Blogs from Lombardy, Italy, Europe

Today we had a full day to explore the little city of Milano all by ourselves (although i did spend the 1st half working - sorry Leonie) Inline with our normal modus operandi we headed to the tallest tower - this time is was by climbing up the Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary. We thought we would only get as fr as the terraces, but they actually let you climb to the roof top. We were rewarded with amazing views over the city. We did a lot of window shopping in all the high end brands but managed to stay strong, will almost, you cant go to Milan and not come back with a strong paper bag!!! The Crazy Rich Asians (they own reference to themselves) on our tour didn't disappoint and left Milan ... read more

Today we woke up to overcast skies, but still a beautiful view of the lake. I started my morning off with a bit of a glitch. our hair dryer decided to die about a quarter of the way in, so I ended up going down for breakfast with wet hair…attractive. The breakfast here unbelievably was even better than it was in France. There were assorted pastries , eggs, yogurt , fruit, you name it. The coffee was also delicious. After stuffing ourselves, (going to need to diet when we get back), we headed out to our next destination, Bormio, Italy. Once again we encountered tunnel after tunnel. Our views on this leg was mostly concrete. We ventured off the highway for a stop in Como in hopes of spending time viewing the lake. Once again there ... read more

Lite Italienska bilder... read more

Lake Como is about as famous as the celebrities who have frequented it over the years; Madonna, Alfred Hitchcock, Richard Branson, Gianni Versace and even Leonardo da Vinci are among the illustrious names to have holidayed in this idyllic neck of the woods. Perhaps most er, famously, George Clooney - amongst many other luminaries - has a lakeside property here. Littered with lavish and opulent villas built by aristocrats and wealthy Milanese merchants over the years, Lake Como has been known as a glamorous getaway destination for the well-heeled and privileged since the times of Ancient Rome. A place that has been attracting big names for this long must have something about it and it's this mythical air of the debonair, that has always intrigued me about visiting the place one day. Well, that day has ... read more

Today was a perfect morning in an Italian town. I came to Pavia around eight in the morning when things were still closed and only the occasional dog walker was on the street. I had a clear view of the river, buildings and alleys. I settled into a vibrant cafe behind the church and sat with locals, enjoying breakfast and watching the town wake up. All the cliches were around me, only they were not cliches, they were normal day routines. And I am sitting in the middle..maybe a touristy kind of cliché? Mothers on bikes with young child on back cutting through the courtyard, fathers on bikes laughing as they chatted to their child on back of bicycle, old men in nice shirts sipping espressos, young men with that dark curly hair ordering cappuccinos before ... read more