Day3 A trip to Lake Como, Como and Bellagio.

We got up early the following day to make a trip to see the famed Lake Como.  After battling internet problems, and planning the route, we caught a tram and two trains, to arrive at the rather attractive Como Lago.  After all the rather grim architecture along the way, the colours and the charm, and the luxury of the little town are quite a relief. We had a short wander round the town, discovering the simple and  charming Chiesa di San Giacomo, which, although now very small and insignificant apparently had a rather important part to play in history.

 

 

 

I resisted buying frivolous and expensively silly shoes

 

 

from the very expensive shops, and joined the others in buying an assortment of pizza slices for our trip.

 

We really enjoyed the slow ferry trip through Lake Como, admiring the beauty and the luxury of the homes and hotels along the way, the warm colours of the  buildings -cream, peach, blue, green, yellow and rust- the wonderfully manicured gardens, and steep, rocky and forested mountains, some still with snow on their peaks, the marvelous light and water.

 

 

 

 

We hopped off at Bellagio for well earned gelato, window shopping the many tourist shops, and admiring the beautiful cakes.

 

 

 

Then, Bob and I had this misbegotten notion to go for a stroll up the hill.  We were so entranced by the excitement of sticky-beaking down lanes and into people's gardens

that we didn't realise how lost we had become.

 

 

We worked out how to get back to the town 5 km later. Hot, sore and completely exhausted, we collapsed in a café and drank.  We didn't even have energy to do more than doze on and off on  the trip back on the fast ferry ( where, when we were awake, we were entertained by high school teenagers returning from  a school excursion), the trains and the tram.

 

Arriving home, we decided to pop into the local restaurant, Sapori Stellari for a light meal.  Turns out that the immensely likeable host specialises in excellent cured meats.  He recommended  a fantastic bottle of red wine, and then brought platters and platters or marinated, smoked, cured and pickled meats - pork, deer, goose, cow, and, he said, mule.  All magnificent, and he added beautiful breads, tomatoes, artichokes, wild onions and buffalo mozzarella, but we were so exhausted and full that, even with the amused support of the rest of the patrons, we couldn't face more cheeses, coffee and liqueur and had to go home to collapse.