Chicago/O'Hare

The adventure begins. Got kicked out of my hotel ( which did not offer breakfast!) at 11:30, so I am now hungrily waiting for check-in. Then it is a 4 hour wait before I board the plane to Heathrow. ILeggi altro
Milano

Planes, trains and...subways? Chicago-Heathrow-Milan. Looonnnggg day of sitting in airports. Then, a Looonnnggg line to get tickets for a train from Malpensa Airport to Milano Centrale Terminal.Leggi altro
Duomo di Milano

The prize at the end of a 24-hour day of travel is this beautiful cathedral! It is only a block from my hotel, which is tiny but perfectly located.Leggi altro
Hotel Rio in Milano

The Duomo Piazza at night

I had a delicious chicken, spinach, and walnut salad with tomatoes that were a flavor explosion in my mouth! I met a student from Iowa State who is studying in Florence while dining. I also metLeggi altro
Milan Centrale Train Station

Today, I am taking a train to Como, then a boat cruise to the Villas of Bellagio and Varenna. We started by taking a train to Como.
On Lake Como

Como

We took a train to the town of Como and walked around the Piazza. We toured a cathedral, had a cappuccino and caught the boat that took us to Belaggio, "The Pearl of Lake Como"
Como

There are many memorials to Alessandro Volta in Como!
Bellagio

Bellagio is the most famous and busiest town on Lake Como. We climbed a really steep hill to get away from the crowds and had a delicious lunch overlooking the lake. And for dessert? Gelato, ofLeggi altro
Varenna

Another beautiful town on Lake Como about a 15 minute boat trip from Belaggio. The gardens are beautiful here!
Milan to St. Moritz

I booked another tour through Viator. The Lake Como cruise was 5 stars. This one started out rough. Met my ride at 6 a.m. with only 1 cappuccino in my belly. It took 2 hours for all 50 tourists toLeggi altro
St. Moritz

Our guide pointed out the highlights of St. Moritz. The Swiss Chocolatier, the gourmet restaurant, and a few shopping places. I only shopped for Swiss Chocolate, but the lunch I had at the restaurantLeggi altro
St.Moritz to Tirano on Bernina Express

Miles and miles of beauty in the Swiss Alps!
Swiss Alps on the Bernina Express

We boarded the train to Tirano and I can't even describe the beauty! Think Beartooth Highway on steroids!
3rd night in Milano ends with gelato!

Milan Day 4, not so great

Well, it had to happen...the trip was going too perfectly. I had booked a tour to see The Duomo, La Scala Opera House, the Sforza castle and some other place I can't remember. I have been on 2 ViatorLeggi altro
Lago Como revisited

I am so proud of myself. I successfully navigated the train to Como Camerlata and transferred to Como Borghi and then navigated to Albergo ( Hotel) Le Due Corti in Como!! I was one of the first toLeggi altro
Villa Carlotta

This villa has had 3 owners, and each one added something beautiful. The original owner built the terraces into the granite mountainside. The next owner who was an art collector and a politicalLeggi altro
Villa Carlotta Seconda Parte

The artwork and gardens here were amazing, and so were the views of Lago di Como, or as I discovered , actually named Lario. I couldn't stop taking pictures!
More Bellaggio & Como!

We got the scoop on the lifestyles of the rich and famous...and fascist! I will comment on each villa. Richard Branson, Taylor Swift, the heirs to the Guinness fortune, Franz Liszt and, yep, BonitoLeggi altro
Videos from Carlotta e' Bellaggio

There was a party going on in Bellaggio!
Villa Carlotta & Lago di Como

Verona!

We left Como for Venice with a 3 hour stop in Verona. There are Roman ruins, buildings from the Renaissance and modern buildings, plus everything in- between!
Venice by night

We rode a bus to Venice, then took a ferry to Lido where our hotel is. Lido is a narrow strip of land with the Mediterranean on one side and the Lagoon on the other. I can't wait to see it in daytime!
ViaggiatoreThank you, Julie! This'll bring a smile to my face following your amazing trip!!!! ENJOY!!!!!