Tuesday 7, October: We took in some outdoor culture today. Went to visit Villa Monastero. The villa itself is closed except for the weekends (ok...we missed that) but the gardens are beautiful. All of the plants and trees have signs with their names, scientific and common, printed on them...very educational. Jim wanted to pick some of the pompelmo rosso and make some gelato...sorry Pam no stracciatella trees!
When we were finished we walked up to the Hotel Eremo Gaudis. It is built into the mountain and you have to take a funicular up to the hotel and restaurant. To finish the day we called Chef Moreno from Il Caminetto and he drove down the mountain and took us back to his restaurant in Gittana, a fifteen minute ride up a VERY winding, one lane road. It was a wonderful meal. We were the only people in the restaurant so it was like having our own private chef (just like George!). I had missoltini he had made himself from an old family recipe. it was a fun evening of talking, discussions of food, family and world politics. He gave me his email address so I can practice my Italian (he doesn't know what he got himslef into there!).
Wednesday 6, October: We awoke to clouds and a few sprinkles but decided to take the slow boat to China...I mean Como. We boarded the battello in Varenna and took it down the western leg of Lake Como to the town of Como. The battello stops in ten small towns along the way and takes about 2 1/2 hours...one way. We planned on shopping in Como (some sweet ladies from Cork that we've seen a couple of times mentioned a big market) and locating some traditional Neopolitan pizza. The view from the battello was amazing. It looks like there are a hundred tiny little towns all stuck here and there in the mountains and along the lake. It looks like a Disneyland ride with all the miniture hamlets and here and there... a castle. Arrived in Como to discover the market is on the weekend (ok...we missed that). We did however find the pizza....Jim has a nose for that kind of thing! Took the ride back and then went to our room to warm up. We ate dinner at the restaurant in the hotel where we are staying...tonight so did Chef Moreno and his family and the owners of the restaurant across the way!
Thursday 9, October: It seems the 5 hours in the open air battello has given me a cold so we headed to the farmacia for medication. They gift wrap the drugs for you here...isn't that sweet....when you don't feel good you get a gift. Jim can criuse Alaska and Lake Como in the rain in short sleeve shirts...I can't! We took the autotraghetto to Menaggio for the afternoon...however it is closed on the Thursday (yes...the whole town). There is a beautiful promenade along the lake and at the end....miniature golf of course! The "mini gol" looked hard. There is no carpet for friction to slow down the ball and (Karyn will understand this!) an elevated tee..like in the pros! We eventually found a bar that was open and had lunch. Cruised back to Varenna (only 29 minutes across the lake!) and relaxed on the deck.
Friday 10, October: Back to the farmacia...more drugs, different drugs. When to the lake edge and collected some lake glass (Chris and Pam) and then went back to do some laundry...things are looking less pink these days. And then just relaxed and enjoyed the view.
1 comment:
Sounds wonderful except for the head cold and lack of stracchiatella trees. We're missing you but I'm sorry that you have to leave beautiful Italy and come home!
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