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Friday 06/08/2010 114
Today after an internet saga, we headed to the Castello di Vezio. However on the way we missed a turn, and with narrow road clinging to the edges of cliffs there was really nowhere to turn around so the GPS took us on a sphincter clenching, knuckle whitening detour up to the top of the next mountain and back. Upon finally arriving at our destination and relaxing a little we made our way through the narrow labyrinthine streets of Vezio. The castle is one of the first ones I have visited that actually looks like a castle with a tower and drawbridge and slits for windows. The castle is most well known for it's birds of prey and falconry. We were able to watch a display of one of the falcons flying before we left.
For dinner tonight the olds shouted me a meal at the trattoria around the corner from our apartment and as this is the last meal that I'm going to have paid for, for a while, I made sure I ate up big.
Thursday 05/08/2010 115
We awoke to discover that the rain that had started last night was continuing to fall and so our plan of driving to Como and exploring that city was cancelled. After dragging out some long sleeves (really did not expect to need them in Italy in July, we instead we headed through Como and back into Switzerland to hit a shopping centre. A fairly small affair, by Aussie standards we passed a couple of hours looking at shops and headed back to the apartment.
Wednesday 04/08/2010 116
Today we headed north out of Italy into Switzerland. Our destination...the resort town of St Moritz. As we neared the Swiss border the architecture of the houses changed, from Italian villas to Swiss 'chocolate box' houses and ski chalets. Several tunnels through mountains and a quick wave through the border and we began our ascent of the alps. Zigzagging up the mountain we were in the Swiss Alps proper, with snow still visible on some of the higher peaks.
It is a truly stunning landscape and after parking the car, and realising that we should have dressed more appropriately (it was sunny and clear but only about 15 degrees) we headed into the town. St Moritz really is all about the lifestyles of the rich and the famous, with designers such as Gucci, Chanel and Chopard all setting up shop, and 5 star hotels with Rolls Royce's out the front lining the main streets. It has also twice hosted the Winter Olympics, but not for 60 years so I'm not sure if they can still use that as a selling point, will Sydney still be bragging in 2060? (probably!) However, in summer the town is full of day trippers, bush walkers and families camping. After having a wander around we had lunch at the St Moritz sailing club overlooking the lake, and after lunch we strolled around it's perimeter, past a circus and equestrian arena.
The decent off the mountain would be enough to test even the most experienced driver as the height and sharpness of the bends was even more obvious when heading down, but we safely made it back into Italy and to our apartment.
Tuesday 03/08/2010 117
Bellagio take 2! Today we caught the ferry in Lecco and zigzagged our way back and forth across Lake Como, for about an hour and a half, until we reached Bellagio (at the bit of the upside down Y where the 2 arms meet. It is a very pretty town, easy to see why someone chose to try and recreate the appeal in Vegas.
Our first stop was the Giardini di Villa Melzi (Gardens of the Melzi Villa). Located on the edge of the Lake the gardens have been here for some 200 years. They were originally built. Along with the rather ugly, boring house, for the vice president of the Italian Republic. The beautiful gardens have plants from around the world. We then stopped for lunch and headed up the hill through the narrow, steep, cobbled streets to a church dating back almost 1 000 years, and to a scenic lookout that had views of all 3 arms of the lake at the point where they all meet.
Monday 02/08/2010 118
Today the plan was to go to Bellagio and after a drive we arrived. As we quite happily strolled along the waterfront I was focusing on the view of the lake and continuing my tradition of spectacular klutziness I twisted my ankle in a pothole. Straining one ankle and giving myself the first skinned knee I have had in about 15 years, after nearly passing out and throwing up from the pain and shock I was forced to make us return to the apartment. I spent the rest of the day sitting on the sofa with ice on my ankle and watching BBC world news...the only English Language channel available.
Sunday 01/08/2010 119
Lazy day today, hanging out in the apartment and a quick trip around the lake to Lecco in the afternoon. Lecco is one of the cities on the lake and is a pretty town.
Saturday 31/07/2010 120
Today, after dropping Emily and Kim at the train station in Montevarcchi so that they could catch a total of 7 trains on their way to their accommodation in Switzerland. We began our drive north. Along the way we were passed by the train that Em and Kim were on shortly before we reached the outskirts of Milan. Skipping around the edge of the city we continued north to the Lake Como area and our apartment on the edge of the lake.
Not as big, and very orange, the apartment was none the less clean, newly decorated and adequate. I spent the rest of the afternoon doing a lot of not very much...one of the perks of staying in apartments.
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