Travelers Tip: However deeply tempted you might be, do not buy your seven year old a parasol. The happiness will only last for about thirty seconds, before it becomes apparent that parasols and seven year olds are a very bad idea. Parasols in the hands of little girls inevitably snag your lovely new (and expensive) Italian made clothes, scratch strangers on the street, get stuck in car doors, make you drop your gelato, and become an annoying menace. By the end of the day, there will be lots of tears…and poor fathers will be tempted to pitch those damn things into the lake.
Instead try to spend your last day in Como soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the water. Be grateful that there aren’t thousands of museums, churches, galleries, and shops that you “must see.”
And even though the shop keeper laughed at you when you asked where you could buy an iPhone charger, and responded, “Senora, this Menaggio-nowhere.” Be grateful.
Understand that this is the secret to Lake Como-the lack of “stuff” is what forced you to spend all your time enjoying the simple pleasures of Italy around you, the endless sunshine, blissful water, lingering meals, and being with those you love.
Our last day started off ambitiously. We had big plans to visit Varenna after breakfast.
But when you are presented with a breakfast like this: antique silver, starched linen napkins, and the best chocolate croissants ever created, it’s inevitable that you will linger too long.
So we scratched our trip, and decided to explore the hotel instead. We strolled through the expansive gardens, climbed up some stone steps and found this!
A rooftop pool overlooking the lake and heated! Add a couple of handmade pizzas and cold drinks and we were set.
Then we explored another path with the hydrangeas blooming everywhere and ended up…
At the hotel’s third water diversion. An indoor terrace level infinity edge pool with another stunning lake view. Crazy!
Since we were pool hopping, we made one final trip to the floating pool.
It’s a little like swimming on a cruise boat, but exponentially better.
And found time to enjoy the beach.
I was the only one brave enough to actually jump in the lake. Yes, it’s cold!
Six hours and 3 pools later, someone is very unhappy to leave Lake Como.
See this gorgeous shot of Olivia in Como with her new parasol. Mistake-huge mistake!
Immediately she snags Brian’s new shirt and nearly pokes his eye out.
And neither are hats.
