Varenna on Lake Como
Today's Agenda:
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This morning we all met in front of the hotel with our luggage, did our buddy check, and walked to the vaporetto for our last look at Venice. We met our comfy bus and traveled to Varenna, with a stop at an auto grill along the way. On the bus we started to really get to know our fellow travelers. I will have bus pictures a little later. When we arrived in Varenna, Laurel gave us all our room keys. As we opened the hotel door and walked in everything was dark. I walked to the French doors and opened them and WOW! What a view! What an amazing sight. Lake Como is a perfect place to take RS Advice: "Now it's your turn to be chiuso per restauro (closed for restoration)." After 4 days in Venice it was our turn to relax and breathe in the cool mountain air.
As we were settling into the Villa Cipressi we heard talking outside. An Italian wedding was taking place right there below us! What a magical sight to see! Later we took RS Advice: Take the self-guided welcome to Varenna walk. We took that relaxing stroll along the passerella (lakeside promenade). We enjoyed a gelato as we walked along the lake. The Passerella takes you down to the harbor front, where tomorrow we will take the ferry tour of the lake. It was my birthday today, so we had a special dinner with our group. (I didn't tell them it was my birthday for a few days, when they found out we celebrated again!) |
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not"
-Henry David Thoreau
Today's Agenda:
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Today we are in search of George Clooney! I wonder if his villa is close by? We took the RS Self-guided Ferry Tour of Lake Como. Well, we ended up stopping at Bellagio for the entire day. Guess that means we will need to return so that we can take the rest of the tour and continue our search for George! RS Advice: Stroll the back lanes up to the Piazza della Chiesa, visit the small church, and enjoy small local shops. "Bellagio, the self-proclaimed 'Pearl of the Lake' is a classy combination of tidiness and Old World elegance" -Rick Steves. Fresh Advice: Shop! I try to avoid shopping, however there are a few towns worth splurging. Every girl loves to shop! Many of our tour friends enjoyed the day at Bellagio also. We sat on a bench with our gelato and gazed north towards the French Alps! Later that night Laurel arranged a great wine tasting. We all brought a bottle of wine and something yummy to share. We really had a wonderful time getting to know each other! Later that night many of us walked to the Piazza San Giorgio to have dinner at Osteria Quatro Pass. Yum! |
Best RS Advice:
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Best Fresh Advice:
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WOW Moment:
Stepping out on our balcony, putting on my earphones, and listening to Andrea Bocelli! Soaking up the view. A moment I will carry with me everywhere I go! |