritz!) and wine while soaking up the Italian sun. It was the perfect way to unwind and enjoy the laid-back Italian “Dolce Vita”. The Garda Lake is second to none as per lemon-production, in fact, these guys have a whole town named Limone sul Garda (Amalfi coast, who?!).

But the highlight of our trip was definitely Russell’s birthday celebrations. Jack (aka Lorenzo) had planned two special surprises – first, her parents surprised her by driving in from Hungary to join for the birthday trip. And as if that wasn’t enough, her best friend Cinzia also joined the festivities. It was truly a special moment to have all of Rita’s loved ones together to celebrate her milestone birthday. You don’t get to celebrate 40 years young of age every day!

And let’s not forget about June and Perec, the two Jack Russells who were part of this trip. They had a blast, especially June: she finally got over her fear of water and even wanted to swim in the lake! You should have seen her, jumping off chasing lizards, too. Perec, on the other hand, was more interested in relaxing and enjoying the food – typical Perec (his name means Pretzel, is that a coincidence? we think not!).

Overall, it was an unforgettable trip and we all feel so lucky to have been able to experience it. If you’re looking for a beautiful and relaxing place to visit, we highly recommend Sirmione and Garda Lake. It’s a magical place that will steal your heart and we can’t wait to be back to discover other towns, too!