"Thank you, but that's not quite what I'm looking for," I say, disappointed, handing the brochure back to the person behind the desk at the information booth. The pamphlet was the same as every other leaflet featured in the hotels and restaurants we visited this morning. Today is our first of 14 days in Stresa, Italy. Linda and I arrived about a week before a business meeting, renting an Airbnb in town, hoping to experience a little life outside the typical tourist destinations and hotels. Our plan is simple: find some Airbnb's in strategic locations worldwide and then expand the time we stay at each one until we feel comfortable taking a month or two at a time at each site during retirement.
Stresa is a stunning location; flying first to Milan and catching the train to Stresa, our host met us at the station and, in broken English, showed us around the small apartment refurbished in the hundred-year-old home his grandfather built. The location is perfect, walking to the corner market only a block away, and the train station is at the bottom of the hill.
Backpacks in place, we headed out early the following day, gathering chocolate begets on our way to the train station with limited ideas on where to go for the day. The information booth was getting close to our last hope of finding those hidden gem locations that exist everywhere in the world; however, with the advent of the internet, locals are becoming more reluctant to share their treasures for fear of spots becoming overrun with tourists and "the road less traveled" stalkers such as myself.
For me, it's less about popularity than crowds and noise. If a spot makes the top ten on Tripadvisor or any popular websites, there's less of a chance for me to visit than something a little harder to get to and, therefore, less popular. I attempt to explain this to the young lady behind the counter, and she gives a knowing smile. "I think I might have something for you," she says, moving into the back room. Thankfully, her English is good, and we can hear her shuffling boxes around in the back. "The booklet is out of print," she calls from the backroom, but I think I have a few copies left. She returns with a small, battered booklet of maps, pictures, and descriptions of some of the lesser-known spots in the area. She hands it to me with a grin, "I think this is just what you're looking for." I'm thrilled and thank her profusely hefting the small booklet of "Day Hikes around Strasa." "Any charge?" I ask before heading to the door. Shaking her head, she says, "enjoy your stay," as if she had just shared a map to the center of the earth with us.
Locating the nearest outdoor restaurant, we drink cokes and gobble down Apple Strudel as if our life depended on it. The booklet indeed contained hidden treasures for us. We would spend the next two weeks hiking lonely trails and granite slot canyons, visiting villages and castle ruins among the mountain and hills surrounding the train stations of Strasa, Vogogna, Genestredo, and others. The world's hidden gems are hard to find and harder to forget if you are lucky enough to visit them during your travels.
Written January 31, 2023