Travelogue – Day 21: Lake Como to Lugano

Our Saturday began with packing up the van and saying a fond farewell to La Fornace campsite on the shores of Lake Como. We took one final drive to Bellagio before heading south along the lake towards Como town, soaking in the views as we wound our way along the water’s edge. It took nearly an hour to reach Como, where we parked on the street—regrettably, a decision that led to our wing mirror being clipped while we were away.

We spent a memorable afternoon learning to make fresh pasta, rich tomato sauce, and a classic tiramisu at the home of Kevin and his chef friend Marco. Their balcony overlooked Lake Como—a breathtaking setting for a hands-on cooking session under the sun. We cracked eggs and kneaded dough, set it to rest, and turned to crafting the sauce from tomatoes, onion, and basil, later topped with a generous sprinkle of pecorino. For dessert, we whipped mascarpone with eggs, dipped biscuits into coffee, and layered it all into the perfect tiramisu.

After our al fresco meal, we duct-taped the wing mirror back in place and set off once more. Within minutes, we crossed the border into Switzerland and arrived in Lugano, settling into our Airbnb for the next three nights—a welcome bit of luxury. Despite a brief hiccup with the missing washing machine, all was resolved, and we enjoyed a peaceful evening. Dinner was a pair of omelettes, a refreshing change from our usual Italian staples, before turning in for a good night’s sleep ahead of tomorrow’s adventures.Read more