Lake Como was the second to last stop on our journey and it was definitely one of my favorites. The lake is beautiful and is surrounded by tall mountains. It looks a lot like photos I’ve seen of the Swiss Alps and that’s because Como is only about 30 minutes from Switzerland. We arrived in the evening and got dinner at our hotel. Then we went for an evening walk and hung out on a beach. 

In the morning we took a ferry to Bellagio, which is a popular town on the center of the lake. Lake Como is kind of wishbone shaped and very big so there are lots of small towns around its perimeter. We just walked around and went to a park where we took some nice pictures. Then we did a bit of souvenir shopping and I got some postcards. 

On the previous night’s walk, we found a place that rented kayaks and paddle boards and we all really wanted to go. We didn’t stay in Bellagio long because we were told that there was a storm coming later in the day, and we wanted to have time in the water. We took the ferry back to the town our hotel is in and went to the kayak place. Everyone wanted to try paddle boarding and they only had two so we rented them for an hour and took turns. I tried paddle boarding while on vacation with Duncan’s family and it was a lot easier than it was when I tried on Como. I think the board I used before was more stable. This time I was very shaky and it was hard to stand for long periods. I never fell in though. Holly did. So did Serena. It was both of their first times trying paddle boarding. 

Holly and I discovered that it was actually easier to stand when there was another person sitting on the board. 

Serena after she fell in. 

Holly as she fell in.

Me being a paddle boarding pro. 

When it wasn’t my turn on the board I was swimming around the lake, and this was a refreshing escape from the heat. Swimming in a lake is hard compared to the salty mediterranean, but I was wearing a life jacket so I was chilling. Holly was feeling the difference and put on a life jacket as well to make it easier. 

We got lunch at the kayak place and then took the ferry to another town–Varenna. Actually we had to take the ferry to Bellagio and then Varenna but our layover in Ballagio was just long enough for us to grab some gelato. In Varenna, Holly and I endeavored on a hike up to a little castle. Micah was with us but decided to skip the hike. It was very hot and the path was surprisingly steep. It was a half hour walk and we were literally dripping in sweat. 

The castle was fun. It had a beautiful view of the lake because it was so high. 

Serena told us this castle does hawk training, and there was an owl and a hawk in cages. I felt kind of bad for them. 

This castle was pretty different from other places I’ve been in Italy because it didn’t take itself too seriously. It was decorated with a bunch of cheesy castle stuff, including mannequins of knights. 

Holly got a new boyfriend. 

We got put in the stocks.

My crime: balling too hard.

Holly’s crime: adultery. 

We found a dark staircase that lead down to what was probably a dungeon. They had decorated the dungeon with fake cobwebs and plastic skeletons, which was pretty funny. 

Me giving the skeleton a high five. 

Holly got ANOTHER new boyfriend. 

So yeah, the castle was fun and silly. On the hike down we saw a friendly calico that let us pet her. 

Then we took the ferry back and enjoyed the lake views one more time. 

In the evening we got dinner at a mildly fancy restaurant. The cover charge was 4 euro, which I found appalling (it’s usually 1-2). I got ravioli and it was 15, so with water, this meal came out to 20 euros and it was a TINY amount of ravioli. I took a picture after I had eaten a little bit but you can see that it was not a lot. Serena and Jamie also got the ravioli and said that it was really good but I thought it was just ok. Too al dente for my liking. I believe that it was high quality ravioli but I don’t have a refined palate so I think fancy, expensive food is wasted on me (not including steak, of course). 

I was pretty pissed about the price of this disappointing meal, but I got gelato afterwards and that brightened my spirit. The next day we got up early to head to Venice, our final stop. Como was great; would go again.