Lake Como and Switzerland

Lake Como

4 September 2007- Tuesday (Martedi) – DAY 3- Milan, Lake Como, Lugano

Breakfast – catch the bus by 8:15 a.m. to Lake Como. The weather was incredible, just like everything we saw. Milan is an industrial area, yet clean and pretty, with much greenery, corn fields (for polenta). And, of course, the city is the fashion capital of the world. Designer shops all over the city. Como is gorgeous, lush and privileged. It is an area where the wealthiest in the world own property or vacation, with private beach fronts here and there around the lake. A 2-story ferry took us around the Lake, the deepest in the world at over 1000 feet. The mansions and gardens and compounds around the Lake are owned and visited by the likes of Sophia Loren when she was living in Italy (now lives in the U.S.) and Marcello Mastroianni. Mussolini stayed here and the SS headquartered here during WWII. Mussolini was also killed here, and later strung upside down in the square in Milan.


The Pope vacations here, and Pavarotti stayed at times; the heir to the Heinz (ketchup) fortune Teresa Heinz Kerry, now wife of Massachusetts senator John Kerry) has a mansion on Lake Como, and on and on.

Some of the mansions have private funicula (tram or elevator) that, due to the steep mountainside, is needed for transport from the mansion the road above.

If you can enlarge this photo, you will see this “elevator” from the cluster of mansions to the 

building at the top of the mountain.
We walked to a Cathedral just off the Square, and inside was amazing, walls and ceilings covered in paintings and arches, marble carvings everywhereOutside in the square was a mime dressed as a jester all in white. At first we thought 

it to be a statue.

The beauty just leaves me speechless … still in disbelief that I’m in Italy at last. The trip is just beginning, and several times throughout the day, taking in the beauty of the countryside, tears well.

Lugano

Our guide, Antonella, had reminded us repeatedly to have our passports with us in the event that we had to stop at the border, but we drove right through. The buildings instantly took on a different architecture, less ornate and romantic. Lugano is also a huge Lake, and along it is a tremendous shopping area.

We all bought chocolate, of course, and took in the beauty of the area.

Outside in the square was a mime dressed as a jester all in white. t first we thought it to be a statue.

I took over 100 photos over the last two days and about 5 short video clips. I’m starting to wonder if my two 2GB media cards will be enough after all.

We came back to the hotel with a two hour break, before heading out to dinner. The day was warm and sunny, with a blustery wind that made white-caps on the lakes. Magnificent weather, in a magnificent place.

Look closely at the ceiling in this photo. Notice the three dimensional architectural treatment. This technique is called trompe l'oeilm which means "fool the eye."

I took over 100 photos over the last two days and about 5 short video clips. I’m starting to wonder if my two 2GB media cards will be enough after all.

We came back to the hotel with a two hour break, before heading out to dinner. The day was warm 

and sunny, with a blustery wind that made white-caps on the lakes. Magnificent weather, in a magnificent place.

Dinner was at a restaurant here in Milano—delicious, but I have yet to be impressed with the food. Understand, being Italian, perhaps my bar is set a bit higher than others when it comes to Italian food. Every dinner includes 4 courses, starting with two pasta dishes, or pasta with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, then the main course, and then dessert. Espresso may be offered after but not with dessert unless requested. I’ve found that both salads (never served with any dressing) and pastas have a strong olive flavor, even when olives are not seen in the food.

Tomorrow is an early day. Wake-up call is 6:30 a.m., and luggage outside our doors by 7 a.m. We have a city tour of Milano first, then to Verona, and finally we drive to Venice where we’ll settle into hotel #2 for a couple of nights.

This is all so amazing! I’m H E R E! More tomorrow.

Ciao,