Varenna September 21st

Today we pack and get ready to leave for our last day in Italy. We have both described our thoughts about leaving tomorrow on the train to Switzerland as being able to see us with our faces pressed up smushed against the window as we depart. However we have promised ourselves to make the most of it!

I have repacked our bags with our warm clothes on the bottom and our warmer clothes including mittens… yes MITTENS on the top! We have enjoyed a more leisurely breakfast and headed back out into Como for another look. This time I could no longer resist the urge to buy a beautiful silk scarf and we also purchased a bottle of Vinsanto wine which I hope is close to the one I fell in love with in Tuscany. All of this done again with a lot of hand signals and trying to communicate in Italian!

We gathered our suitcases and headed to the port where we caught the fast Shuttle Varenna which is the tiny fishing village that dates from the 11th Century and is directly opposite Bellagio but is far less busy or touristy.

We called for a taxi to bring us up the hill (WAY UP THE HILL) to our hotel Albergo Eremo Gaudio where were greeted by the very enthusiastic host Alberto. Alberto gave us a key ring with more then the usual number of keys attached. What the keys were for made this another unexpected and beautiful experience in Italy. The first set of keys was to open the door to our room. I had remembered at the time of booking that as this is such a small village most places were already sold out and that these rooms were meant to be pretty basic. For a moment that flashed through my mind as we entered the room but once the curtains were opened I forgot everything I knew about this hotel. I cannot explain this view to you from our balcony. Check out the photographs to get an idea but the photos do not capture this miraculous place.

The second key was to enter the hotel after hours. This may or may not have been relevant in that moment but it soon became redundant. The next two sets of keys were to enter the two step journey in the hotels private vehicular system. It was suggested that we settle in, come and grab a drink from the bar and then head up the first one, use the next key to enter the second elevator to arrive on the 4th floor to experience Paradise. (Oh… and explore the ancient monastery on your way up if you so desire). We did as instructed (I will add that Alberto did a lot of animated winking and gesturing to Grant as he explained what all the keys might be used for!) and walked toward the funicular. We were joined by a couple Virginia who had also just arrived. I think both couples were a little wary at sharing this experience with strangers but it turned out to be a fantastic experience. We led the way with our Spritz and Gin and Tonic to the 4th floor as instructed. WOW. That is all. You can see the photos for yourself.

We sat and enjoyed a lovely afternoon, a refreshing drink, part of Ginny and John from Virgina's bottle of wine and a conversation that was sent to us just as we needed about life, travel retirement, 50th wedding anniversaries and philosophies. We exchanged Facebook information and I hope that we might see these friends again in the future. We threatened to visit and those who have offered know that we usually do! We shared the sunset together and then let them head down on their own and we followed shortly afterwards. We opted to stay in and have dinner on the terrace and enjoy the view as long as we could. Dinner was simple and enjoyable and they although Grant decided to change the menu (as per usual!) he was served his meal exactly as "he impinged it" which is a miracle in our household!! I know Ross and Hayley would roll their eyes if they could possibly read this far…which I know they cannot so I am safe to mention them!

We sat outside for a little while on our own balcony until the mosquitoes pushed us back inside. At least that will be one advantage of the cooler weather… no more bugs! I have quite a few bits to prove we have been by the water in the lovely warm weather. Tomorrow we say goodbye to our favourite country so far but with plans to return in the very near future. The only way I think I would get Grant on the train bright and early tomorrow morning!

Buona Notte!