Boston Stresa

Lake Como photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album. php?aid=163676&id=613699523&l=b 0c583d265

Friday caught the train out to Como for a day trip.
Wandering around Como is really nice and can imagine it would be awesome in Summer, as well as being incredibly busy and crowded.
Caught the funiculare up to Brunate and walked up the ...

When I finally found Lake Como (after a train, then a bus, then a ferry and then a very confusing walk) I was surprised that it was so empty. It was raining (I think the rain is following me around Europe) and there was no one about so I was able to do my exploring easily. Lake Como is a very small place with not too many things to ...

... instantly, even though the sleeping arrangements were pretty strange. They have this huge house, with 3 kitchens total, but only 2 bedrooms in the main part (there's a summer house for the grandparents-I did say they were rich right?). So that means that in one bedroom there are two twin beds on the main floor and a loft. The boy sleeps in the loft, and Meghan and I were in the downstairs area. Normally I think that would have weirded me out since I had only ...

John

From Venice we drove across Italy to Lake Como which is close to the Swiss border. On the way we stopped at the town of Verona which was developed by the Romans and has its own smaller version of the Colosseum which is still used for opera and musical events. However Verona is most famous for being the hometown of Romeo and Juliet whose love is thwarted by a fued between their respective families the Capulets and the ...

From Dad
To Como

After Lucerne we then had a relatively short drive through the mountains to Como. We went through the longest tunnel in the world, and passed through some very pretty mountain scenery. We stopped near Bellinzona and had a longer rest at Lugarno. These towns are both in the Italian speaking area of Switzerland.

Lugarno was another attractive lakeside town ...

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!

... churches, castles, bridges, and historic buildings.

San Salvatore is one of the mountains on Lake Lugano. You can ride to the top in a funnicular, or hike up the steep path. We went the lazy route and saved our energy for walking around on top. From the funnicular station you can walk up a bit further to a small chapel sitting on the peak of the mountain. The chapel has a rooftop terrace with a stunning 360 degree panorama view.
Lugano, Swiss Alps, Switzerland travelingdiva

... At the top of the pass, a rock eagle stands guard looking for invaders. We stopped for a coffee break and then crossed into Italy.

We stopped in Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Stresa is the home of the Borremeo Family’s summer palace. It is located on an island in Lake Maggiore called Isola Bella. We had lunch at a trattoria before boarding water taxis for the island.

The Borremeo family today ...

... like the French side of Switzerland I lived in, nor the German side I visited semi-regularly.

But, looking harder, the streets were free of potholes, the lakeside was completely free of rubbish and there was a general feeling of orderliness that could never be confused for Italy. This really was still the same country I lived in.

The difference was obvious as soon as we crossed the border. The autostrade was a little bumpy and the fog became smog as we passed ...

... family... At the top we found trails and signs that matched to nothing we had on our map. In true Italian fashion nothing was organized in a way that would allow for an intuitive, uncomplicated visit at the top. So we made our own trail and ended up on the edge of a ridge where we could see north into Switzerland and south into Italy. Though the day was a bit hazy, we could actually make out the other lakes in the area, including some ...