Hotel Romagna Baveno

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 ...

... it up and buy a disposable camera. We kept going, it was pretty empty, as most Sunday mornings in Italy are, and walked the extent of the town. There's an island nearby, if you want to know the story behind it click here-http://www.orta.net/eng1/isolasgiu lioe.htm-and by the time we got back to the center the town had woken up and there were people everywhere. I'm glad we got there when we did. There was a path around the lake that we walked, then it was time to ...

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!

... some rich dude. I bet she didnt want to marry him and it was a bribe from her mum. What a bribe though!

Sorry, this keyboard is killing me. ill write again soon and fill you in on Milan. And the food - as you an imagine the food in italy is amazing. I love the fact that every shop makes my mouth water. just heading out now for gelato after cooking dinner at the hostel. I bought fresh pasta from a nice man at a deli nearby - was so much fun!

xox Hannah

... 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.

... we highly suggest reading some information on - nerd or not, this thing is really cool http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthard_B ase_Tunnel We got there and had a short presentation then dressed up in our orange jump suites, our hardhats, a badge that would let them know where we are at all times (in case of a collapse), and a little backpack with oxygen that was again in case ...

... the unsightly industrial core of northern Italy around Milan. Continuing on to Modena we got off the motorway and headed for the small town of Maranello and, with the afternoon fast disappearing, we looked straight away for a place to stay for the night. We found a centrally located and quite modern hotel, and the man at the reception desk proudly announced he had one last factory-view room. Now this wouldn’t usually be a selling point for most hotels, even in places ...