2009 Bellagio to Alba

                                           Train to Como and then car to Bellagio

This is a driving trip to some of the places in Italy we haven't been and to go back to some we really love.  We started in Bellagio, with Gary and Charlene Shippy, a zippy little Mercedes and a Garmin for an easy way to navigate.
We booked small hotels or B&B's.  We wanted both charm and an easy budget.  No big agenda anywhere and out of the way quiet places.  All the big cities have been visited in years past. We wanted to take time to just be and soak up the flavor of the moment.  Food, wine and pastoral views.  Life's good things.Bellagio is all about Lake Como surrounded by mountains. Also quaint villages and fabulous villas with incredible gardens, streets that are stairways and great food.  Our hotel is on a street like this and we really thought the Garmin was having a nervous breakdown when it told us to turn left to destination on the right.  Cannot drive to door therefore pack light.

Lunch on lakeshore

The lake is gorgous and the mountains are a great frame for the views.  The ferries make it easy to get around.

Dinner was on the hotel terrace.  Good wine and grapes from vines growing next to our table.

      Often this was one of the meals of the day and wherever we were it would be one of our favorites.

Bon appetito

Gardens have a fantastic climate and respond accordingly.  I can only imagine spring when azaleas are in bloom.

It must be 11:00 AM as that is beer time on vacation.

Quaint and charming will be over used words before this trip is over.

AHHH

The ferry is wonderful way to navigate the lago.

New aquaintances from the hotel.  She is well know artist working primarily in bronze.

Villa Carlotta is set in the most famous garden on the lake.

    The rowing team from Bellagio had just won the world championships.  We were there to celebrate with them.  This was their victory parade through the city. 

Charlene got to have a drink with George since we missed seeing him at his villa.  We were on wrong side of the lake.

We tried to include everyone's favorite wish on this trip but hers was a bit too much to pull off.  This was as close as we could get.  He drank at this bar once.

A short walk from the center of Bellagio is another incredible garden.  We wandered along the lake through this amazing garden.  In the center is an exquisite villa.   As often happens we stumbled on good find.  Walking out the rear gate the woman gate keeper started a conversation and her American ex-pat boy friend showed up so we end up having a beer with him.  He sent us on our way up the hill to Silvio's.  He said it is the best seafood in Bellagio.  We cannot argue with him.  As a plus they have awesome views over the lake.

These begonias are at least 20 feet high.

The model

                             


                                 Next stop Alba         
                                                http://www.villalafavorita.it/home_uk.html

Roberta checked us in and set up wine tours. She is a great guide for the area with an intimate knowledge of the restaurants, wineries and local sights .

More of the welcoming committee.



Once we got comfortable there was no dislodging us this first night.  We ordered pizza in and quaffed Roberta's private label wine.



Life is good, real real good!

The wonderful outdoor garden room where we ate breakfast every morning.

  Exquisite pasta in a small restaurant in the middle of the vineyards.  This is the heart of Barbaresco & Barolo wines in Italy. One of the great wine regions of Italy and also off the beaten path and not so heavily touristy like Tuscany.  Roberta had arranged two wonderful wine tours for us.  We also celebrated with a trip to town where there was a wonderful festival complete with flag throwing, medievil costumes, music and bands.  That was a great highlight and we left the cameras home.  There is also a large market and visiting one of the Italian markets is a favorite pastime.

                              Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh                         wine is sleeping

There are some things that don't need words to describe.  Can you taste this great picnic?  As usual this was our favorite meal of the day except for the breakfast served here.
The breakfasts are fresh luscious fruit, homemade yogurts, warm pasteries from the oven. Every morning a different egg dish.  Cheeses and jams made from fruits grown at the Villa. After that everyone wanted to nap.

                            Villa La Favorita. It was well named.


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  It was the start of truffle harvest and this is the way it is sold.  Displayed on silver trays and the price is very dear.  About $145 usd for 38 grams.  One small truffle however was enough for pasta for 5 of us.

I recall Charlene said something,like..."Na Na Na Na, for the same amount of money you paid for that smelly truffle I got sterling silver earings".

We love the street markets and they have a great one in Alba.

After many months of studying Italian on Rosseta Stone I could manage to ask for a taste and order from these stands.  I did make a few very funny mistakes but mostly it was good.  It is a far cry from being able to speak Italian.

In the church there are ancient Roman ruins under the floor so they had lots of these cutouts where one could view the old Roman street.