Stalking George in Lake Como…

May 23, 2011

Sitting by a pool on the shores of Lake Como, sipping bubbles…as you do…absorbing the steep majestic mountains edging the long yet narrow deep green waters resplendent with small Yachts, water-skiers and a cautious duck or two and enjoying post rain shower fresh mountain air. The view is quite surreal and we’re all pinching ourselves!

Another splendid contrast. So far we’ve traversed the water highways and numerous little Venizian bridges, resided in medieval castles and climbed perilously steep cliff hugging steps on the Amalfi Coast; we’ve sailed across the Mediterranean, tip-toed across Pompeii’s ancient remains, leant against the ridiculously leaning Tower of Pisa, thrown coins in the Trevi Fountain and shuddered in deep, dark Catacombs.

We’ve gasped at rolling lush green pastures, mountains and valleys, stared incredulously at tiny homes attached to cliff sides, giggled at our concerted efforts and appalling command on the language, lit small candles in cathedrals in honour of our loved ones. We’ve also relived each day through choosing photos for this blog, effectively imprinting such experiences for future ruminating.

Now to explore this beautiful part of Italy, our last brush with the craziness of Italian drivers, the passion of the people, the food…oh the food!

As for stalking George Clooney? Admit we girls wouldn’t be adverse to a little innocent flirtation and after the near miss with Pierce Brosnan, celebrity radars are on full alert!

A stroll down to dine by the water side and watch twilight cast it’s spell as the water turns to indigo, enhancing the twinkling lights on the far shore that compete with the millions of fairy lights dripping from the branches above…inciting us to linger just a little longer…just enough time to imprint this new delightful memory…

And getting lost in Venice…

May 22, 2011

Ducky’s desire to absorb the city’s history requires a cruise through the busy canals in a sexily sleek timber number. Suave, sophisticated, our snappy guide Johnno provides a running dialog extolling the virtues of the most impressive buildings, the wonders of Baroque architecture punctuated with enticing anecdotes on the city’s origins and initial business dealings, supported by a raft of interesting stats…

Now did you know that over 400 Gondolas jostle for supremacy, women just this year were granted approval to be Gondoliers, the buildings are founded on wood, soil and sand, there are 117 islands, 499 bridges…and… by days end we’ve personally, unintentionally traversed every single one of ’em!

Following the cruise we guess our way through the twists and turns of canals and busy alley ways to view the Santa Maria Della Salute cathedral only to find it doesn’t open for several hours…a perfectly good reason to substitute with a shop trawl while Pixie wanders the Peggy Guggenheim art gallery.

Dawdling our own way through markets filled with masks, Murano trinkets, striped gondolier shirts and more, Pix finds a stall selling cups of cool fresh berries and pineapple chunks topped with crisp Coconut chunks on ice, selects then sits awhile on the Pont de Rialto to watch the Venetian world go by…well the tourists actually…

And that’s when the fun started! Following in the footsteps of a myriad of fellow tourists we eventually make it home footsore and weary clutching maps ragged through extensive and anguished overuse and reward ourselves with the customary G&T. A robust pasta nosh followed by one last wistful view of the soft twilight, sleek, shiny black Gondolas and the calming aqua water…we realise we have indeed fallen in love for she is a most spectacularly intriguing city.

Cruising Venezian canals…

May 21, 2011

The sun sparkles brilliantly on the bay as our boat pilot deftly navigates the water streets through traffic moving people, food, crates of stuff, cars, cement mixers and such, on to the Murano factory where we observe glass blowers in action before succumbing to hard sell…Ducky gives in, his booty to be made to order and shipped.

Finally escape back to our cruiser and on to a waterside restaurant overlooking the Gondolas at the San Marco Vallaresso and the Campo Abbazia…a rather impressive Church just like the rather overpriced menu…but absolutely worth every Euro.

The lighting is soft, the water clean and a beautiful shade of aqua, the buildings proudly displaying worn and faded yet regal and quite majestic facades in soft patinas made even more intriguing by the moss growing on their skirting…the bridges don’t disappoint either…a simply stunning photographic moment captured on the Pont Rialto.

A wander through Chanel, Hermes, Sergio Rossi, Pucci, Balenciaga lined streets and home, later to take an evening ride through the canals. It’s rather cramped for five in our Gondola, a deft balancing act managed well by our punter Stefano who uses elbows and feet to buffer our passage through the narrow canals, at the same time serenading us with some zesty ‘O Sole Mia’ Italian opera that would do Pavarotti proud.

Its a refreshing change as we’ve been singing ‘When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big Pizza Pie’ over and over to the point where Ducky feels obliged to buy Dean Martin’s best so that we can learn the next lines. Almost down pat however we’ll need to dust off our best Edith Piaf again soon…or maybe Air or Phoenix for Paris is drawing ever closer. Sigh!