Riomaggiore

We wake to another day in paradise. Beautiful sunny morning and 20 degrees at 9am. Breakfast is a bit of a schemozel. It takes a while for the waitress to take our order and then Ann misses out on hers!   She makes up with getting a peach and banana on the way back. We are unsure what to do today. We head off to the info centre and the walk we would like to do is closed. So we gather the info and then consider our alternatives. We head off to check out the ferry and are amazed at the docking area! There is a small area where the ferries come in bow first, lower a gangplank and then keep the engine running to keep the ferry in place. On either side are rocks just below the water that could severely damage the boat. The skippers are really skilful.
After considering options we will probably take the ferry tomorrow to Monterosso and back to view all the towns from the water, then on Monday we might get a two day train ticket which enables us to visit the towns at our leisure and also provides us with the park pass in case we want to do any trails.
For lunch we have take away calamari and chips - delicious. Can’t believe the number of cafes that supply take aways, including beers and people just find somewhere to sit and enjoy their meal!
After lunch the girls wander around the shops while the boys head off to check possible walks. After the girls have finished shopping (empty handed) we suggest a walk that is mostly path. We end up high above Riomaggiore with spectacular views over the sea and down to the train station. Ross and I push on a bit further and find a path leading down to the station, but there is a cafe/bar above the station on the edge with a great view over the sea. We end up there and have a drink! It is quite warm and it is a well earned drink. Then it’s back to our rooms for more drinks.
Tonight we intend to watch the sunset over the sea, so we head off at 7.15 to the harbour area. It is quite busy but we go past the crowd and find a great viewing area near the ferry landing. We have brought a bottle of rose’ with us to enjoy the sunset. It is pretty good but is slightly spoiled by some low cloud. On the way back there are some guys jumping off the cliffs into the water giving us some free entertainment.
It is now time for dinner and we find a cafe where we have three bruschetta, three pizzas, three beers and three Aperol Spritz. After a great meal and great day it is time for bed. Ross and I are both over football! Although at least Ross has another chance.

To Cinque Terre

We wake to drizzling rain, though it is still warm. We have an early breakfast at 8 am and check out at 9.45. Lake Como and Menaggio has been great but it is raining and we only follow the sun!
We walk to our water taxi and head across the lake to Verenna. It is about a km walk up a hill to the train station, but the path is relatively smooth. We take our time and arrive by 9.20, our train is 10.37 so we have ample time to recover. After the last effort of the six of us trying to board at the same time, we decide to split up and board at different doors. This works well and we are all able to get a seat and stow our luggage. The train was a few minutes late but we have 30 mins at Milano before we head off to Cinque Terre. Unfortunately when we arrive we have less time and we have to go straight to our next train. We had planned to buy something at the station to eat on the way as it is a three hour journey. Anyway we board ok and luggage is stowed. We have to change trains at Monterosso and we arrive about 3.10 to a crowded platform. There are no lifts, so Ross and I head off to find the ticket office. We purchase our tickets and the next train for Riomaggiore is due in 5 mins but on the same station we got off. We head back with the good news just as the train arrives and manage to force our way onto the train. It is very crowded and not easy travelling with six suitcases! We finally get to Riomaggiore and now we have to find our hotel. It is very crowded and we follow the crowd to leave the station, we walk via an underpass for over 500 metres and then come to a junction. We find a place to reorganise and Luggy goes one way and I the other. Luggy goes up some steps while I head off up the hill. After about 150 metres I look around and see La Dolce Vita, I notice the street number is 167, this is the address!! I go back and bring everyone up and our host is waiting for us. Our rooms are another 50 metres further on. We are on three different levels and the stairs are steep. It is tough going carrying the suitcases up but we all make it eventually. The rooms are spacious and comfortable and overlook the main thoroughfare, it is a hive of activity. We rest up and agree to meet at 4 for some well earned beers!! While the boys down some beers the girls enjoy Aperol Spritz. We end up talking to some aussies from Sydney (actually a scot who migrated to Australia and an Irishman who migrated to Australia when he was 12). This place is marvellous, we can feel the ambience, the vibe, the Mabo!
After a couple of hours drinking in the sun we head off to eat and find a restaurant selling hamburgers!!
To finish the night off we head down to the water for some amazing views, unfortunately I did not have my camera. Hopefully should be able to get some pictures tomorrow. As we walked back at 9pm the temp was 21.

Menaggio Day 3

After the concert last night we reach our last day in Menaggio. Can’t believe we have only 10 days to go! The morning is sunny and warm, but thunderstorms are expected. We check out the water taxis to get to Veranna, as we are dreading the walk to the ferry terminal with its cobblestone footpaths. The other alternative is to get taxis from the hotel to the ferry terminal. After some consideration we book a water taxi for 9am tomorrow which gives us plenty of time to push our suitcases up the hill to the train station, at least the path is smooth on that side. Our train departs at 10.30 so ample time.
The clouds are building but it is still warm and sunny. On our first day here Ross suggested hiring a boat for an hour, and we decide to do this. We head off at 11.10 and have a very pleasant time cruising the lake towards the north end. The lake covers a vast area.
We decide to have lunch after one and Ann is nervous about the Tigers. It is half time and they are only a few points ahead. We have a lovely spot looking out over the lake, the clouds are building but the weather is still warm. As we have another beer Ann heads off to find the final score, she comes back very pleased. We now need to pack for our departure tomorrow.
After packing we book a table out the front of our hotel for dinner and meet up for a last beer at 6.30 at a cafe/bar in the plaza with views out over the lake. The clouds are building up and there is the occasional thunder.
At the restaurant after speaking with the waiter we head inside. Midway through the meal the downpour begins! It pelts down for about 20 mins. After dinner it has cleared but we still have thunder and lightning appearing over the other side of the lake. Tomorrow we head to Cinque Terre. Read Burt Reynolds has died - just saying!

Menaggio Day 2

Wake again to another beautiful sunny morning. Ann and I are first down to breakfast and there is a seat for two available on the balcony. We reluctantly take the seating and are forced to sit in the early morning sun looking out over the square and lake Como while eating our breakfast and drinking cappuccinos.
After breakfast our plan is to get an all day pass for the mid lakes ferry. We head off on the ferry at 10.10 and take it to Villa Collotta. We decide not to enter the villa as it does not look as good as yesterday’s. We then walk to Tremezo and decide to get the ferry to Bellagio. Bellagio is very busy with lots of tourists. It is very pretty with narrow laneways and plenty of shops. After walking around for an hour we decide to have lunch and we find a place opposite the water where we have 5 hamburgers and one salmon burger and three beers and three rose’s.
After lunch Ann and Kaye buy some jewellery and then we catch the ferry back to Menaggio. Once again sunny all day with temps in high 20s. Back in Menaggio we decide to rest up and meet again at 5. Another guuuud day!

We head off to buy some alcohol and cheese and prosciutto and biscuits for tea. The deli we were hoping to purchase from was closed on Wednesday afternoon so we moved onto the supermarket, but they did not have cold beer so we improvised and bought bags of ice as well and set it up in the bidet!

At 6 we have drinks etc and then we decide to go for a walk after 7. When we go out of the hotel a 3 piece band has set up and are playing r&r, blues etc. in the plaza. The singer is great and the music really good. We sit around enjoying their songs for 90 mins and then head off for a walk. Back at the Johnstones we finish off the port and some baileys and the band finally finishes at 9.45.

We will have a quiet day tomorrow.

Pictures from lake como

Menaggio

We wake this morning to clear sunny skies and an expected temp of 28 degrees. Breakfast is included  and it is cereal, juice, boiled eggs, fruit, yogurt, breads, jams, croissants etc. After breakfast we head to the tourist info centre and decide to take a little road train to Lenno and visit the Villa Balbinanello.
It is a great ride around the coastline with beautiful scenery along the way. We get off and there is a 20 minute walk to the villa which sits on the tip of a promontory in the lake. At times the walk is quite steep, but the views are amazing. The gardens are amazing with spectacular views over the lake.   We take a tour of the villa and our guide gives us a run through of the ownership of the villa, the initial owner/builder being a cardinal, another was a countess, and then a US army general who took seven years to negotiate a sale with the countess and then finally the Monzino family. The last owner was the son Guido. The father when he died owned department stores all over Italy and was very wealthy. The son Guido sold everything and became an explorer/expeditionary in the 1970s. He travelled to the North Pole, Mt Everest and all round the world. He financed all his expeditions. During his travels he acquired relics and ancient artworks and other artefacts and his collection is incredible. He also restored and extended the villa, which is built on rock, so it was not an easy job. A lift was also added. The furniture and glass paintings were amazing, including the hidden staircases to be used as escape routes.
The villa was used in Star Wars attack of the clones and also in casino Royale.
 We get back to our hotel around 6 pm, it has been sunny all day with hardly a wind. We walk to a delicatessen where we know we can get some cold beers, because it is beer o,clock.
Around 7.30 pm we head off for dinner. At the first place we find they have hamburgers, but when we enquire they only have a small kitchen and can only cook three at a time! We then head to another place which looks ok but is busy. Anyway we go in and order. Kaye orders a salad, I have swordfish with fries, Karen ordered spaghetti and a side dish and Luggy, Ross and Ann order risotto and spaghetti. After 15 mins my swordfish appeared and Karen’s side dish. I started eating mine and after 15 mins some bread appeared, by now I had finished and then Kaye’s salad arrived. After another 10 mins the rest of the dishes arrived along with my fries! This was the equivalent of Fawltey  Towers!
The food was good but the service deplorable. We then finished off with gelati in the square and port back in the hotel.
Pictures will follow when I have time to catch up.

To Lake Como

We had dinner Inn the hotel and walked over to see the bridge at night - very pretty.
In the morning we have a walk around and buy some lunch for our train trip. Check out at 11.15 and head over to the train station. Lucerne is a lovely city and we easily could have spent another day here. It is a city we could return to if  the opportunity arises.
We board our train and it departs on time at 12.17. There is a scramble for luggage space, but Luggy and Ross rearrange the luggage rack to fit all ours in. It is a delightful train trip, very quite and smooth. The scenery is fantastic with craggy mountains, lush green valleys and beautiful lakes. We spend at least 20 minutes going through one tunnel. We get off at Monza  where we have to change trains for Varenna. The sun is out and it is quite warm, around 27 degrees. We have a 50 minute wait between trains. We find our platform and then spend the next 40 mins trying to understand Italian announcements to see whether they have changed our platform number. Everything is okay and we board our train. Unfortunately this is crowded and we are forced to stand in the doorway again for the next 50 mins.
We arrive at Varenna and now we have to wheel our luggage down to the ferry terminal. It is downhill which is fine, but that means it will be uphill for the return. We pay the ferry man and head across to Menaggio. It takes about 15 minutes. We have checked Mr Google and it should be a 6 walk to our hotel. It is but it is over cobble stones! We arrive with our bags still intact, but we might grab a taxi back when we leave. The hotel is in a great place, on the edge of a plaza area which looks directly across the lake. We check in and agree to meet up at 7. The rooms are neat and tidy, lovely shower area. We have a short walk but all shops are closed, so we have something to eat and drink at a cafe in the plaza. Six beers and six lasagnes! We are outside and have great views across the lake to Varenna. After dinner we head back to the Johnstones room, because they have extra room and chairs! After a couple of ports we retire and are looking forward to tomorrow with an expected temp
of 27.