The little town of Bellagio is the very definition of romance with it's cobblestoned streets that wind up the hill. We had dinner at a restaurant located up one of these streets that came recommended by a friend of Kristi's. The cuisine in northern Italy is much different than the Tuscan fare we were used to at this point. It was a very welcome change and looking back on the trip this may have been our favorite meal. Don't get me wrong, the food in Tuscany is delicious....but it can be a little heavy. The restaurants in the Lake Como area specialize in dishes featuring fish caught from the local lakes.
The next morning was actually clear and we decided to get out and explore our natural surroundings. There are hiking trails all around the lakes and one just needs to pick one and start walking. And that's exactly what we did. The views were beautiful and amazing the higher we climbed. At one point we came across someones 'home' which consisted of a small shack built into the mountain, an outhouse, fire pit and lounge chair. We never did see the actual resident but kudos to him for figuring out how to haul his belongings up there.
After awhile Kristi and I decided to walk back down while the guys continued on. After a warm shower and some even warmer coffee we headed out for lunch. We were told to go towards the marina. The only downside to this plan was that it started raining. But we walked on and finally found the restaurant we were looking for. We had a sampler platter of fresh, local fish and a delicious salad. It was exactly what I needed after days and days of pasta. We also splurged and had a glass of Amarone. Yum!
It was a full-blown downpour when we finished our lunch so the only thing left to do at this point was drink more wine! We knew of a wine cellar in the heart of Bellagio and headed there. On the way we ran into our husbands while they were having their lunch. We shopped with them for a bit and then went on to the wine bar. The guys decided to continue shopping....you know they're wined-out if they would rather shop! The wine cellar was exactly what were were hoping for. In a basement, low brick ceilings and wall-to-wall shelves of wine. We did a tasting of 4 different wines, then ordered a glass of wine and then bought bottles of wine to take home! It was one successful day for the cellar owner. :) By the time our husbands came to our rescue we may have been a little intoxicated. But that just made us more fun!
We took a ferry to Varenna, considered the most romantic of the Lake Como towns. We had reservations at a restaurant in the middle of town however our cab driver didn't seem to understand the address we gave to him. It was still pouring so walking wasn't a desirable option. We ended up on top of the hill at the Castello di Vezio. I'm sure this castle would be lovely to view when a) it wasn't pouring and b) when it wasn't dark. We eventually made it to our destination...a trendy little place down a narrow Varenna street. This is the first restaurant in Italy that we've been to that I'd describe as 'trendy'. Most places are in old buildings, actually all are in old buildings, but most keep their natural decor which gives it a rustic sort of ambiance. This restaurant had been renovated and reminded me more of 112 Eatery or maybe even Nami in downtown Minneapolis. Following dinner the rain had lessened so we walked to the town square for gelato and cappuccinos. It was the perfect end to our Lake Como vacation.
Il Perlo
Bellagio
Hiking
Varenna
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