Buongiorno

The weather so far in Milan has been very favourable. Often we are walking around with just shirts etc on. Perhaps this is seen to be a little strange, as I have noticed the odd stare from the locals. The weather seems to be improving and we are monitoring the weather for the upcoming places in which we stay. A special look at the current heatwave unfolding in Russia: it made 10 Celsius the other day !! Perhaps the weather has a great deal to with the Russian people keen to move around ? 

We have started to get our sea legs back, and our routine of having breakfast down in the Hotel Charly restaurant and then moving on, seems to work. So on this occasion, same routine, but a somewhat earlier start as we needed to catch an 0820 hours train from Milano Centrale. We were to go and see if George, that’s as in, Clooney had heard that Parno and Fred were “in town” and to see if he wanted to meet up with us. I did ask Fred if she wanted to be bothered to drop by to his lake Como Villa and have a chat. She must have been feeling a little sick, as her response was that she fainted on the spot. A quick recovery was undertaken when I said to her that we needed to get onto the RV 2554 train. The trip was only 63 minutes (Italian time). 

It wasn’t long into the journey, that you could notice that we were heading toward the high country, the foothills of the Alps. In geomorphological language, aretes and tarns started to appear. Essentially, this meant lakes and quite steep cliffs were commonplace as the train line wound itself along the shoreline of Lago Di Garlate. Fresh water lakes that would be fed by the melting snow. The area was unfolding to be quite picturesque. Most of our journey being through tunnels in the latter part of the trip.

We had done our homework and knew that we needed to alight at a small country station called Varenna Del-Pelion (“Varenna”). This we almost missed, as the typical Italian station is not all that well sign posted and if it wasn’t for a local, insisting that this was Varenna, perhaps we may have ended up in Torino. What confused us, was that the train was in fact a few minutes early. Ahead of schedule in Italy: no I have not transgressed !!

The small village station was quaint. We sat in the middle of the train, as a report that we had read, indicated that the train carriage length, exceeded the platform length. Still, all went OK as we got off the train: as did many others. A short trip down the side of the mountain and in 10 minutes, we were in the village of Varenna on th shores of Lake Como. George wasn’t there to meet us. “Perhaps, he got the time wrong”, indicated Fred. I indicated that he wasn’t there because he didn’t have a “clue-knee”. Yes, I know, my quick wit to the fore. Fred on this occasion, did not laugh: albeit, it took me a few minutes to get over this rather humourous event. 

It was to be at this point we were to catch the ferry across to another village on the other side of the lake, Menaggio. A short 10 minute ride. The sunny weather made this rather slow but enjoyable trip worthwhile. The closer we got to Menaggio it became obvious that this (almost) alpine, lakeside setting was a place which would be extremely popular in the warmer months.

Menaggio was small, and in the distance we could hear church bells: which we were to find out later, operated every hour. Walking around you could hear the Italian chatter in the background; all conversations seemed to be very cordial and seemed to be at a level where everyone knew each other. People passing each other greeted the “oncoming traffic”. A refreshing change. Just over the way, in th background, we could see snow capped mountains: culminating in a rather picturesque setting.

The village had small “visa” (streets). So much so, that most were one way. The street pattern centred by the Piazza Menaggio. All the commercial activity of the village ringing this. One of these outlets being the Caffe Del Pass: a hotel cum caffe. It is here where we sat just in case George Cloney was late: sitting here gave him the opportunity to rethink his non-appearance. 

Fred then had a brilliant idea (her words), that we could then catch the ferry across to Bellagio just in case George misunderstood and was waiting for us there. Being the dutiful husband, I agree so we then waited for the car-passenger ferry at the nearby terminal. Again, a 10-15 trip across to another location on Lake Como to the more commercial village of Bellagio. This village being rather well set up for tourists. No George didn’t front here. So Fred insisted on us buying some local wine and food to take home for our dinner. It is said that eating sometimes overcomes disappointment: I agreed with this request as I felt her eating may indeed be good therapy. I would reluctantly join in: especially given that there was a full bottle of local wine to consume.

This was culinary request was preceded by us eating at the La Fontaine restaurant. A 2016 Matteo Bandello Rosso Di Valtellina wine (“demoninazione di origins contrliate” of course) made from Nebbiolo grapes, along with an exquisite seafood platter, along with an Italian rizzotto mains, along with a pizza ....yes a long slow lunch. Our Italian cum American waiter was good company

Back to the ferry terminal to steam across the lake to Varenna. Last chance for George to appear. From the ferry terminal, a brisk yet steep walk to the train stazione to await our train to take us back to Milano Centrale.  

The train arrived on time: I lost the bet and within an hour we were back into Milan and then our short walk to Hotel Charly where our Italian picnic was had while we sat and listened to the Bulldogs and Magpies NRL fixture.

Today would see our Milan experience end, as we move off to Tuscany next. 

The answers for the competition should you feel so inclined are as follows:

Ciao