Lake Como

The people we encountered at the hotels, shops, and restaurants were nice and friendly, which has definitely added to our positive vacation experience so far.

A 24 mph wind swept through the Vigezzo Valley as we headed towards the Centovalli—definitely a route for experienced drivers who can handle the hairpin turns and narrow bridges. I was so relieved we made it through without a scratch!

In Cannero, we easily found the *piccolo mercato* (small open market), which was fantastic. We bought a bag of delicious grapes and dried fruits, and Ursula scored another beautiful leather handbag, while I found a pair of shoes—both at bargain prices!

We then continued our journey towards Lake Como via Lugano. The GPS malfunctioned a few times, sending us on detours, but we didn’t mind as we weren’t in a rush. The road along Lake Como’s shoreline was quite narrow, requiring extra caution when buses or trucks approached from the opposite direction. At one point, the GPS unexpectedly suggested we take a ferry from Cadenabbia to Bellagio, which turned out to be a great option.

We finally arrived at our hotel on the outskirts of Como around 5:30 p.m. The hotel owner recommended his sister’s restaurant, just 2 km away—and it was absolutely fabulous!Read more