Milano, Laghi Como & Maggiore, Bologna, Sardegna & SINGAPORE
Imagine my surprise when I saw these shoes in a cake shop in Milan. MUM thought she had died and gone to heaven. They were a bit expensive but that didn't stop her! I wanted to try one but the signora in the shop wasn't having a bar of that and told me that bears don't wear shoes. Hello, I only wanted to gobble one up, not stuff my paw into it!
In this next picture I am sitting on a wall in Bellagio, waiting to catch the ferry back to Como, after having had a smashing lunch. I am actually having a siesta but you can't tell because my glass eyes always stay open, even when I am asleep.
I thought I saw my doppelganger on the ferry. This poor bear was strapped on the back of a pack and looked slightly the worse for wear. It turns out she was drying out after a bath. I felt really sorry for her and wanted to bring her home and put her in the cupboard with the rest of the bears, but she only spoke Italian and couldn't understand what I was saying. In this next picture I am feeling like the name of the place we visited next, as I'd missed out on having an Italian girlfriend. Life can be cruel sometimes.
DAD tried to cheer me up by buying tickets to a place called Fart. Instead we went on a train trip up through the mountains to Locarno where the BIG PEOPLE used to go years ago to the film festival. The journey was amazing, but I spent most of the time hiding in MUM's bag as we chugged along the track across deep ravines. We were followed by spooky clouds called Malojas snaking their way through the Swiss Alps. They reminded me of the film - Clouds Of Sils Maria.
We then sailed back along Lake Maggiore to Stresa. I nearly jumped ship when I saw this house. MUM told me that it belongs to George Clooney and he was expecting Barack and Michelle to arrive for the weekend. It turns out she was fibbing as his mansion was actually back at Lake Como and it was too far for me to swim to.
The next day we visited Isola Bella. I was dragged around the beautiful palazzo and had to look interested at all the old furniture. We discovered these tapestries which were really amazing. I couldn't take my eyes off the spoilt kid in the first picture. He looked like he would have been a bit of a bully. I got so upset thinking about him that I had to go and have a cup of tea to calm down. Afterwards I noticed this monster on the tapestry opposite. I wanted to take him home and hang him in the cupboard with the other bears as he looked really weird. I tried to roll him up but got told off by the attendant. MUM was marched off down to the jetty before she could explain that I was only a stuffed toy.
We managed to view the beautiful garden and imagine my surprise when this peacock spread its feathers and did a little dance in front of me. I kept yelling 'encore' and eventually MUM stuffed me back in her bag only after I made a few euros from tourists who wanted to take selfies with me and the peacock!
Here's a picture of me swinging on a chain in the sun thinking about how lucky I was to be on Lake Maggiore. One day I hope I can come back and visit Fluffy, the peacock. He told me that's the best name he has ever been given, but he suggested I add an 'o' on the end to make it sound more Italian.
Our next stop was Bologna to attend Cinema Ritrovato. We stayed at a place near the square and every night MUM and DAD would book a table right on Piazza Maggiore and watch films while dining. MUM was so happy and kept giving me cuddles and actually shared some of her nibbles with me. I decided then that I really love her, but it is too late to take back any of the things I have said about her in the past. She told me not to worry as she has the hide of an elephant and things don't bother her anymore. I noticed DAD kept filling up her glass and winking at me.
Our next stop was Alghero, on the island of Sardegna. We visited here a few years ago, but this time it was to attend a family wedding. My half-Italian niece Flavia, married Mauro, who is full-Italian. They had two ceremonies. The first one at the Commune and then a celebration on the beach at Mugoni. We had a smashing time. I met my cousins and we danced all night and drank Aperols and, well, I can't remember much else. MUM said I kept yelling 'ti amo' to everyone I met. Italians are such fun, they thought I was one of them. This heart was hiding in a garden on the way to the wedding and this teddy bear tin was hanging outside one of the shops. MUM said it was filled with pots of honey for homeless bears.
We spent the rest of the week visiting the many beaches. Here's a picture of MUM sunbathing. Ouch!
Everything was so blue, including my mood, when I knew we had to leave to return to Sydney. I love Italy because everyone was so nice to me and kept calling me, 'molto bello'. I kept chanting those words as I sat at the window of my bedroom looking out for any fancy boats that may float by.
We had a stop-over in Singapore on the way home to visit the Botanic Gardens. We missed them the last time we were here. At the train station this poor bear was sitting at the ticket window waiting for his owner to find him as he had been left on a train. In the photo next to him is one of the scariest pictures ever. We went for dinner to Clarke Quay and this restaurant was serving teddy bear soup. I was just so upset and MUM gave me one of her valiums to calm me down. At least she said that is what it was, but I think it was an old mint she found in her pocket. Oh woe is me, I can't stop having nightmares thinking about all those boiled teddies.
I tried to enjoy the gardens, but I was still feeling traumatised and kept seeing monsters wherever I looked. In this first picture I was convinced that the deep purple thing sitting on the plant was a weird insect, but MUM told me it was a special orchid. Then she took me to the celebrity garden to check Shah Rukh Khan's orchid. I climbed up on the photo spot sign to try and cheer myself up. I think I look pretty good, don't you?