Day 40 & 41: Italy, Bellagio (Lake Como)

Buongiorno....Departed Chamonix- Mt Blanc via the Mont Blanc tunnel (E35 toll) and in 11.3kms entered Northern Italy. Headed straight for Bellagio on Lake Como. Had thought about Milan, but read a lot of reviews that said it is huge, chaotic (and the fashion capital) and that some love it and others hate it. We have loved getting into more of the countryside, and given we will head to the cities soon we gave it a miss. Our drive to Bellagio took us to Lecco, where the drive into Bellagio followed the lake (and was a little narrow and hairy at times). Bellagio is lovely. Believe that George Clooney has a villa here. Hoping to see him in the main square (it is quite small), thought he might ask us up to the villa for coffee ... then find out it was our 25th anniversary and be so impressed (because he will never get there) that he offered us his yacht to cruise the Greek Islands...well that was the plan. But unfortunately, no George Clooney...no private yacht to cruise the islands.
The streets here are just what I pictured when I thought of small Italian villages. They are cobblestoned, narrow and at times barely two people can fit down a side street – and they have shops (beautiful designer shops) down them. It is perfect, (thank you to a good friend Pauline for recommending this place). We walked around the town and wandered down to Punta Spartivento (a small jetty on the point where you can look across the lake to places like Varenna, Menaggio, Cadenabbia and Tremezzo. Purchaced a glass sculpture from the designer (bit of an extravagant treat). I walked passed and admired it a number of times. We tentatively went in the store. Everything was gorgeous. He had some beautiful vases and large bowls (about 4000 Euros each – my purchase was no where near this). Decided I would regret it if I did not buy it so we did. Am very, very excited.
Walking early evening yesterday we heard a whistle, then a cheer...a soccer game! Walked to the ground and found what looked to be a school match in progress. Watched for a little while. One team was very good, excellent team. The other...oh well, they tried.
Intend to have an Italian pizza tonight...am sure we will have many. Really struggle with the menu. Pastas are all entrees. Mains are meat, meat and meat. Last night we had a “special” 3 courses. Yes pasta for an entree – homemade gnocchi with cheese and cabbage (local dish). Nice, filling...but the cheese had so much fat. Grilled meat platter for a main and then ice cream with a liquer on top. So much liquer I was glad we were walking back to the hotel. Can’t eat like this too often...come back a whale.
Currently sitting on the bed, looking out over the balcony to the Lake. Big Rick on a trek to the next town. Has rained pretty much all day. Very grey, no breaks in the weather. Feeling very relaxed..ready to face the next stage. Tomorrow Verona. Have an apartment so we are looking forward to buying food to cook. We will see what happens.

Ciao for now...hope weather picks up. It’s been great thus far.