Lake Como snuggles up closer to the Alps than Lake Garda. Switzerland is only a few miles away, and the weather is cooler. We have a beautiful B&B unit right on the lake with covered secure parking in the village of Laglio. Mountains here cascade right into the shoreline; thus, our evening walk was all up and down like mountain goats. The paths we followed, I am sure, were created centuries ago; history is everywhere here.
A walkway heading uphill away from the lake shore. The stones are worn from centuries of foot steps up these steep paths.
The view out onto Lake Como from our B&B. We are at a narrow point in the lake.
George Clooney's villa is in that cluster of buildings behind a facade of thick landscape vegetation.
Looking east from Bellagio; you can see how steep and rocky the shores are. The village of Varenna is in the distance. Bellagio is on a peninsula between two branches of the lake.
Looking west from Bellagio toward Tremezzo, We took a ferry across from Tremezzo to get to Bellagio.
We took a ferry to Bellagio; pretty but not amazing. Here you hear English spoken much more often than at Lake Garda; quite a few Brits and some Americans. Driving is exciting on the roads; a two-way street becomes one-way when one is a bus or truck, or even a full size car, the streets are so narrow. We walked to George Clooney's villa from our B&B, rather close, and along the way we came upon a presentation ceremony for the new Riva electric runabout. A beautiful mahogany boat which will be the nautical equivalent of a Tesla auto.
The newest boat design from the Riva company. The wood is beautiful and the finish is perfect; this is artistry.
A small part of the gardens of Villa Carlotta (on a perfect day in September).
Very old work sheds on the hillside behind Villa Carlotta.
Villa Carlotta is only a few miles north and has beautiful gardens as well as the historic and ornate mansion. The building is 300+ years old; and was a wedding gift to Carlotta, who unfortunately died at age 23 during childbirth. The weather continues to be perfect; some people are wearing sweaters while others are in shorts and light shirts: depends on whether you are in the sun or shade. We had rain overnight which left a dusting of snow on the surrounding mountain peaks almost a mile above us.
We took a ferry to Bellagio; pretty but not amazing. Here you hear English spoken much more often than at Lake Garda; quite a few Brits and some Americans. Driving is exciting on the roads; a two-way street becomes one-way when one is a bus or truck, or even a full size car, the streets are so narrow. We walked to George Clooney's villa from our B&B, rather close, and along the way we came upon a presentation ceremony for the new Riva electric runabout. A beautiful mahogany boat which will be the nautical equivalent of a Tesla auto.
Villa Carlotta is only a few miles north and has beautiful gardens as well as the historic and ornate mansion. The building is 300+ years old; and was a wedding gift to Carlotta, who unfortunately died at age 23 during childbirth. The weather continues to be perfect; some people are wearing sweaters while others are in shorts and light shirts: depends on whether you are in the sun or shade. We had rain overnight which left a dusting of snow on the surrounding mountain peaks almost a mile above us.
I am feeling a bit guilty for not learning more Italian phrases. Dawn and I are much more familiar with Spanish and German common phrases. The Italians we deal with are so good about understanding English that it has allowed us to be lazy. In the northern portion of Italy, where we are visiting, everything is first rate: aesthetically pleasing, functional, well-kept, and well thought out. I wonder if southern Italy is any different? In contrast, when we were in Argentina last Spring, systems were modern but shabby and not as smoothly functional. The difference between "first world" and "third world" perhaps?
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