Day 18 – Among the Beautiful People

We were up early to catch the school-bus-style ride from the campsite to Bellagio, navigating the tight, twisting roads with far more grace than I managed in the van. A quick coffee in Bellagio, then a 9am ferry took us across the lake to Varenna, where we had a gentle wander to get our bearings ahead of tomorrow’s planned visits.

After another coffee, we met our host Maria and fellow adventurers Greg and Pam—an interesting American couple from Michigan—for our Alpine picnic. Maria’s jeep took us high into the foothills, with endless switchbacks climbing to around 1,000 metres. A short walk through the forest brought us to a stunning picnic spot overlooking Lake Como and, in the distance, Lugano. Maria laid out a generous spread of local meats, cheeses, focaccia, fruit, wine, and Prosecco. The conversation flowed easily, covering travel, politics, and shared philosophies—especially our mutual bafflement at Brexit and Trump.

Pam, a psychologist, and Greg, a points-and-perks travel expert, were thoughtful and engaging company. After lingering a little too long in that idyllic spot, we missed our scheduled boat tour of Como’s villas—but were kindly rescheduled for tomorrow.

Instead, we strolled through the gardens of Villa Monastero, beautifully kept and brimming with flowers, orange blossom, and aspiring influencers posing against picture-perfect backdrops. We couldn’t resist joining in with our own amateur version.

The bus ride back was packed, but we made it on board. A peaceful evening followed—crisps, a drink, and a very quick dip in the icy lake—rounding off another memorable day in the lakes.Read more