We thought driving out of Rome was a challenge, but we had yet to travel to Como.
After saying our good-byes to Court’s parents at the turn off to “Lost in the Tuscan Sun” Cortona, we headed north in our little, silver Peugeot. All was good until after filling up at the gas station, the car starting to clack very loudly and stutter. This is particularly not good when the speed limit is 130 km on the Autostrada. It finally dawned on us through some rental car manual translations and our Rick Steve’s dictionary that “gasolio” is not “gas” but diesel. This is not a good thing when your car is not a diesel engine. Even with the accelerator pressed all the way down, we continued to limp along the highway, blowing smoke literally (some nice Italians pointed that one out to us). Luckily we had not filled up, so we continued to stop and fill up periodically with unleaded benzina which helped burn off the ill-applied diesel.
If that was not enough pressure, Courtney gave a wrong direction which lead us into the crazy Milan city center.
Finally though, we puttered into lovely Como which is at the foot of Lake Como. This is where the beautiful fashionistas from Milan come to relax…and shop and stay in fancy hotels. Our apartment is pretty typical of the ones we have rented. Hal called it “Spaceship meets Colonial house and makes a baby.” Picture wood beam ceilings (5th floor no less) orange bubble sliding doors separating the bedroom from the common area. Still, the location is great, it’s very clean and the landlords are super nice!
Today we hopped on a “slow boat” ferry north, past incredible villas with meticulous gardens dotting the lake. Court described it as “Fairy Taley!” Picture pastel mansions glowing amongst the green slopes of the glacial mountains. Apparently they have filmed several movies here, including Ocean’s 11 and Casino Royale. It’s so pretty even movie star hunk George Clooney has a home here (though, alas, Court could not find it). We visited Rick Steve’s sweet Varenna where we dined on asparagus crepes and eggplant paninis. Then we swallowed our non-touristy pride and dived into Bellagio (from which the famous Vegas casino took its name). There we had delicious gelato -- pistachio, lemon, fig and strawberry -- for the umpteeth time this trip. Then it was time to load back on the boat (very much like the Washington ferries from home but smaller).
Garin moved the car from expensive parking garage to free street parking (after 8 p.m.) and Court and Hal went on a looooong search for a market. There is a scarcity of groceries here but after finding one closed and a cheap fruit stand that made Hal do a happy dance of apricots and figs, we found our way to a local joins via directions from a friendly young shop owner, an nice older businessman and a taxi driver, we found Bille -- a store in the basement of another store called COIN. Then Courtney did a happy dance. And had to buy a reuseable shopping bag as they do NOT give plastic (yeah Italy!). We did not mind as it was a good Euro spent -- and bright orange!
Now post wine, cheese and bread, we are headed to dinner which is at the foot of our five flights of stairs. They reportedly have Wi-Fi with which we hope to post this blog and say howdy to many of you.
Buona Sera!
After saying our good-byes to Court’s parents at the turn off to “Lost in the Tuscan Sun” Cortona, we headed north in our little, silver Peugeot. All was good until after filling up at the gas station, the car starting to clack very loudly and stutter. This is particularly not good when the speed limit is 130 km on the Autostrada. It finally dawned on us through some rental car manual translations and our Rick Steve’s dictionary that “gasolio” is not “gas” but diesel. This is not a good thing when your car is not a diesel engine. Even with the accelerator pressed all the way down, we continued to limp along the highway, blowing smoke literally (some nice Italians pointed that one out to us). Luckily we had not filled up, so we continued to stop and fill up periodically with unleaded benzina which helped burn off the ill-applied diesel.If that was not enough pressure, Courtney gave a wrong direction which lead us into the crazy Milan city center.
Finally though, we puttered into lovely Como which is at the foot of Lake Como. This is where the beautiful fashionistas from Milan come to relax…and shop and stay in fancy hotels. Our apartment is pretty typical of the ones we have rented. Hal called it “Spaceship meets Colonial house and makes a baby.” Picture wood beam ceilings (5th floor no less) orange bubble sliding doors separating the bedroom from the common area. Still, the location is great, it’s very clean and the landlords are super nice!Today we hopped on a “slow boat” ferry north, past incredible villas with meticulous gardens dotting the lake. Court described it as “Fairy Taley!” Picture pastel mansions glowing amongst the green slopes of the glacial mountains. Apparently they have filmed several movies here, including Ocean’s 11 and Casino Royale. It’s so pretty even movie star hunk George Clooney has a home here (though, alas, Court could not find it). We visited Rick Steve’s sweet Varenna where we dined on asparagus crepes and eggplant paninis. Then we swallowed our non-touristy pride and dived into Bellagio (from which the famous Vegas casino took its name). There we had delicious gelato -- pistachio, lemon, fig and strawberry -- for the umpteeth time this trip. Then it was time to load back on the boat (very much like the Washington ferries from home but smaller).
Garin moved the car from expensive parking garage to free street parking (after 8 p.m.) and Court and Hal went on a looooong search for a market. There is a scarcity of groceries here but after finding one closed and a cheap fruit stand that made Hal do a happy dance of apricots and figs, we found our way to a local joins via directions from a friendly young shop owner, an nice older businessman and a taxi driver, we found Bille -- a store in the basement of another store called COIN. Then Courtney did a happy dance. And had to buy a reuseable shopping bag as they do NOT give plastic (yeah Italy!). We did not mind as it was a good Euro spent -- and bright orange!Now post wine, cheese and bread, we are headed to dinner which is at the foot of our five flights of stairs. They reportedly have Wi-Fi with which we hope to post this blog and say howdy to many of you.
Buona Sera!
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