http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Italy , Lombardy , Lake Como en-us Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:29:09 +0000 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:29:09 +0000 On the last leg of our tour of Europe. We are now in Italy Lake Como and have been joined by My cousin Stuart and wife Helen. Yesterday was spent in the airport at Paris we had at 2pm flight and arrived early as we had nothing to do with our baggage. The only problem was our flight had been delayed for four hours due to a lightening strike. I was happy to wait for them to check out the air http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-617163.html Leaving our lovely little spot it was time for a serious drive over another mountain pass as a short cut to Lake Como. Winding up a narrow road for about 45 minutes we found the turn off and headed up the seemingly good large yellow road. Winding up higher and higher we got above the snow line and found the bob sled run just around the corner there was sign that said CLOSED bugger the gate was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-610022.html Getting out of Milan was as hard as getting in. We seemed to travel in circles for hours following signs for 'Como'. And that was after we spent an hour at least looking for a couple of 'lavandarias' that Buff had Googled. They turned out to be drycleaners not selfservice laundromats but not to worry. He found one on the web in Bellagio where our next B B is. Finally on the Autostrada http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-503720.html HE SAID...We arose very early 6am for a 7.45am train to Milan. We arrived around 10am and had a short orientation walk before heading up to the roof of the Duomo. It was a fantastic view of Milans sprawling cityscape and the feat of engineering required to build the cathedral was mesmerising although I continued to ponder the cost in human lives that was spent constructing such colossal mon http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-490869.html We planned our visit to a bike race around Lake Como. For those who know my husband and youngest son this makes perfect sense.The Tour of Lombardy as this race is called Is the last race of the season for pro cyclists. But the rest of us me my friend Jackie and Ari We were happily just along for the ride to see Como and relax in the lakeside town of Bellagio.Bellagio is often r http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-448119.html Lake Como 10th 14th May 2009Like so many of our choices during this trip we're here to test the hype. Lake Como was reputed to be romantic idyllic perfect...how could we resistOur first mistake was not organizing with George Clooney to stay at his place. According to the residents he got it right his own villa overlooking the lake with several adjacent villas for guests. Instead we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-400192.html More vistas from Bellagio and the Hotel Villa Serbelloni. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-386215.html With its narrow streets and sweeping lake vistas youd be hardpressed to find a lovelier village than Bellagio. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-386213.html After about 20 kilometers of this I finally made it over the ridgeline and began decending with Lake Como stretching out below me. The narrow streets encountered in the small mountain villages are typical of Italy. Yes trucks and buses also use them. With the sun sinking in the west I make my way down the steep hillside to Lake Como near the town of Pigra. Making my way to Menaggio I catch a f http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-386208.html The following morning I hop on one of the numerous ferries to Menaggio on the western shore. Looking back at Bellagio off the ferry stern the good weather was still staying with me.From Menaggio I continue west to Lake Lugano. Italy shares Lake Lugano with Switzerland however wanting to avoid border crossing delays and snooty Swiss border guards I decide to stay in Italy. I trace the souther http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-386202.html Not willing to lose any more precious time I blasted north to Lake Como via la autostrada. Lake Como is the spiritual home to Guzzisti the world over. Every Guzzisti is required by his faith to make the pilgrimage to Lake Como at least once in his lifetime.Lake Como is shaped like an upside down Y with the idyllic town of Bellagio at the tip of a peninsula where the Y comes together. I arrived on http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-386199.html I have to post this blog entry with haste. I leave next week for my district's Eurotour. The tour will last 19 days and cover 9 countries. In total 46 Inbounds 3 Rotary personal and a driver will take the tour. That means I will have more material then I will ever be able to post... if I don't post this week. The first 1015 pictures are of an Inbound Conference on the Island of Fhr. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-384063.html Words alone cannot express how MUCH I love this little village Population just a few thousandunder 3 I think. Slightly over 1000 homes SO many of them GORGEOUS I'm not much of a shopper but here I SHOP D Bellagio is one of the most distinguished famous holiday destinations in all of Europe. It deserves to be so. Quiet peaceful serene yes it should probably be said a celebrity haun http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-311397.html From India we arrived in Paris a few weeks ago and spent a night there with Jess Jamie and Renae doing the typical things like Arch de Triumph Eiffel Tower all the way to the top Champs Elysees eating pastries drinking coffee ... it was all very stylish and clean compared to previous places but we were a bit surprised that it was only about 20 degrees. Both men and women Paresians lo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-292811.html Sunday the 18th we have just finished our walk along the Cinque Terra Annie seems much more excited than normal my first thought is that she is just so happy being away with me for 9 weeks with still another month to go. I was pretty sure it didnt have anything to do with meeting up with Rob and Wilma in Santa Margherita being able to get away with Wilma and do the shops and staying the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-287832.html Lake Como is warming up for me. Literally and metaphorically actually.Autumn is swiftly kicking Summer to the South but if you can get out of the wind it's still quite nice. With a sweater on.I think I'll stay here for a bit. I don't have to be anywhere until Saturday. It's hard for me to stay put though. I don't want to move because I want to see everything and get it all in...I just fe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-213315.html Still haven't seen George yet...will most surely keep you updated on any sightings or invitations to dinner.Cheers al http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-212598.html Of all the places in the world we were told that Lake Como was one of the most beautiful and enchanting. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into....it was truely remarkable. Lake Como sits at the base of the Swiss Alps and truely holds it's own. We stayed at the Northwest corner in a little town called Gravedona. Lets just say that Gravedona was so small that in three days we had eaten http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-208378.html 1 car 1 toyata hiace camper from the 80's 3 Germans 2 Americans and several surfing boards and sails made their departure last friday early in the morning from Fischbach on their way to Lake Como. morgan and i carried our bags to andreas' appartment. we drove to friedrichshafen to meet Gotti and Anja. we helped pack for an hour and then we were off. we drove around the bodensee through http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-206739.html Well I am not in Rome but an Italian phrase....Paese che vai usanza che trovi Where you go follow customs. So I have been eating and drinking wine. I was so starved in GermanyAustria eating pretzels and such now I eat pizza gelati etc. Yummy Lake Como is beautiful as ever and the weather was better than the last time I was there. But there was sooooo many Americans or English spea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Lake-Como/blog-206673.html