Apart from visiting our family in the UK , we managed a a trip across to Europe, which took in Lake Como for a few days and Berlin for a long weekend. Whilst it’s still fresh in my mind I thought I’d write up the continental part of our trip. A huge amount of photos has made editing quite a task! We had visited Lake Como once before when we stayed 3 nights in Como City itself (at the south western arm of the lake). On that trip we took the boat up the lake to the picturesque central part where pretty villages dot the lake shore against a backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Alps in the distance (you can read my account of our lakeside “Aperitivos” here).
Having vowed to return, we based ourselves in Menaggio for this visit and it was every bit as gorgeous as I remembered. We had wonderful views across the lake to another delightful village on the eastern shore – Varenna. A few minutes boat ride across the lake from Menaggio, we passed in and out of Varenna’s little harbour many times during our stay and had a couple of extended stops there (which I’ll be writing more about in future posts).
There was something about the narrow and steep cobbled streets of Varenna that really drew me in.
Despite all the tourists, Varenna still retains the feel of the old fishing village that it is and all streets led (eventually) back to the lake!
Gently lapping waters on the shore of Lake Como at Varenna
Copyright © 2016 Rosemary Thomas Le Chic En Rose. All rights reserved
Le Chic En Rose 
Lovely place. We have yet to visit this area of Italy. (Suzanne)
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It’s idyllic Suzanne – so beautiful and wonderfully relaxing 🙂 Have quite a few posts and photos to share! We love the lake area and the valleys up in the mountains too (near the Swiss border) 🙂 Hope you can visit some day!
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Oh, it is obviously on the list but it gets difficult to see everything we have on the list…maybe once Pierre has retired we will travel more.
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I know there are so many places on our list too but again other commitments mean we can’t possibly do them all!
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The first and last photos are to die for, Rosemay! We stayed at Bellagio, which was beautiful, but I’d have loved to see Varenna too. The day we ferried over to Mennagio was cloudy and damp (May Bank Holiday) and of course that colours your memories. Have a great weekend, hon, and many thanks for your company. 🙂
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Thanks Jo! We also went over to Bellagio, which is stunning! We missed out seeing Varenna on our first trip so were really keen to get to see it this time. It has a slightly different feel to it than some of the other places – more quirky and arty which I loved! Really anywhere round Lake Como is divine! Actually we had quite cool weather on this trip but it was still lovely and the storm on the first night was spectacular! Have a great weekend too 🙂
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Just realised the view in the last photo of Varenna is looking across to Bellagio Jo 😃
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Hi Rosemary! I saw your Varenna photo on instagram so I came to see the post. Sorry I’ve been away for so long, I’ll try to come by more often in the future 🙂
This is a wonderful place, I love lakes and also villages with cobbled streets! I understand why you decided to explore more of this area in your recent trip to Europe. The Alps are amazing 🙂
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Thanks so much Laia! No problems at all I know how busy life gets and I find it hard to keep up with reading all the blogs I follow too! Am so glad you liked the photos on Instagram – the Lake Como region is so beautiful and I always enjoy visiting the alpine areas. The Italian/Swiss border region is simply gorgeous! I have quite a few posts to come – we visited so many lovely places. Thanks for calling by and hope you have a lovely weekend 😃
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It looks idyllic, Rosemary. This is a part of Italy that I have not visited so lovely to see your photos and read about your trip 🙂
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Thanks Ruth 😃 Yes it’s an idyllic part of the world – you just feel so relaxed catching boats round the lake to the various villages and it’s so peaceful. The scenery is amazing and the food delicious with plenty of fresh produce. Plus the air is so pure being close to the Alps – this was our 2nd trip to Lake Como and we are planning to go back!! Have a lovely weekend 😃
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Dear Ros – we walked those same cobbled stones, and I share your love for the atmosphere in Varenna. Thanks for sharing your photos – it brings it all to life again. Gill
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Thanks Gill that’s great to hear! I didn’t realise you went to Varenna on your Italian trip – it’s such a lovely place isn’t it?! I will be doing some more posts on our Lake Como trip – our time in northern Italy was wonderful 🙂
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Gorgeous! On my list for someday……..
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Thanks Anabel – yes gorgeous is the word and we didn’t even have particularly good weather! All the spring flowers were in full bloom too – it’s a delightful part of the world 🙂
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Just stunning Rosemary – I love everything about it and your pictures are great. We had a day trip to Como from Milan years ago but the weather was awful which never helps. We did have a lovely week a couple of years ago at Lake Garda though, gorgeous scenery similar to here, makes me yearn to go back and Lake Como would definitely be on my list!!
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Thanks Joy – yes the Italian Lakes are a very special part of the world 🙂 My parents went to Garda some years ago and had a lovely holiday there – they stayed in a couple of different places Bardolino and Riva I think. We’ve also been to Maggiore (the Swiss end) and that was gorgeous as well – really you can’t go wrong with any of the lakes. I especially love Como as it is slightly more rugged especially at the northern end where it meets the Alps. You can get some huge storms – we had one the first night where the lake was lit up with the lightning it was rather dramatic! We had 5 days this visit and I could have stayed several weeks – definitely somewhere we plan to go back to! Hope you get back to the lakes in the not too distant future! Also hope your break in Holland went well 🙂
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In Europe, one do tend to find long winding steps! Guess that’s why people living here don’t need ‘stairmaster’or other walking exercise equipment! 😄😉
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Yes we walked everywhere – we were doing so many daily steps (according to my phone app) – very good for fitness! 🙂
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Agree on the counting steps app that it’s useful! Don’t have it but saw one on one of my friend’s phone! 😄 wishing you a great week ahead, Rosemary! 😘
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I had no idea how many steps I was doing until I got my iPhone a year or so back – I’m not obsessive but it’s a useful guide! Thanks wishing you a great week ahead too! 🙂
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💋 Likewise! 😄
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🙂
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