http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Italy , Lombardy , Como en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:32:28 +0000 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:32:28 +0000 For our annual travel adventure Jeanine I went to Northern Italy. We started off in the Lake District Lake Como loved it all but I have a special place in my heart for Lake Como. We came a day early from our tour group and arrived at 630 am took a train to our hotel with all of the massive luggage and since it was too early to check in we dropped off our bags and started to walk ar http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-441786.html In the slightly overcast balmy morning with barely any sleep but fully energized my date Audi S5 and I board a ferry at Cadenabbia a town just south of Menaggio with the destination Bellagio. Many travel programs and books have been published about this region. It is not hard to imagine why. This is the land of Leonardo Da Vinci and Michaelangelo.When the ferry is about at the midpoint betwe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-440019.html HOT DAYWe woke up early and went to the Acropolis today And Zeusrsquo palace. Cost was supposed to be 12 euro which included about eight different sights but everyone except for me got in for free since they had European student ID cards and I only had to pay 6 euro since I had my old American student ID card. So amazing to see these places that we have studied since we were little We were a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-406657.html Hi AllToday we travelled to Switzerland via Lake Como sometime home of Mr George Clooney. Anita has assured me that we are visiting because the lake is supposed to be beautiful and for no other reasonDrive was pretty easy once we found a nonautomated fuel station to fill up at. I now know the offical motorway speed is 130km so we can also get there at speed they don't have it on any of th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-398256.html I jumped on the early train to lake Como this morning. With my camera packed and my iPod charged I was very much looking forward to the trip to the town that many of you would know as George Clooneyrsquos home away from home. The mayor of Como recently said of George Clooney ldquoTo mister Clooney we gave the honorary citizenship. We all are proud of his choice to live here on Lake Como. Clo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-338297.html Its funny isn't it that when you ask someone the directions to the station they explain that its just around the corner and not actually a kilometre away like you thought. Note ask directions more frequently.Our train trip was 4 hours but that did include quite a few stops. We arrived in Como at about 4 in the afternoon giving us enough time to drag our battered suitcases clack clack you http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-329063.html Activities Italian Grand Prix Race Day Highlights Being at Monza for a GP Hiring the Kangaroo TV which provides access to various commentary stats driver radios and television broadcasts. With all the rain the race was so frantic and following it would have been impossible without the Kanga. The two guys in the tour group that managed to find a couple of stray bottles of Mumm champagne http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-323099.html Activities Unofficial Rest DayShoppingRace Preview Party Highlights Exploring Como a little more Meeting Sebastien Bourdais and hearing him speak candidly about his car setup Trying on whacky hats in Coin Department store Michel's Gelati count 22 Joceline's Italian French German Coffee count 60 Odd Spots We missed breakfast again because we were too late getting up. During http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-323098.html Activities BallagioShopping Highlights Lunch was traditional Italian trattoria with small menu great food and mamma in the kitchen Cruise on Lake Como to view the villa's and see if we could find George Clooney's place Michel's Gelati count 22 Joceline's Italian French German Coffee count 57 Odd Spots Given the change in seasons the weather at Lake Como varies from hour to ho http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-323096.html Ciao Modena Salve Como Activities Panini Private CollectionMonza Pit Walk Highlights Cheese tastings at Panini's Pit walk at Monza and the close proximity we were allowed to get to the pits cars and teams. Waiting at Honda for a glimpse of Jenson Pints of gin and tonic at the local bar following the pit walk Michel's Gelati count 21 Joceline's Italian French German Coffee count http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-323095.html Well I know that I didn't hold up my end of the deal I didn't have computer access in Lake Como or Venice so now that we are back on US land I thought I would catch everyone upAfter Milan we took about an hour long train ride to the City of Como in Italy. Located on Lake Como. Our hotel was actually in the city of Bellagio which was a two hour boat ride away. We decided to board the boat and ge http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-308359.html When i was in Milan we had a bus tour which was very informative but nothing can make you feel more touristy.Mini Summary of Interesting facts about MilanIt is that most international city in Italy with the widest stock exchange. We saw the very impressive Duomo a cathedral that started being built in 1386 and was completed in 1965. With the structure entirely made of marble and rosewood doors. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-303777.html We're in love And the weathers gone back to what we expect the sun shining out of a clear blue sky Yes we just love Como despite the fact that Lake Como has flooded a consequence of the recent rains which swept across much of England and Europe and which we luckily only experienced the tail end of in Zrich. But apparently the flooding of Lake Como is a regular occurrence the last http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-300278.html Here's some pics from the last couple of days. Enjoy the scenery. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-292845.html Like WTF I've had to go to another cafe here in Como as they wouldn't let me open my camera to upload pics. Sheeesh http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-292843.html After a leisurely stroll around town we decided to spend the money we saved by not going on the Gondoliers and lsquoRitz it uprsquo like the rich and famous. We hired a speedboat to zoom around the lake. I was keeping my eye out for George Clooney sun baking on his deck he has a house on Lake Como and according to the local paper hersquos in town but no such luck. Fabulous fun but our luck http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-287349.html June 9th.Time to leave Rovinj and Croatia. Headed out towards the Autostrada and we just got onto the ramp and I mentioned to Fran that we would probably need some small Euro coins for the tollways and She said ldquoShit we gotta go back the money belts still in the hotel saferdquo. Cost us an hour but Irsquom glad we realized then and not when we got to Venice. We eventually arrived in http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-286825.html This is better this place is magic. A huge long lake surrounded by steep alpine mountains fringed with clusters of old towns. Menaggio is so pretty beautiful elegant buildings the gardens are covered in flowers with neat green as green grass and old trees line the streets and lakeside boardwalk.Our hostel sits one street back from the waters edge with fantastic views even from our bedroom windo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-286409.html Day Four Lake Como Cruise and Lunch at BellagioToday is Wednesday and we drive towards to Lake Como for a short visit in the resort town of Como. The Como area is famous for it's silk industry so we spent some time in the town of Como before heading up the west side of the lake. And it was Dawn and Tom's 26th Anniversary. Wow I can't think of a better place to celebrate.Maurizio drove us up t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-285150.html Up in Como for a PHAROS meeting with Davy and went out with a bang. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Como/blog-278736.html