Lake Como is a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. I would like to share the highlights of our stopover on the train from Milan to Zurich. It has been on my Bucket List for some time, and I am sure of many others also. Please join me and you will see why.
Lake Como: On the Bucket List
Lake Como is on everyone’s Bucket List. Why do I say that? The Bucket List concept is very simple. There are places that you must visit before you “kick the bucket.” It has become a staple of writers and average citizens. I think that is of recent origin. I saw an article in Slate, that tried to examine its origin https://slate.com/culture/2011/11/bucket-list-what-s-the-origin-of-the-term.html
Introduction to the Area
We arrived in Lake Como, a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I think that you could say that is at the top of Italy. The town of Como lies about ten minutes from the Swiss border by bus. We came by train from Milan which is roughly a 45-minute ride. Lake Como has been a destination for wealthy people since Roman times. You see many villas and estates lining the banks of Lake Como.
Our Hotel
We stayed at the Sheraton Lake Como which is an outstanding Marriott property that includes a Michelin-starred restaurant called Kitchen. They cater to the most discerning guests. I guess that includes us.
The Boat Experience
The highlight of the trip is a ferry boat ride to the many towns that line the lake. We went from Como to Bellagio. It felt very exhilarating to stand on the deck and feel the breeze in you as you sail down Lake Como. You can watch other watercraft including sailboats, windsurfers, kite surfers, and water skiers sharing the lake with us.
Town of Bellagio
We stopped off in Bellagio which is at the base of the “Y” shape. The town has an abundance of trees and flowers. in addition to many its fine shops and restaurants. I was reading that many greats of the 19th century visited the town. such as Franz Liszt, Lord Byron, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria, and Gustav Flaubert. Quite the celebrity crowd of the 19th Century. Today, we have George Clooney as a part-time resident.
For dinner, we ate several nights in Como. Lots of good choices. There is a lively nighttime scene in the piazza that is facing the Duomo.
Villa d’Este
Although we stayed in quite a posh place on Lake Como. However one of my neighbors had mentioned that he had stayed at the Villa d’Este. It was just a 15-minute walk from our hotel. Of course, we decided to check it out. and it turned out to be quite the luxurious palace. I guess next time, I see him I can say hey Big Spender. Just kidding.
After Como, we took the train to Zurich for a 2-hour and 37-minute trip. We passed through a very scenic countryside which made the time fly by.
