2015.05.10 Sunday Lake Como - Milan

A much needed day of rest for Greg. His knees are still sore and the bruise from his pulled hamstring needs to be iced several times a day as it still looks very red. So I'm off to explore Como. The weather is beautiful and everyone else is also out and about. There are cut and potted flowers for sale outside churches and in the piazzas. Lots of people are buying what look like baby roses in hanging baskets - spring is in the air. I pop into the cathedral and another church but services are in progress so I can't explore but they are both obviously very ornate and beautiful. Lovely to hear the organ and choir too.

With most of the shops closed it's easy to look up and admire the architectural features of the wonderful buildings, instead of looking in shop windows. I wander around some back streets and find little cafes, antique shops and rows of motor scooters. I head to the lake and the Funicular to Brunate.

At the top there are great views over Lake Como, cafes and souvenirs. The Voltiano Lighthouse is closed but I decide the view would be worth a visit anyway. The sign says shuttle bus but there is nothing in sight so I set off with a bunch of people in the direction of the lighthouse. The thermometer on a building says 21 but it feels a lot more and it's uphill. A small yellow bus passes in the opposite direction. That must be the shuttle bus so I quickly turn back to the square and catch it to the lighthouse. The driver doesn't speak English and I have no Italian but a helpful local translates for me telling me the bus returns to the square below on the hour. Seemed a long turn around time but ....

There are cafes, children's playground, views, public toilet (very important to know) but I'm disappointed that I can' get close enough to the lighthouse to take a photo, there are too many tall trees around it. Rather than wait for the bus I decide to walk back down.It takes 32 mins to walk up, according to the sign. How long to walk down? 20 minutes at a fast pace. Bet it takes more than 32 to walk up! And the bus passed me on the way down - it runs every half hour - lost in translation!

Back along the lake the cafes are full. People share the road with bikes and a few car searching for parking. Cars are jammed into the tiniest of spaces. I've noticed lots of young (and people in general) smoking but there are hardly any tattoos to be seen.

In the park at the western end of the lake families were enjoying the spring weather.
At about 1.30pm I reluctantly headed back to the apt to finish packing in time to get the 4.15 train back to Milan.

I would happily come back to Como or maybe Varenna for a couple of weeks to really relax and explore the area. Prefer Como to Cinque Terre.

At the station to catch the train back to Milan. Hurray, it's one of the nice Lombardy Region trains for the trip back to Milan. Too tired to go looking for a restaurant so eat at the hotel (Hotel Michelangelo) and I enjoy my first aparativ in Italy, a Campari Spritzer !