COMO ON OVER
Sparkles jump off the deep blue water like shooting stars as we sail to one of the small villages bordering Lake Como. An hour’s train ride from Milan, it is one of the largest lakes in Italy. An old man, with limited English, approaches once we have stumbled down the narrow staircase. “Cappuccino?” he asks, his hands motioning the drinking from a cup. We nod enthusiastically to make up for our nonexistent Italian. Before we can finish our coffee, the sun is out to play. Temperatures are rising above 30°C and there’s only one place we want to be — on the water.
With mountains covered in lush vegetation hugging the lake, the boats are one of the easiest ways to get between villages. But it is also a breathtaking experience that we choose to do over and over again.
A STRANGE BUS BUSINESS
Small, colourful houses start at the jetty and crawl up the sides of the mountain, each one grander than the one below.
We hop off at a town halfway up the lake, deciding to take a bus back to Cernobbio, just for a change of scenery.
The driver, clearly confident in his abilities, zooms down the cobbled streets — which are barely wide enough for a car, never mind a bus. Nearing a corner, he simply slams his hooter, a warning to any oncoming vehicles that he has decided he has right of way. Cars mount the curb and pull into driveways as soon as they hear us coming.
It seems completely normal that as our bus approaches another, the drivers stopped for a chat. We can’t understand a word, but enjoy the expressiveness of their faces, their laughter and the obvious companionship.
THEY CAN BUILD & COOK
The villages are scattered with intricate architecture, the most notable example being the cathedral in the centre of Como village. Its construction began in the late 1300s.
Rich with history and immeasurable beauty, each village had something different to offer.
Lunch can happen anywhere. The villages are filled with cafés and restaurants, each of them with a view of the lake, or the mountains or hidden down an alley, where, had you been anywhere else, you’d be concerned for your safety. But not here.
Regardless of where we eat, it is never a disappointment and we cannot get enough of the food. My mouth is watering as I remember the cheese stretching between pieces of pizza as I pulled off a slice.
The Italians can cook.
DANCING AT THE VILLA
As the sun sets, the temperature drops only slightly, encouraging you to set out and find another Italian speciality, chocolate gelato. The creamy, chocolatey ice cream drips on our clothing as we become distracted by the markets lining the streets, selling goods from tourist trinkets, such as magnets and keyrings, to necessary items for locals, such as soap and batteries. You can find anything you need or want.
One night, we are lucky enough to catch one of the many concerts held around the lake.
This one has the stunning Villa Erba as its backdrop, best known for its use as a location in Ocean’s Twelve and Gwen Stefani’s music video for Cool.
We danced to the music as the sun set and the villa lit up with lights dancing along with us. The crowd, driven by music and passion, sang along to every word, even though half the time it was in a language they could not understand, and when they could, we couldn’t.
If that isn’t enough to convince you of the charms of Lake Como, George Clooney lives there too.
Crazy drivers, cappuccinos and cobblestones on Italy’s fine lake. By Shameez Patel
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