Lakes surrounded me as a child. Every summer, my family and I would go to a Lake somewhere nearby and rent a houseboat for a week. These bodies of water aren't often crystal clear. I've been to some that are. Some that when you are in the middle of the lake you can still see almost to the bottom, it's that clean.
Regardless if a Lake is murky or clear, they all hold a special beauty to them. In a lot of ways, I love Lakes more than Oceans. Sure, Oceans have waves, facinating sea creatures, and beautiful beaches but they are almost too....vast. You go out on the ocean for a mile or two and pretty soon, you won't see anything but the endless expanse of water. In my mind, only seeing water is frightening. Maybe it's a phobia I have but i'm not aware of? I'm not sure.
For the most part, Lakes always have some type of land you can see in the distance. OR, if you can NOT see land, you at least know if you just travel a few miles to the North, East, Or West, you'll have to hit some land eventually. The chances of a person floating in open water in the ocean surviving, are much lower than a person floating in a lake. You also never have to worry about coral stratching you and bleeding in Lakes while sharks come and you play JAWS music in your head while freaking out. This is slightly important since I believe sharks have an almost vampiric sense of blood like to bite things. There are also stingrays, Squids, Jellyfish, and all other sorts of dangerous to semi-dangerous creatures and elements in the Ocean.
I believe it's those Oceanic qualities with a combination of nostalgia and landmass visibilities, that turn me into an avid Lake lover. Now when I go on my various travels and find a lake, I have to take out a least a moment of my day to look at it. Or even put my feet in it if it's warm enough outside.
When I went to Italy a few yrs ago, I came across several Lakes along the way.
Lake Maggiore is in Switzerland near the Swiss-Italy border. It's a gorgeous lake situated in a valley of the Alps. When we were driving passed it, I begged my friends to stop and drive down to get a better view of it. It wasn't really a "swimming" type lake. You could see though, many boats on the water, and several people on Jet Ski's. It was the end of March, and the sun was shining brilliantly. The temperature had finally started to reach a very comfortable warmish stage. Lake Maggiore sparkled majestically in it's valley, making the Mountains jealous that they were only spectators surrounding it. I thought it was the most beautiful lake I had ever seen....Until.....about an hour later.....
***** Piacere (Pleasure to meet you) Como, Italy! ******
Right before you arrive in the city of Como, you are greeted by the "not so nice" border patrol. Or least, they were "not so nice" to my friends and I. In a way, I guess I can't blame them much. There were four people in our car. One with a Swedish passport, the other with a German, the other with a Russian, and me, with an American......
Strange car group eh?
We ended up having our entire car picked through and were interrogated ,in Italian ( Thank god my Swedish friend spoke fluent Italian and could translate). An hour or so later, we were finally able to officially enter Italy and the city of Como. At first glance, Como wasn't that impressive. Sure it was quaint and slightly "Italian" looking, but I figured it was like any border town, mostly not impressive.
As we drive around into the city more, you start to notice small details that make the place appear beautiful. Little squares and plaza's that pop up in the middle of nowhere, gorgeous Cathedrals, buildings of varying styles and centuries pushed up against one another.
Gelato shops are EVERYWHERE! You can walk around any block , and encounter at least two of them. I thought it was a good thing. I'm not a big fan of ice cream, but I love the tase of gelato, so I was in heaven.
You had your choice of open markets as well. Want some olives? There are dozens of oliver sellers in the markets so ,you'll get your fill. What some dried mushrooms? There are almost more of them then they are olives. As you pass through each vendor, you are keenly aware that you don't recognize 75% of the items before you. And, forget asking the vendor what they are. You only have a 10% chance that the vendor can actually speak English.
Yet, market vendors in Italy are extraordinarily sweet and friendly. Even if they don't speak any or hardly any english, they will more than willingly try to understand you and vice versa. It's even fun to try and communicate with them. Italians are known for being very bombastic and full of gestures. In a way, they would be the ideal people to learn sign language. They would be STELLAR at sign language. After learning, some of the various gestures....I was able to get around the markets fairly easy without having to grab my Swedish Italian speaking friend.
But this isn't supposed to be a review on Como, this is about LAKE Como...
***** The Magnificant Lake Como*****
As we walked around one corner, my German friend telling us about the hotel we were staying at in Bellagio ( I will be doing a review on Bellagio next=), I saw a large body of water that I had only given a cursery glance as we drove past.
"What is THAT?" I said in an almost whispered questioning voice.
"Oh, dat's Lake Como", German friend said.
"THAT'S Lake Como?", I replied.
"Ja, it's pretty , no?" German friend answered.
" Yes...NO....it's gorgeous", I said back increduously.
" You know da newer Star Vars Movie where Anikan and da Princess get married? Vell, dat's da Lake da movie used vhere dey gots married on". German friend pointed out.
I could see why it was movie worthy. It wans't just the Lake. The lake by itself was beautiful. It was the scenery emcompassing it that pushed it a step above beautiful.
The water shone like diamonds reflecting the sunlight. It lapped up to a long pier that surrounded the city. Beyond the pier, to the left and the right, were Villa's scattered everywhere on the lower hills of the Alps.
Looking into the short distance, you saw the large peaks of the Alps. Describing the view surrounding you is probably something only a world class writer can do. I simply am not good enough to do it justice.
Right away my Swedish friend hops onto the boardwalk of the pier and asks how much a boat tour of the lake is. While he haggles with the gesturing Italian boat owner we walk around soaking everything in. A French looking diner is next to boat where you can order a Campari, sit and drink it at a table outside, close enough to almost fall into the lake. You see people milling around their expensive villas. Some are on they're veranda's, probably sipping the same thing we were.
After imbibing in the beverage were slightly more giddy than normal, which only heightened our experience. Once we paid the boatman, we started off on a tour of the Lake. It was a small boat, but I liked it better for that since there were no other tourists to bother us.
The little short Italian manning the boat was named Pisquale (can't get any more Italian than that can you?). He spoke a modest amount of English and began to tell us a brief history of the Lake, the people, and the city. He pointed out George Clooney's house, surprised when we slightly rolled our eyes and said "mmm yes, it's nice looking". I'm sure he was expecting us to pelt him with questions like;
"Does he come out on his veranda much?!"
"Do you know him?"
"Has he been on this boat?"
"Can you arrange for us to tour the house!?"
It's not that meeting a famous hollywood star wouldn't be cool. It just so happened that neither my friends nor I, are fans of his movies. That made his villa look just like every other villa there, but maybe slightly larger than most.
As we rounded towards the east side of the lake (Clooney's house is on the west side) , we were now viewing the cliffs/border of Bellagio. You look up at the incline and see villas stacked up like Lego's. The way they were stacked was like a painting. It was like an Artist sat there and made up the best areas to place the Villa's and then, the builders followed his dreams.
We docked on that side of the lake, eager to see the town of Bellagio. All of us hopped off the boat and hugged our friendly, sweet, eager boatman. As soon as we touched land, it was like we had seperation anxiety. We still didn't want to leave the lake just yet.
In front of the dock was a Pizzeria. It stood there like a siren calling us to her. We hadn't been in town long enough to really think about eating a proper meal. Our sole food had been some bread, cheese and olives we had bought at the open market in town. With the Pizzeria beaconing us, there was no way to deny it.
Outside of the Pizzeria were at least a dozen tables next to the lake all with menu's taped to the tops of them. I loved these Italians. They know they're country is breathtaking and that many would rather be outside than in. My Russian Friend ,Jelena, and I , decided to sit down and look at our new favourite body of water.
Our Swedish friend Henrik, and German friend Volker, got our food and drink requests, then went inside to order.
You haven't lived , until your siting at an Italian table, on Lake Como, eating an Italian Pizza, drinking Italian Wine. It felt decedant. Can pizza ever feel decedant your thinking? Yes, yes it can, and it did. If I lived there, I could do that every day for the rest of my life, and be utterly content. (Speaking of which, it is my dream to retire and live in a Villa on this lake=).
After eating and drinking our fill, it was still hard to leave. We had 3 more days of sightseeing to do. While the rest of our trip was filled with wonder and beauty, we all still say that our first day, at Lake Como, was our favourite.
If you ever get an opportunity to visit Italy, think long and hard about going to Como. The city would still be "nice" without the Lake being there. It's the lake though, that turns it into a major attraction. Don't forget that Bellagio is only a few miles up a winding incline to the west. Milano is only an hour or so ,south. Then, Switzerland is right there.
Everyone seems to only think of Rome, Venice, and Tuscany when they imagine visiting Italy. That's all well and good, those places are all full of their own delights. I wonder why it is though, that when people ask me what my fave place was in Italy , I say the area around Lake Como? I loved Venice. Rome was....historically moving (even though i'm REALLY NOT a Catholic), Tuscany was dream-like....
So why is Lake Como my favourite place in Italy? Well, you'll just have to see for yourself.
(Also Published Under I_Heart_ELO on Dooyoo)
A Lake of Shining Waters Surrounded by Mountains & George Clooney 
