Hi everyone, I get to guest blog again after my few days with Mum and Dad in Italy.
I met the travelling duo at the airport after their flight back from Manchester. It was slightly annoying that they looked fresh faced yet I was this huge sweaty mess with my rucksack after a crowded bus journey. It was really nice to see them both but it felt slightly odd knowing they’d been back home more recently than I had!
It was a nice drive back to the campsite with a lovely opportunity for some stunning views across Lake Como. I’d spent a day at Lake Garda the week before and I much prefer the way the mountains drop straight into the lake at Como as it is so dramatic. We quickly stopped to buy some supplies and I was taught how Italian supermarkets work – you have to weigh or count every item of fresh produce before going to the till, and they won’t let you buy it unless there’s a sticker on it. Once back at the campground I was swept along with the routine that Mum and Dad have created on their travels for setting up the caravan and we soon had my bed made, dinner cooking and the table and chairs set up ready for some food. It was a lovely evening apart from the insects that managed to eat us all alive despite the various repellents we were sprayed with.
The next day was spent simply lazing around. We did some washing (I was very excited at the prospect of clean clothes), lounged by the pool, read books and tested our brains with a few quizzes. It was really hot on the campsite, particularly by the pool and it was really nice to be able to pop in to the pool to cool off (even sporting the attractive swimming hats).
In the evening we went to Colico for some dinner and then a walk along the lake edge. It was a really nice meal (thanks again Ros for treating us xx) but we all suffered slightly with the number of people smoking outside. I don’t know if I’m more susceptible to the smoke now because I’m not used to it or if Italian cigarettes are more potent but that’s one thing I’ve found quite annoying about being in Italy because it can spoil your meal, especially if you’re eating outside.
On the Thursday we went to Bellagio on the ferry.
We had a lovely drive along the edge of the Lake to Cadenabbia where Mum and Dad went on their honeymoon and then had a quick coffee before catching the ferry over to Bellagio. Although it’s beautiful, it reminded me a lot of Disney Land. There were these lovely old buildings with expensive jewellery shops in them which looked a little out of place, and so many British and American tourists that you barely heard an Italian voice.
We had a lovely walk around the town, checked out the views and it was really nice to hear about the stories Mum and Dad had from their honeymoon and just how much things had changed in the past forty years. After another lazy evening we retired to the caravan to get away from the bugs and the heat.
Unfortunately, Mum was not too well the next day (trust me a caravan in 36 degrees heat is not the place to be when you have a tummy bug! K) so while she rested Dad and I had another nice day relaxing by the pool and generally chilling out. The campsite they were on was very basic and I would have preferred some slightly better bathrooms but there were some good amenities. The bar area was nice, shady and away from the insects so we spent some time there before heading back to the caravan for the evening. Luckily Mum was feeling a bit better so she sat up with us for a while and helped us complete the puzzles from the Times.
It was lovely to spend a few days with them although I think we were all quite tired after our running around. It sounds awful but I think we were all a bit overwhelmed by the wonderful things we’ve seen and therefore I’m not sure I appreciated the stunning views as much as I should have. Unfortunately it was quite hazy and the views were not as clear as they had been the few weeks before, but They were gorgeous and every time you turn around there was something new to see. I’m hoping that in the future I can look back on my photos and recall how stunning Lake Como was.