We've reached the end of our spring break week.  Thursday was our last day touring Lake Como, so we decided to head back to the group fave Varenna.  It was a gorgeous day!

I mean seriously...this was my lunch view.

More gelato of course!

I win for the biggest gelato...when in Italy....

We should have given Menaggio a little more credit.  Once you walked a little further from port, it was super cute!

The drive back to Carate Urio was interesting.  This semi hauling a full load of hay somehow missed hitting us!  I was pretty sure he was coming through the windshield.  The roads just weren't big enough.  I'm not going to lie.  I'm glad Karin was driving.

EEEEEEEK!!!!!

You know you're doing pretty well when you have a house on Lake Como, with your own funicular, and a dog guarding your giant gate!

Mom guilt!  We should have eaten here (Acquadolce) while the guys were still with us.  

It. Was. Amazing!

The food was amazing, that view was incredible, and the company was second to none (even more so if the dads were with!)

Friday morning, we were off to Milan!

The beautiful Duomo...and my beautiful girl. :)

I had one goal...for the kids to see The Last Supper.  Mission accomplished!  No photos inside, so the admission ticket is proof.

Next on the agenda was walking on the rooftop of the Duomo.  This is much more fun than actually seeing the inside.  Which in fact, we did not do.  The kids weren't interested.  They are "cathedraled" out.  I will say though that it is really beautiful inside (saw it on another trip here.)

She is kind of hilarious!

There are beautiful things to see in Milan.  But I'm not going to lie.  It's not my favorite. I think one day is plenty!

We watched Ocean's Eleven when we returned to the apartment.  We had to.  We were George's neighbors for a whole week.  Kids loved it!

Thanks Karin for bringing the Apple TV!

Saturday morning, we started our long trek back to Belgium with a detour.....

The drive through Switzerland was breathtaking!

Here's the detour...we stopped in Liechtenstein!  It is only 62 square miles with a population of 35,000 people.  That is one tiny country!  It is actually called a microstate.

The Prince lives in that castle overlooking the capital city of Vaduz.

Proof we were there!

In researching our stop, we found you could walk out on this covered bridge and be in both Liechtenstein and Switzerland at the same time.  Cool!  We were worried we wouldn't find it....but let's remember just how small this place it.  It was literally the first thing we passed by. 

Standing in two countries!  Where are the kids you ask??  They are in the car watching Spiderman because walking across a covered bridge is lame.  Time to go home.  

That concludes our fantastic spring break.  Blogging just makes me want to go back.  Thank you to the Smith family for sharing it with us.  Stay tuned for more adventures!

Until next time,

Wendy

Spring Break in Lake Como {Continued}

We had two more full days with the dads as they would have to head back to Brussels for work...boo!  So, we wanted to make the most of seeing the sites along Lake Como.  On Monday, we opted to take the ferry which moves from town to town up towards the triangle of Bellagio, Menaggio, and Varenna.  Lake Como is said to be like a body with two legs with Bellagio being the crotch. How's that for a visual?  We started just south of Laglio and made the 2+ hour boat trip up to Menaggio...our first stop!

We started on the back of the boat, which was covered and quite windy. That didn't last too long.

There was no room to sit inside, so we stood for a bit to warm up and then moved to the front of the boat.  There was sunshine, but it was equally freezing.

The parents!

Passing by George Clooney's house.

Villa del Balbianello was along the route as well.  There will be more on that later in the post.

 The towns along the way were gorgeous!

Bellagio!

Most people left the boat here.  We would make our way to Bellagio at the end of the day.

They enjoyed having the boat all to themselves!

First stop....Menaggio!

Grabbing a snack near the water on this sunny day!

There's a welcome site!

I mean really....this is ridiculous!  Look at that view.  Wow!

This photo says, "Oh my GAWWWWWD...he's trying to kiss me!"

The next stop was Varenna!

Rick Steeves said it was on every American's list.  Really??  I've never even heard of it?  This is our first view from the boat.  I think I'm going to love it!!!

I can't think of a better place to enjoy gelato.  The black cherry was to die for!

This is one of my favorite photos from the trip.  Two American families, whose paths crossed in Belgium, enjoying a holiday together in Italy, and will be lifelong friends.  Blessed for sure!

I just love these four!

Sprinting through the corridors of Varenna.

 On to Bellagio! 

What a place to take a rest.  Don't let that sunshine fool you.  The wind was crazy...as you can see from the whitecaps on the water.  Brrrr!!!!

We ate an early dinner in Bellagio.  This was, hands down, the best pizza I have ever had!

Apparently, the pasta was good too!

Picture perfect Bellagio!

Many of the streets in Lake Como are paved with these stones.  They were murder on my feet.  Ballet flats were not working for me.

Speaking of....great minds think alike!

Flat Stanley and Flat Sophie were having a great time.

After an hour delay for the boat...in the wind...and the cold....it was time to head back to Carate Urio.  By this point in the night, the lake was really rough.  This is the look on faces when you are pretty sure your boat is going to tip over.  The waves at your window is not a good sign.  Karin is a life long boater.  When I saw the look on her face, I knew there was reason to be worried.  Thank goodness, the terror didn't last long.

This picture really doesn't do it justice.

Our Tuesday morning view!

The next morning, we decided to skip the boat and drive to Villa del Balbianello.  This gorgeous estate built in 1787 and was most recently owned by explorer Guido Monzino.  It is filled with rich collections from his expeditions.

For Star Wars fans....like myself....this is the site where Anakin and Padme were married in Star Wars: Episode II.  Casino Royale was also filmed in this villa.  Pretty cool!

The greenery growing on the villa is from one root and is 150 years old.

I wouldn't mind this view everyday!

Lunch along the lake.

Closing the night out with Things!  So many good laughs!

Until next time,

Wendy