Lunch in Varenna

We’re in Bellagio, situated on Lake Como in Northern Italy. Today we’re going to have lunch in Varenna, another little town on the lake. We want to scout out the train station at Varenna because tomorrow morning, we’re going to take the train from there to Milan. But first, we need to buy boat tickets to Varenna. Continue reading “Lunch in Varenna”

Waking Up in Bellagio

Huh? Wha? Where am I? It took me a few minutes this morning to remember where we were. I got out of bed, went over to the window, and opened the curtain to see beautiful Lake Como, sparkling in the early morning light. Oh yeah, NOW I remember! It’s our first day waking up in Bellagio. Continue reading “Waking Up in Bellagio”

First Night in Bellagio

It’s our first night in Bellagio, Italy. We’re sitting at a table in a little beehive of a restaurant. Neatly-dressed servers are moving swiftly around us in every direction. A bottle of wine sits on the table with bread, oil and balsamic, a bottle of water, and a big plate of assorted cured meats to keep it company. I’m so happy right now. Continue reading “First Night in Bellagio”

Dinnertime in Bellagio – Mangia!

It’s dinnertime in Bellagio – a picturesque little town on the shore of Lake Como, in northern Italy. The town is a nest of stone-paved alleyways that meander up and down the hillside next to the lake. We’ve been out exploring, with an eye out for a restaurant that looks interesting. We just found one. Oh boy… Continue reading “Dinnertime in Bellagio – Mangia!”

Ciao Italia!

That’s right – “Ciao Italia!” We landed this morning at Malpensa Airport, just outside of Milan. Our plan was to rent a car, find our way to the town of Bellagio on beautiful Lake Como, and check into a hotel there. Bellagio is only 90 km (56 miles) from Malpensa airport. What could possibly go wrong? Continue reading “Ciao Italia!”

Last Day in Dublin

It’s our last day in Dublin. Aye, ’tis a sad thing. If I was a young lad without a care in the world, I’d probably say, “I’ll leave when I’m ready, and I’m not even close to ready yet!” But I’m not a young lad without a care in the world, and our plane leaves tomorrow. But we haven’t left yet! Continue reading “Last Day in Dublin”

Dublin’s EPIC Museum – It’s Epic!

The plan for today is to visit Dublin’s EPIC Museum… It’s a museum about everything Irish. But it’s mostly about the ten million people who’ve emigrated from Ireland, where they went, and what they’ve done. Continue reading “Dublin’s EPIC Museum – It’s Epic!”

Ireland’s 20th Century

If you’ve been following along, you know we’ve been winding our way through Ireland’s history. We’ve almost made it to the 20th century. This island is beautiful, but its history, not so much. Ireland’s 20th century would be rough going too, but at least there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
Continue reading “Ireland’s 20th Century”

On the Loose in Dublin

We’re on the loose in Dublin. Our visit to the Chester Beatty Museum didn’t take long, so we have the rest of the afternoon free. Dublin is a great walking town, so we could just stroll around and take in the sights. On the other hand, with an enticing-looking pub on every corner, (or so it seems), maybe we should save our legs for tomorrow! Continue reading “On the Loose in Dublin”