Villa Aminta Stresa

... hill to the Volta Lighthouse. If it wasn't for the foggy view we would have had a great panoramic view of Lake Como and it's surrounds.
After walking back down to Como we caught the bus out to Belaggio which is at the furthest point on the lake. Town was completely dead. a couple of cafes and post card shops open and that was it!
Some nice ...

... but it was nice to be able to relax and have a quiet walk around the villages. I needed to take a lot of ferries as this is the quickest way to get between each town as they are all placed at different points around the lake. A very nice place that I would love to visit again in the Summertime.

Next stop is Venice, Italy!

... all the places in America, he chooses Kansas. The sun is setting by the time we get to unnamed cute little town, and there is this weird mist in the low parts (it's very hilly there, so every valley had this mist). It was pretty magical looking. As soon as we pulled up to the house, which is tucked in amongst all these vineyards, Meghan and I run out to the backyard to see the sunset. As we pass the swimming pool (have I mentioned that the family is rich?) my ...

... br>
Sue

We transferred from the bus to a boat to do the tour of the Lake. They pointed out the particular houses of royalty and film stars - and how many millions their houses were worth. The views were spectacular, the houses really like castles, and they would have no trouble having privacy, that's for sure! Another wonderfully pleasant surprise! Some have their own cable-cars to get down to the water's edge. (Funicular)

... featuring some very pretty gardens and fountains. We enjoyed some gelato as we walked along the lakeside gardens. After an hour break here, we took the short drive to Como. Como is also another beautiful lakeside town. We shared dinner and enjoyed a nice conversation with Stan and Johanna from Colorado. We are now in Italy and we are looking forward to the next seven days in this country.

Took the train from Milan to Lake Como - short 1.5 hour trip. The lake is beautiful and there was a speed boat race going on when we arrived. We took the funicular (tram) which has a charming little town at the top and a great view of the lake. We stayed on the south side of the lake (where George lives) and then took a boat north to Bellagio. Quaint town with steep streets filled with great shops. Can understand why George bought a house there!

... people doing the grand tour of italy as it has an amazing art colletion. The villas main highlight though is its huge and beautiful gardens. i mean there are orange arbours, huge beds of flowers, waterfalls, a grotto, millions of ponds and fountains, a rhodedendron walk (sadly not in flower at the time), palm trees, immaculate lawns, a mini rainforest, bonzai trees. Seriously it was insane! it was given to Carlotta (and got its name) by her mother on her marriage ...

... The weather was absolutely perfect the entire time we were in Lugano and it wasn't easy to leave behind. Every place I visit in Ticino, the Italian region of Switzerland, I love, so I am sure I will be back to see more of it soon.

On Monday morning my Canadian friend left us in Lugano on a train for Milan. I wish him a safe journey and an amazing experience on his first backpacking trip ever, and his first time outside of North America.

... 1170 after a vow he made for having had his life saved from a storm on the lake. As we crossed the lake we were able to see Switzerland in the distance along with the start of the Alps. I keep forgetting. Most of the women we see here - especially the Italian women - wear sensible low heel shoes. We've seen very few with spike heels. I imagine it's hard to walk on the streets here with spike heels.

... were in the Italian part of Switzerland. I’m continually amazed at the diversity within such a small country, so much so that I really don’t know how the 26 largely autonomous Cantons, each distinctly parochial, influenced in part in food and customs by their nearest bordering countries and divided by the use four official national languages, has ever been able to function effectively as a unified confederation since the original Cantons first joined together in 1291 ...