Peacocks are not just Blue

Peacocks ..Blue and White.

When I was in my D.H. Lawrence phase I saw in his list of publications a novel called

The White Peacock.I did not read it. For me peacocks were a brilliant blue who fanned their tails when the sky was overcast, heralding rain.

And then, on June 10^th this year I went with my niece and her husband to Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore, Italy.

Manish Bhandari- Kamal Kapur - Radhika Bhandari

 Lake Maggiore - Isola Bella

A ferry from Stresa took us to the Island Beautiful.We were looking forward to seeing the transformation of a rock into a Palace with terraced gardens.
There was a light drizzle........

Rain Ready

.

It was not a deterrent to walking through the narrow streets lined with cafes and craft shops nor to exploring the 400 years of work resulting in magnificent Baroque Architecture and gardens at various levels...each with its own story.

Everything Lavender 

A Grotto in the Palace in black and white stones 

The View.. As you enter the Gardens.

Planted 1819 Camphor Laurel Tree

White Flowering dogwoods

For me, like many, there was a Wordsworth “Daffodils” moment.....

white peacocks .....only white......walking.. strolling ..nonchalantly…seemingly unaware of the gasps of their audience.

I want to find them in India…not in a zoo.…but in a garden…

Recommendation :

 Add a couple of days to your Milan Visit.

Take a train, bus, car to Stresa or Bavena.

Take a ferry..they are frequent, inexpensive well appointed.

There are 3 islands to visit. I loved Bella.

Credit: Photographs, Video - Manish Bhandari, Radhika Bhandari