After many museums, churches and ruins I was ready for my mini-break in Varenna on Lake Como, or Lago di Como as it is known by the locals. With nothing here to see except the view I was ready to catch up on blogging, which I did (but now I’m behind again). Only one thing though: George, seriously, I trek all the way here and you’re off somewhere else getting engaged?
I arrived Sunday (April 27) in Varenna in the pouring rain about 2 in the afternoon. In a small restaurant in the town, I had a rainy day lunch of fish soup which was piled high with clam and mussel shells, filled with roly-poly little squids and topped with a big crayfish, and some gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce. Mmmmm. The rain having subsided somewhat, I wandered around the little town square and along the lake front.
Varenna has a walkway around its lake front and there are several restaurants and a couple gelateria beside the lake. These soon became my go to places for sustenance.
It poured rain all day Monday so I spent lots of time in my room on the computer. For the most part the internet has been very reliable at all the hotels I’ve stayed in. Some kind of delicious legume soup for lunch, then hot chocolate almost like pudding in the afternoon – perfect for a chilly rainy day.
Tuesday the sun came out and I could see the snowcapped Swiss Alps across the lake. What with the snowy mountains, misty clouds, waterfront, ferries and the rain, Varenna made me feel at home.
MeNAgio! BelLAgio! Wednesday I boarded the ferry for Como with stops in Menagio, Bellagio and a lot of other little towns along the lake. The weather had turned grey and rainy again, so I stayed below deck taking pictures through the window.
In Varenna, I had a room with a single bed that became more uncomfortable each night. My feet hung over the end! In Como I had booked a studio apartment but I got a one bedroom with a KING size bed. Can you say heaven? Why was I only spending one night here? There was also a washer and a DRYER so laundry got done!!
All rested, washed and dried, I was now ready to begin my last two weeks in Switzerland and Germany. But not before a last cappuccino and marmalata croissant at the train station.
Now here it is your moment of mosaic from the Basilica di San Francesco in Ravenna. It is underwater – notice the goldfish!!
Yeah, George is so thoughtless. Want to go to this place it looks fabulous, and must try that drink. Mom now has her own blog book!
Very nice scenery! And sounds like you had some restful and productive time. Hope you and Edeana are having a wonderful time!
What kind of trees are those in your first couple of pictures? They look really strange almost like concrete with a bit of green growth on top. Can you get that special drink here in Canada?
I think they are plane trees. But not totally sure. Yes I’m sure you can get that drink. If they don’t know it – it’s Aperol, Prosecco and soda water. We had another one today in Basel but it was really expensive compared to Italy. And they really skimped on the snacks giving us just a small bowl of potato chips. The snacks were a big part of the experience.