The drive from Colmar took six hours and went really well apart from the usual long wait to go through the San Gottardo tunnel.
Just about to leave Lake Como and the two-day stay has been everything I expected and more. I’d only ever been out of season, when the lake is a peaceful bolthole surrounded by snow-capped peaks. In summer it turns out to be equally laid-back, but with plenty to do for all ages.
We arrived in time to settle into our two bed apartment with lounge at the top of lakeside Hotel Risi, then Courtney popped over from Milan to join us for a couple of spritzes and a surprise announcement – she’s getting hitched in November!
She had to leave on the last train but just had time for a plate of gnocchi, leaving us to polish off our own excellent repast at leisure.
The following day, we caught the Como ferry and got off at Bellaggio for a taste of the high life.
Bellaggio was packed with tourists and a real transport hub with passenger and even car ferries setting off in all directions. It was incredibly hot – impossible to walk for any length of time without feeling faint.
Once back in the calm of Colico, we collapsed for a few hours to rally ourselves for another excellent dinner with a view.
After dinner, we took Lottie for a long walk and discovered a few of Colico’s evening attractions.
It’s going to be sad to leave. You can while away the day very happily watching people, ducks, children learning to sail in tiny dinghies and ferries arriving and leaving (when the man in the ticket office has to hastily don his trousers). That’s when you’re not eating, drinking, walking, swimming, dancing to cheesy music and generally having a proper taste of the Italian good life.
2022 and all that 