Between Lakes and Lagoon

First trip on my own with some older friends, and a desire to appear in every photo just to say "I was there too". A shame the quality isn't exactly splendid, but I think it still gives an idea of where I've been!!!! The journey is very long and, with various stops, it even takes us abroad, but for now I'm only talking about this short period. 2 August: after a sleepless night travelling, we reach Santa Lucia station for a couple of hours' stop in Venice. Vaporetto and straight to St Mark's Square with the ritual photo with Japanese tourists. We move through the various alleys and even stumble into a local market to browse the prices of fruit and vegetables (very high!). Then, alas, we have to leave Venice, taking the opposite route towards Peschiera on Lake Garda, a town in the province of Verona halfway between Veneto and Lombardy.

3 August: after a quick awakening, a walk around Peschiera, a town much loved by the Germans, so much so that everywhere, even in the churches, the signs are in both languages. The lake is beautiful, and in the tourist harbour, besides some private boats (some of them quite impressive), beautiful swans swim. 4 August: We're in Como! The day is grey but warm, with a touch of humidity in the air. Como has a splendid lake, and from the lakeside the view of the town perched on the mountains is exceptional. The stop in Como itself is actually brief because we head to Cadenabbia, also on Lake Como. 5 August: Cadenabbia is one of the villages on Lake Como. Besides the breathtaking view, there are splendid villas but also characteristic little houses that make the place truly charming. In our little hotel there's an English family with whom I strike up a brief conversation.

A feature of Cadenabbia: the shops close at a certain hour in the afternoon and then reopen in the evening when tourists come out for the classic walk along the lakeshore. The boat trip is almost a "must".