Italian lake offers a lesson in cleanliness

MY wife and I returned recently from Italy, where we stayed on the shores of Lake Orta. It is a small lake perhaps of a size similar to Lough Lein in Killarney.

While Orta is a small place, there are many restaurants and hotels on the lake shore, and lots of villas and houses both close to the shore and in the surrounding hills.

The lake water was crystal clear and there was much boating, fishing, swimming and other water sports going on.