We're Off to Lake Como

Left our hotel about 8:00 and headed to the train station.

To back up a minute - about the Hotel Continental - Our Zurich hotel was in an almost perfect location, about a 15 min walk from the train station or a short 5 min ride & walk from the tram station. The people at the hotel were friendly - there was usually a large vat of fresh apple juice (seasonal) for refreshment and then into tiny, tiny elevators for our trip up to the room. Good thing the 4 of us are so comfortable together as the trip in the elevator gave us a whole new meaning to "tight fit". The room electricity was operated by your key card - very efficient. The rooms were compact - if Philip or Jim were seated in one of the chairs, Laurrie and I had to crawl over the bed to get to the closet or bathroom (hmmm, we each had our own room). Each night, our beds were turned down, chocolate left as well as slippers.

So ... now back to the trip to Como. We're on a 9:?? train to Como, so we have plenty of time to purchase a coffee and pastry. As usual, I've lost my glasses (readers) and am searching for a druggeri to buy a new pair. This time they came with a chain so hopefully I won't loose them.

Our lovely weather continues as our speeding train carries us thru the alps where we marvel at the small towns & farm perched precariously high on the mountains. You have to wonder Why?

There is minimal fuss at border control; a few men get on with dogs - assume checking for drugs. No one seems particularly interested in us.

We arrive at the Como station where it remains true to course; no one speaks englesia - lots of smiles and hand gesturing. This time my internet research proves faultless - the C10 bus arrives to take us to Mennagio. There's a mad dash to get to the bus - where moments ago there was no one; suddenly there's a mob of people. Where did they come from?

Now we're on the scary bus, Yeowsa! We're s till trying to get down the aisle with our big suitcases (didn't seem so big stateside) when the bus takes off. We attempt to place suitcases in the holding area but they are rolling around like bowling balls. Then someone comes and put a walker on top of the cases, meanwhile we're trying to get into seats without falling into some one's lap.

The Scary Bus careens thru the town of Como, then follows what has to be a roman chariot road along the lake. Two buses can't pass (they use the time for a smoke break) and passing a large motor home was a breath-holding moment. Fortunately the bus is big and cars give way or back up. The views of the lake, the villages and the alps are spectacular.

After an hour on the Scary Bus, we arrive at Mennagio. There in the plaza, calm reigns. We head for a cafe and have a spritz, considering ourselves grateful to be alive. Then over to the Hotel Garni.

Bella Mennagio!