Italy - Day 3 (Lake Como)

Great start to the day with this gorgeous view!  My morning office :)

Lily and I headed into town for breakfast.  The Hotel Auroura had a beautiful display of fresh breads that you sliced yourself, meats, cheeses, an espresso machine, and eggs that you boiled to your desired doneness.  We brought back croissants and apricot muffins for the others, and stopped at the grocery store for some eggs, milk, and bananas.  The young lady at the checkout told me the amount needed to be 20 Euro for the credit card, so I looked at the wine display and was surprised and thrilled to see that I needed to buy 2 bottles to make up the 8 Euro difference!  The wine is literally cheaper than water.  “I think I’m gonna like it here!” J

My dear friend from college Tamara and her husband Domi and kids Fabrice and Miles drove down from Switzerland to join us for a couple of days.  We met up with them and toured their gorgeous house they rented before heading to the beach at Hotel Aroura for some water play.  

The water was freezing, but Alicia and I still swam the kids out to the trampoline.  I reminded the kids, as I often do, to remember the nice gesture when I am in my 90’s J  We all had a blast!  Molly tried wake boarding.  And then when the rain started...  

We all headed home to shower and get warmed up, before renting boats to explore Lake Como at 6pm.  So fun – despite a little rain.  

Caden's journal entry about our boat ride.

Afterwards we headed to the restaurant to order takeout, which we took back to Tamara and Domi’s.  The kids played at the water and had a ball.

We hiked back up around 9:30pm, put on a movie for the kids who had been planning their slumber party all day, and managed to turn our one toast of limoncello to the Alexanders who just received the call that they had a new house – into drinking the entire bottle!

Italy-Day 2 (Lake Como)

We all slept until 9am.  Felt great!  Caden was still exhausted when he finally opened his eyes.

We then headed down to the little café at the bottom of our stairs for a macchiato.  Tiny little spot with a small cluster of chairs on the porch.  Local after local would walk up or pull by car to stop up for a coffee.  They all chatted like dear friends.  Or maybe they were just united in making fun of us, sitting there sipping coffees and playing battle ship on our new magnetic game :)  Caden, Gia and I decided to take one last little walk up a hidden stair case we were curious about just up the walk from our place.  So amazing the way the homes and gardens are tucked into the hillside!

We then packed up and headed to the adorable little town of Argegno a couple of miles up for a breakfast of apricot croissants, other pastries, and hot chocolates (no judging - it was the only breakfasty food available at 11:15am!).  Caden took his turn as photographer.  Very cute to see his perspective.

We drove to Cadenabria to take a car ferry across Lake Como to Bellagio to drive to Lezzeno.  The view was stunning and a strong breeze blew across the boat.  The kids hopped out of the car and did happy dances as the wind whipped about.  It was a fun sight to see.

Bellagio is gorgeous.  I can see why Vegas created a beautiful hotel in its name.  We drove along the narrow roads lined with honey suckle and roses before arriving at our house in Lezzano.  The directions were a bit sketchy – and literally sketched on a scrap piece of paper from the hotel Villa Aroura that we made the arrangements through, which found us at the top of a steep hill paved with ‘pudding stones’ (as my mom would call them).  

When we decided to go back, Corey opted for turning around rather than backing down, which resulted in our car perfectly nestled between a stone wall and a 10 foot drop.  I thought we would be bribing some strapping Italians to help us pick up the front end of the car and turn it around (not a bad prospect).  Thankfully after repeated inching through 3-point turns, we made it.  With the help of some of the construction workers at a nearby house (one of which was wearing an Arizona t-shirt who did not speak ANY English), we found our house.  Alexanders were already there.  Big hugs, wine, and lots of running around for the kids.

Alicia and I managed a little run down to town through the winding paths and stairs.  However we had to walk back up with our arms full of wine J  We drank a bottle, and then I made my obligatory run up the hill.  At the top I found what I am interpreting to be an agri-farm in one direction, and a church set by the backdrop of a waterfall.  My paranoia set in shortly thereafter about being at the top of a mountain with a steep drop off into a waterfall, so I hightailed it back down after a short tour.

We celebrated Abby’s 9^th birthday at the Hotel Aroura Pizzeria on the water.  Very fun evening had by all.