Day 5
A midday in the Mediterranean...
TRAVEL TIP:
"A picturesque destination that draws international travelers to its mediterranean comforts"
We headed straight for the lake. To feel the cool water on our hands and feet, to smell the air and feel the breeze coming off the lake…a complete sensory experience of magical proportions. We were able to visit one of the local cathedrals. These buildings are more than a place of worship, they are an artistic testament to the best that human genius can provide. The looming columns and stained glass windows do well in reminding us of our negligible stature and time.
Of course we could not visit Italy without tasting some legendary pasta! We found a quaint restaurant with a lakeside view from the outside tables and quickly claimed a spot. We weren’t able to spot George Clooney, but we can blame that on the spaghetti carbonara being so unbelievably rich in taste and texture to the point of distraction. It is safe to say that pasta would be forever ruined wherever else we would go back in the states.
Afterwards, we were both ready for a siesta, but made our way back to Lugano in time for an exciting culinary experiment across the lake where we would learn to cook risotto with a good wine to complement. The group was broken into several subsets to make different flavors of risotto. After feasting on our creations at a large dinner table, we boated across the lake back to Lugano in time for an evening walk around town and obviously more gelato. Albeit the conclusion of our Italian debut, we were resolved to return someday…possibly on another Rick Steves tour!
"We would learn to cook risotto with a good wine to complement"
Today was a day for us to take a breath and stretch our legs while letting the previous experiences really settle in. We could not, however, pass up the opportunity to take the train into Italy once our guide mentioned how close it was. Lake Como, a picturesque destination that draws international travelers to its mediterranean comforts all year round, was only thirty minutes from us. We took the train down and our first Italian footsteps were marked with birdsong, bustling traffic, slow strolls, the famed pines of Rome, and a cloudless sky.
