Places to Visit Lake Como Area

For centuries, Lake Como has inspired poets, authors, and composers. The deep arctic lake with its Alpine backdrop has cast a spell on Da Vinci, Toscanini, Edith Wharton and and Mark Twain, Churchill and King Farouk. Now, locally-beloved resident George Clooney calls Laglio home, and he provides a firmament of new celebrities. ‘Million dollar views’ is an understatement. Lakeside villas are said to be valued at up to one hundred million dollars.
Lake Como’s temperate climate allows pines and palms to co-exist. Forget clever off-season strategies. Many places, even large hotels, are closed November through March. If you love gardens, go in April or May when the rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias bloom. Roses, oleanders, and hydrangeas follow in June.
Town-hopping is the main activity of Lake Como, by ferry, hydrofoil, or private yacht. Only thrill-seekers or the naïve attempt to drive the narrow cliffside roads. Watch your timing. This is not a small lake. The ferry from Como to Bellagio takes four hours round-trip. Even by hydrofoil it takes 45 minutes each way. Bellagio to Varenna is a twenty-minute ride, and boats do not run constantly, so pay attention to the schedule as well. Even with a decent capacity for speaking and understanding Italian, it can be tricky to understand which boats go where, and when.
Here is a review of the highlights of Lake Como:
BELLAGIO
Old World elegance is evident in Bellagio’s arcaded lakeside piazza where you can stroll, enjoy the scenery and shop at the same time. If you aren’t able to stay at the glorious Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, dine at its glass-enclosed formal restaurant that seems to sit out on the lake. For what some say is the best cappuccino in Italy, find Pasticceria Sport on Piazza della Chiesa. Bar Café Rossi, in the arcade directly in front of the ferry dock, has good breakfast and lunch items. This may be one place you’ll want to sit indoors, to enjoy the incredible detail of the Art Nouveau dining room. Bellagio residents say it’s a shame that tourists don’t usually take the 15-minute drive to Chevrio to dine at Trattoria Baita Belvedere, a great restaurant with greater view. To enjoy other spectacular views with gardens, tour Villa Serbelloni, owned by the Rockefeller Foundation; and Villa Melzi, a magnificent private residence with a chapel, museum and park. If you miss your regular workouts, the Cavalcalario Club is a good source for all things active: horseback riding, paragliding, and a sport called canyoning that involves walking, jumping, swimming, and climbing, thankfully with trained guides.
CERNOBBIO
Many come to Cernobbio to see or stay at its claim to fame: the legendary Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, built in 1568. Its ten acres of meticulously maintained gardens are only rivaled by the antique furnishings Napoleon might have brushed by. At Villa d’Este, many people overlook the Sporting Club; they think it ends with the fitness center and spa, but if you love tennis, visit the tennis center and take a lesson from Giorgio, a wonderful instructor who has run the tennis center for many decades. Behind the courts is a great hiking trail. You slowly climb up the steep mountainside and take in absorbing views all along the way.
Just outside the gates of Villa d’Este, join the locals for breakfast at Polletti, where they start baking each day at 4 a.m. The smells waft through the air until the morning rush that starts around 9:30. For lunch or take-out for a picnic, regulars recommend nearby La Piazzetta. For good family style dinners, go to La Posta, in Moltrasio, a bit north along the shore. Signor Armando and Signora Rosella are multilingual, wonderful hosts and the food is truly home-made. If pizza is your thing, the best pies in northern Italy are said to come out of the oven at Pizzeria Tennis Club Tre Vigne, a small tennis club in Tavernola, and inland town between Cernobbio and Como.
COMO
The largest city on the lake, at its southern point and less than an hour from Milan, Como is the main entrance for many travelers who arrive by train, bus, and car. Characterized as commercial and industrial, it was scrubbed clean for its recent 700th birthday. Como’s must-see church is the cathedral in Piazza del Duomo, with its rose window, ornate doors, and statues of two native sons, Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger. The Duomo is cited as the best example of transitional architecture, began in the 14th century and finished in the 17th, a Gothic façade with an18th-century dome. If you keep hearing about hiking up the mountains but don’t have the heart, or feet, for it, take a ride on the Brunate Funicular Railway from Como. From the main square, Piazza Cavour, you can see villas, a funicular, a neoclassical rotunda, and Cernobbio. A walk along the water under shade trees leads to the public gardens at Villa Olmo.
All the guide books list Il Gatto Nero as Lake Como’s great restaurant for celebrity-spotting, and it can be, but a truly special dining experience is Como’s Il Navedano. It is run by a couple that pays as much attention to the food as they do to the floral decorations. You’ll think you’re dining in a botanical garden.
MENAGGIO
There’s a great beach at the north end of town, and one of Italy’s best-known golf courses, the Menaggio and Cadenebbia Golf Club, has one of the best stocked golf libraries in the world.
TREMEZZO
The sunniest spot on the Lake is the town of Tremezzo, where the views are a draw, but it is best known for Villa Carlotta, built in the 18th century. Inside, there are beautiful ceiling frescoes and an impressive art collection; however, it’s the gardens that draw the crowds. More than 500 species of flowers, plants and trees from around the globe thrive here.
ISOLA COMACINA
A nice day trip from Como or Bellagio is to Isola Comacina, the only island on the lake. You can hike to build up an appetite to dine at its one restaurant. The menu, a set menu, has been the same for almost 50 years. At the end of the meal, you get a history lesson from the owner, who rings a cowbell to get everyone’s attention.The entire lake and all its towns have their beauty, so wherever you end up, take a walk, sip some vino, and enjoy the view.
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 20th, 2009 at 1345 and is filed under Italian Lakes.

Luggage Finder

Using a luggage lock can add an extra layer of security, but it wont prevent the TSA from looking inside. They're specifically allowed to remove the locks from any bag that they want to search, so unless you have a TSA approved device it's going to get cut off. Why get a lock if the TSA can simply remove it at free will? Because it prevents access to other people (baggage handlers, ticket agents, etc) in the chain of operation. It's also a deterrent to anyone who sees your bag on the arrivals carousel at your destination airport.

Speaking of the arrivals carousel, there's no riskier place for your luggage to sit, so make sure you get to the beltway as soon as you can after your flight arrives -- any random straggler can pick up your bags and wander off if they're not picked up immediately.
To that end, make sure that your bags have distinctive features with which you can track them. We're not saying that you have to get a hot pink leopard print roll-aboard, but a colored sash or a unique baggage tag will help you identify your bag on the carousel, in a thief's hands or to a wayward airline agent.
Another piece of data that will help keep track of your luggage is the baggage receipt. When the ticket agent at the departure airport prints out the sticker that will be attached to your bag, he or she will also print out a receipt that will often be attached to your boarding pass (or its jacket.) Hold onto this -- airline representatives can use it to track your bag.While you're in the process of filing away your receipt at the ticket counter, by the way, make sure to look over the shoulder of the ticket agent to check the destination of your bag. It should be printed in large characters next to the bar code. Hint: if it says SJO and your actual destination is SJU, ask the agent to double check the route.
Naturally, many of these tips are rendered null if you opt to carry on your bags. In addition to saving a load of extra fees, your bags will travel by your side for the entire duration of your trip, drastically reducing any risk involved and saving a little bit of time to boot.
Either way, it's important to remember that baggage loss or theft happens to a minuscule volume of air travelers, less than 8 in 1000 on average. Keep those statistics in mind and use the above security tips, and at the very least, your mind will be more at ease.

Bellagio Video

http://www.facebook.com/video/?id=90922096760#!/video/video.php?v=1152144263210&ref=nf

Bellagio Video, Well done...

Italian Classes In HB call Mike 714-747-5670 for Details

Toooooo Many Cannolis

Bellagio and Lake Como Eating Habits

Luigi Corbetta sent a message to the members of Lake of Como.

Luigi CorbettaMarch 21, 2010 Eating in Bellagio
The local cuisine is influenced by the structure of the territory and can therefore be divided into three main areas: firstly, the area around the lake, which predominates; secondly, the surrounding mountains and valleys, and finally Brianza, shifting between hills and plains.
Obviously, the lake cuisine is based on fish. Its most famous specialities are: “missultitt”, that is fish desiccated in special containers called “misolte”; soused fish, which is first fried and then pickled; crispy fresh water fish and other typical dishes like “risotto con pesce persico” (rice with perch) fillet and smoked trout in oil. On the lake shore, particularly in the area called “Tremezzina”, first quality vegetables like the asparagus from Rogano are grown.
You will also find some olive-groves producing an excellent oil, which now has unfortunately become quite a rarity.
In the valleys around the Lake you will find a “frugal” but genuine cuisine, based on polenta (corn-meal mush), “polenta taragna” (buckwheat mush) and “polenta cunscia” (with a characteristic garlic flavour), both cooked with butter and cheese; farmyard chicken, goat-kids bred mainly in the upper Lake and wild game. In addition, you will find choice trout and plenty of delicious mushrooms.
 “Home made” banner, from the savoury salami to some typical kinds of cheese like “semuda” or “zincherlin”.
In the part of Brianza that borders on the province of Milan, rich dishes such as “cazeula”, “busecca”, polenta with birds, spiced pork sausages with beans and typical cold cuts like “filzette” (long thin salami) and “cacciatorini” (short salami) prevail.
As to cakes, you can taste a typical pancake called “cotizza”, made with flour, milk, sugar and lemon peel, and the “Resta de Comm”, a sort of oblong panettone containing a well auguring olive branch.

Linguini Heaven!

Bruce Bradley, thanks for the recipe,
I broke down, bought clams, Kathy found linguini in the back of the kitchen cabinet and "shazam,"chopped carrots, mushrooms, peppers, garlic...gently mixed them in olive oil and butter, Everson Spices, added a cup full of Pinot Grigio, added the clams, while the linguini was waiting to boil....guess what....felt like we were in Bellagio.

Oh yes, we polished off a bottle of "Il Bosco" 2005.  Mikey better known as Rocco Colonna, Kathy my beautiful "live in" and me....Mr. Chef....for a brief hour visited the angels in heaven.  Grazie

Bellagio-Lake Como Virtual Tour Website Click it!

http://como-lake.arounder.com/

Bellagio 2010

"Brush Up" on Day Trips from Bellagio

Italy Suggested Travel Itinerary - Milano and the Lakes Region to Venice by Train

Short trips to Italy's top historic cities of the North
Unlike many suggested itineraries, this section of northern Italy is packed with interesting cities; you'll spend less than two hours travel time between cities in our suggested itinerary of Northern Italy. The distance between Milan and Venice is a mere 175 miles or so, less than three hours train time, and if you follow all the steps of the suggested itinerary, you'll stop and experience four fabulous cities between the two. Use our clickable map to find information on any of the cities.
Northern Italy Map, Showing Milan to Venice Train Routes
The Travel Itinerary

You are most likely to fly into Milan Malpensa Airport. Malpensa is located northwest of Milan, and is actually closer to Lago Maggiore than central Milan. From Malpensa, you can take the shuttle to Milano Centrale train station (Malpensa Shuttle departs every twenty minutes from early morning to late at night) to start your journey or to find a hotel (there are many around the train station). If you're coming from the smaller Linate, which is east of Milan, you can take the shorter shuttle to Milano Centrale.

Brescia - (1 day) Brescia is often overlooked, but it's worth a night. From its Roman ruins to the civic museum inside the Monastery of Santa Giulia with its three churches, you might be surprised at Brescia's charm.

Verona - (2 days) known for Shakespeare's setting for Romeo and Giulietta, Verona has been called the Florence of the North for its art. Get tickets for anything at the 2000 year old Arena (but get them in advance) and rub the right breast of bronze Juliet for luck before heading to Vicenza.

Vicenza - (1 Day) Famous architect Palladio is from here--you can see his work in town and out.

Padua - (2 Days) One of my favorite smaller towns on this route, Padua is one of the prettiest cities in Italy, with the oldest botanical gardens in Europe. I sometimes stay in Padua and take day trips by train to Venice.

Venice - Everyone knows Venice. You could spend a month here, but I'd recommend 5 days minimum. Better to rent an apartment and stay a week, with day trips to Treviso or Ferrara. If you're on a budget and like peace and quiet, while still living in a city with canals, you might try staying in Treviso and taking the short train ride into Venice.

Getting back to Milan

The EuroStar Italia makes the journey from Venice Mestre station to Milano Centrale in two hours and 45 minutes or so, which is probably faster than a flight from Venice to Milan, considering the time to get to the airport and the hassles with luggage. If you still have some time left before your flight, you can take the train to Como or Stresa on Lago Maggiore in about an hour. Malpensa can be reached from Stresa.

Take the train from Stressa to the Gallarate station, then taxi or bus to the airport. Or, you can do the whole trip by "ALIBUS" which departs from Milan Malpensa Airport - Terminal 1 - bus stop number 12 every day.

Trenitalia has information on all state run trains in Italy. You can do this itinerary by buying point to point rail tickets along the way. Italian trains are fairly cheap, although the Eurostar Italia is a premium train--if you want to go fast you will pay a supplement and the required seat reservations. For more on riding Italian trains, see How to Travel on Italian Trains

Ole NBC Page Mike Colonna was four feet from Dino Holding his drink, and Yes he did drink!

From Italy and Germany with Love!

Tuscan Steam Wine Tour

The effort of this group of retired Italian train officials continues to offer great destinations through discontinued (but well maintained!!) tracks that pass through unforgettable landscapes. You can see this landscapes through the Nature Train only, since no road passes by these unique lands.
There are many tours and many antique trains that take you to dream places and back in time. Some examples are steam engines from the 18th century, to the more recent diesel trains of the 1950s.
The expeditions with the diesel trains depart in May, June, September, and October and go through the line from Siena to Asciano, and then to Monte Antico (the leg from the Asciano to Monte Antico is the dismissed part). During these tours you will be able to enjoy visits to Etruscan sites, the natural park of Monte Labro, a Biosphere festival at Vivo d’Orcia, Radicofani Festival, Autimn Festival in Abbadia, Arcidosso and Vivo d’Orcia, the chestnut festival with local wine and other true Tuscan happenings.
The vintage trains also offer special trips from Siena to San Ugo d’Asso for the truffle festival in March.

In June the train from Siena goes to the Maremma Park to the sea.
In July the destination to Mount Amiata offers music on board.
September is the Etruscan train month.
December the Olive oil Festival train takes to San Quirico d’Orcia.
A “very specialest” train is the New Year train that takes to the Mount Amiata and includes the New Year’s eve dinner with typical mountain meat.
The steam trains offer in April a trip to Murlo, an antique Etruscan town, and to San Ugo d’Asso for the Pecorino cheese festival.
May is the occasion to celebrate agricolture with the train to Sant’Angelo Cinigiano; also in this month the steam festival and the Scialenga market in Asciano.
October brings the festival of grape harvest and barbecued pork meat, a tradition in rural Tuscany! Also not to be missed is the Chestnut festival in Casteldelpiano, where chestnuts are accompanied with novell wine.
November is the exquisite Truffle season.
To get more information about the exact dates and festivals combined with each trip, information on fares, schedules and itineraries, please call (0039) 0577 20 74 17, or the mobile number (0039) 338 8992577, or visit the website
Read more: http://experience-tuscany.thriftytuscany.com/treno-natura-goes-a-step-forward/606#ixzz0hbRiw69L

Wine Pairings w/Famous Chefs

http://www.winespectator.com/video/index/playerid/716696097?bcpid=716696097&bclid=61003597001&bctid=53940597001

Milan to Lake Como...Rick Steves

Milan offers perhaps the most enjoyable look at modern, urban Italy. Its Duomo Museum, which gives meaning to Milan's richly ornamented cathedral, is scheduled to reopen sometime this year after a long restoration (duomomilano.it).

Northeastern Italy's rugged yet accessible slice of the Alps, called the Dolomites, just got easier to experience. A new, faster cable car dangles above the gateway city of Bolzano to take you to scenic Oberbozen and its Bryce Canyon-like pinnacles.
A free shuttle bus links my favorite home base in the Dolomites, Castelrotto, with the high Alpine meadowland called Alpi di Siusi, which has its own cable car that lifts hikers even higher. To keep cars from marring the landscape, Castelrotto has two new underground parking lots; one is in front of the bus station.
Italy's Riviera — at least the five remote villages of the Cinque Terre that are now protected as a national park — is more welcoming than ever. While hoteliers in this popular region near Genoa are notorious for artificially bumping up prices, travelers have more negotiating power now due to the economic downturn. Shop around before you commit to a room. The Cinque Terre Card, which covers a day of hiking in the region's national park, now also includes a free three-hour bike rental; bikes are available through tourist offices in the towns of Riomaggiore and Vernazza. For many years there was no place to check your luggage, but now you can store bags at the national park's kiosk at Riomaggiore's train station. A new hostel is open in Corniglia's former schoolhouse, offering bright and clean rooms in the least touristy and most remote of the five towns.
Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, is notoriously congested with cars and tour buses, but it just got easier to park your car at the edge of town. The Parking Mojano lot, while below the old town, now comes with an escalator that transports you nearly to the Basilica of St. Clare. It's a blessing.

A Song From Naples

A good glass of wine

To paraphrase W.C. Fields, "I don't drink water, because fish screw in it." To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine.... and those who don't...As Ben Franklin said: In wine there is wisdom, In beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.. However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

Remember:

Water = Poop,

Wine = Health

Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid,
than to drink water and be full of shit.

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing it as a public service!

Pigs - Italian Style

The Three Little Pigs - Italian Style

Once upon a time there were three little pigs. The straw pig, the stick pig and the brick pig.
One day this nasty old wolf came up to the straw pig's house and said, "I'm gonna huff and puff and blow your house down." And he did !!!

So the straw pig went running over to the stick pig's house and said, "Please; let me in, the wolf just blew down my house." So the stick Pig let the straw pig in.

Just then the wolf showed up and said, "I'm gonna huff and puff and blow your house down." And he did !!!

So the straw pig and the stick pig went running over to the brick pig's house and said, "Let us in, let us in, the big bad wolf just blew our houses down!"

So the brick pig let them in just as the wolf showed up The wolf said, "I'm gonna huff and puff and blow your house down." The straw pig and the stick pig were so scared! But the brick pig picked up the phone and made a call.

A few minutes passed and a big, black Caddy pulls up.

Out step two massive pigs in pin striped suits and fedora hats. These pigs come over to the wolf, grab him by the neck and beat the living shit out of him, then one of them pulled out a gun, stuck it in his mouth and fired, killing the wolf, then they tied cement blocks around his feet threw his sorry ass into the creek then they got back into their Caddy and drove off.

The straw pig and stick pig were amazed!!! "Who the hell were those guys?" they asked.

"Those were my cousins... the Guinea Pigs"

Best Wines 2009

http://www.winespectator.com/video/index/playerid/353537844?bcpid=353537844&bclid=53384528001&bctid=50516545001

Milan to Lake Como...Rick Steves

Not Alllowed in Bellagio!

Northern Italy renown for Wine!

Venice's region has emerged in recent times as Italy's largest producer of wine with a major share classified as (more than 300 million bottles a year). Leading the flow is Verona's trio of Soave, Valpolicella and Bardolino. But since DOC represents less than a third of the region's total, the Veneto also figures as a major producer and exporter of IGT wines, often of moderate price.

The Veneto has three general areas of premium wine production: the western province of Verona in the hills between Lake Garda and the town of Soave; the central hills in the provinces of Vicenza, Padova and Treviso; the eastern plains of the Piave and Tagliamento river basins along the Adriatic coast.

The Lakes Region

Wine Tasting in Tuscany!

The Amalfi Coast...Great Vacation Spot!

Gianni Mattera, owns "Ristorante Alberto" on the Island of Ischia, off the Coast of Naples, Italy

Truffle Hunt!

The Essence of Chutzpah!

Chutzpah is a Yiddish word meaning gall, brazen nerve, effrontery, sheer guts plus arrogance; Leo Rosten writes, "no other word, and no other language," can do it justice."

This example is better than 1,000 words. Read the story below the picture and you will understand.

A little old lady sold pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each.
Every day a young man would leave his office building at lunch time, and as he passed the pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but never take a pretzel.
This went on for more than 3 years. The two of them never spoke. One day, as the young man passed the old lady's stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel lady spoke to him. Without blinking an eye she said:
"They're 35 cents now."

A Tuscany Morning

An Ischia Restorante No Translation Needed!

Cantina Follie, Lake Como Area

Deborah & Joost wish you a warm welcome at Cantina Follie's website.

Our wine-bar/shop is situated in the cellar of an old house in the old town centre of Tremezzo.
At Cantina Follie you can enjoy a nice drink (including soft) either in the cellar or with nice weather outside on the terrace under the grape-vine, accompanied by some local cold cuts or cheeses. Our speciality is the "Tagliere dell'amicizia" the friendship's platter with the complete selection of local cheeses and sliced meats.
You can also buy some bottles in the shop...to enjoy at home while you remember the time you spent in lake Como.
Review  http://www.cantinafollie.it/
"A fabulous place which we visited on every evening of our trip! Cantina Follie is a small place with maybe 6 tables (well, oak barrels actually) spread across a couple of rooms, and has a lovely intimate atmosphere. There are over 350 wines in stock, with something to suit all budgets, and this is primarily a wine bar. However, to... more"

Adrea Bochelli One of My Favorites!

Birdseye view of Cinque Terra...

Landing in Milan...

Ryan Air a Cheap way to Travel in Europe.

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Click on Airfarewatchdog below, Great Prices in May 2010

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Cooking Classes and Restaurant Reviews From Lake Como

Found Il Caminetto via Trip Advisor and cannot recommend it enough. We spent a wonderful day with Moreno at his restaurant which has been in the family for 8 generations and because we went off-peak it meant there was just 4 of us in the class - rather than the usual 10-12. This was perfect because we got to eat... more
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187837-d1091635-Reviews-Ristorante_Il_Caminetto_Cookery_Lessons-Varenna_Lake_Como_Lombardy.html#REVIEWS

Parma side trip from Bellagio!

The Paleo Siena Italy

Getting Closer To Bellagio!

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A Catholic Cup Of Coffee!

Four Catholic men and a Catholic woman were having coffee.
The first Catholic man tells his friends, "My son is a priest, when he walks into a room, everyone calls him 'Father'."
The second Catholic man chirps, "My son is a Bishop. When he walks into a room people call him 'Your Grace'."
The third Catholic gent says, "My son is a Cardinal. When he enters a room everyone says 'Your Eminence'."
 The fourth Catholic man then says, "My son is the Pope. When he walks into a room people call him 'Your Holiness'."
Since the lone Catholic woman was sipping her coffee in silence, the four men give her a subtle, "Well....?"

She proudly replies, "I have a daughter, slim, tall,
38D breast,
24" waist and 34" hips.
When she walks into a room, people say, "Oh My God."







=

One of My Favorites!

A Bar in Rome!

October Peace Rally at El Duomo, Milan, Italy

Things to do in Lake Como!

Bellagio, Up Close and Personal!

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Living The Vida Loca!

Renting a villa instead of staying in a hotel.

By PAUL HODGINS
Renting a villa instead of staying in a hotel can give you a different look at Italy.

Cautionary notes about renting:
1. Make sure utilities are covered.
2. Have a contract and keep it with you. This can be handy at check-out to verify what you do and don't pay for.
3. Ask about air conditioning. It can take time to turn it on.
4. Euro washing machines take a lot longer to cycle and there are no dryers in most homes. Don't pack clothes that turn crackly after air drying. Softer fabrics and synthetics wash and wear much better.
5. Ask for two sets of keys. And ask the management company to show you how to use them — European locks can be ancient and quirky.
6. Fuses get blown. AC has mysterious settings in other languages. You want immediate assistance. Ask for a 24-hour number to call. Ours were programmed into the home phone, which was helpful.

What to pack for your kitchen
Pop-up sponges. They're space-saving in your luggage and much cleaner than the sponges you might find in your adopted kitchen.
Plastic bags. They're versatile and take up less luggage space than plastic wrap. (They weren't provided in our kitchens.)
Kitchen towels. Take "one way" towels that are on their last legs and toss them when you're through.
Knives. An imperative for serious cooks. The knives provided were cheap and dull. (Don't take yours in carry-on luggage!)
Spices you can't live without. We brought a chili rub with us and should have taken more chili powder. Don't pack anything that is liquid but do take small amounts of your American favorites such as lemon pepper and Cajun spices.
Insulated backpack. Use it as your carry-on. Then when you arrive, just pop a bottled water in your freezer. You can use as a cold pack and take groceries from one city to another or pack picnics with you when you go sightseeing.
Tips for grocery shopping
Find out when and where outdoor markets are open. Hours are important because they close and disappear within minutes as if they were never there.
Supermarkets are smaller than in the U.S. but some have fantastic selections of deli and baked goods. Look in the cheese section for dolce gorgonzola, fresh mozzarella and other treats. French and Spanish cheeses are far less expensive here than in the U.S.
Green grocers often feature little neighborhood stands; the prices aren't as good as at the market but they're convenient when you've forgotten that one ingredient. Some sell their own marinated olives and other treats. Befriend the proprietors and they will put up with your broken Italian and even give you deals sometimes.
Bring a market bag that folds up neatly.
Enotecas (wine bars) are great for special bottles but don't overlook the wine at grocery stores. You'll find wonderful selections for 10 Euros or less. You probably won't recognize the labels, since this is wine that's meant for domestic consumption, so watch what the locals are choosing.
Meat markets, pastry shops and other places to buy food stuffs give you the real flavor of Italy. Here is where you'll find pan forte and other treats in a variety of regional styles. In Rome we shopped for food and gifts at Castroni, an international spice and food stuffs store with incredible Italian chocolates and nougats and a few items for a Mexican food fix, like pickled jalapenos.
Homefinding Web sites
We used www.vrbo.com for Florence and www.undertheromansun.com for Rome.

Under the Tuscan Snow!

Live In Long Beach!

TRAVIS PASTRANA RINGS IN 2010 WITH SUCCESSFUL WORLD RECORD DISTANCE JUMP IN A RALLY CAR

ESPN and ESPN HD to Re-Air Action Sports Star Moment on
“Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. Show”
ESPN captured nine-time X Games gold medalist, Travis Pastrana, in a live telecast of Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. as he rang in the new year on the east coast by launching his rally car off the Pine Street Pier and landing on a floating barge in the middle of Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor. The world record feat set at 269 feet will re-air tomorrow Jan. 1 on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. ET and this Sunday, Jan. 3 on ESPN and ESPN HD at 10:30 p.m. ET. Pastrana’s successful jump was witnessed by more than 75,000 fans.
Previous record of 171 feet was held by fellow X Games Rally Car Racing competitor Ken Block.
Pastrana follows in the footsteps of fellow motorsports athletes Robbie Maddison and Rhys Millen, who rang in the last two New Year’s Eve celebrations by pushing their physical, mental and technical limits to break boundaries and records, in front of thousands of fans in Las Vegas and millions of viewers on ESPN.
Known to most as a leader in motocross, the popular innovator has focused on Rally Car Racing in recent years. The three-time defending Rally America Champion is the most decorated athlete in the history of X Games Moto X and has 11 Moto X Games medals and three Rally Car Racing medals, including gold in 2006 and 2008.

Live Cameras Spotlight Italy

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Bellagio Travel Guide...Click it On!

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Careful of What You Wish For!

Italian English - Watch more amazing videos here

Como prices decrease for the first time in five years!

Words by Carla Passino
Have you always dreamed of buying a house on the Italian Lakes but your budget didn’t quite stretch to it? Now may be the right time to purchase.According to Italian estate agent Gabetti, prices in and around the lakeside city of Como have gone down for the first time in five years.
The Gabetti study refers to the first half of 2009 and puts current values for properties in the city at £3,000 per square metre for renovated flats with lake views, and £4,000 per square metre for period homes in the historic centre.
Although the price reduction is hardly colossal—only about 5%— proceedable buyers may be in for greater discounts. Sale volumes have gone down too and vendors, keen to secure a sale, are prepared to offer rebates of up to 10% on the asking price to the right person.
Earlier in the year, Gabetti had also reported a slight decrease in prices for second homes in villages along Lake Como.
On the Como side of the Lake, prices went down by about 10% to about £5,000-6,500 per square metre for a lakeside flat in posh Cernobbio, and £4,000-6,000 for a waterside home in neighbouring Laglio, Moltrasio and Carate Urio. The Lecco side of the Lake was similarly affected, with homes here rarely going above £5,000 per square metre.
All this brings formerly unreachable properties within the realm of the (barely) affordable. To take advantage of the market, though, you may need to act quickly as other buyers are in on the secret. Indeed, Gabetti reports that demand in Como has already started to increase, albeit by a modest amount.
And the usual proviso applies—like elsewhere in Italy, premium homes on Lake Como held their value far better than those further down the property ladder.

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Venice Attractions

From Attila the Hun’s invasion in the year 452 to Napoleon’s invasion in 1797, Venice has had quite an interesting history all documented in European history texts and available in picture in the magnificent city museums. Upon the last invasion Venice surrendered her sovereignty to end a period of 1,070 years of sovereignty.

With cutting edge modern art as well as the works of ancient masters Venice’s churches, scuole and museums are quite an aesthetic attraction. However, only part of these establishments has sites from which you can get information about them. The city’s heritage is the Accademia art gallery that sets a helpful context for every other tour of the city. Fiat owns the enormous Palazzo Grassi gallery, an outstanding venue for showcasing major art exhibitions. It hosts at least three exhibitions every other year.
The St. Mark’s Square hosts the Museo Correo, a major gallery for touring exhibitions. A respectably large structure with good interior lighting, the Museo Correo has quite a welcoming atmosphere for all the art enthusiasts. The home of modern art in Venice Biennale di Venezia is a cultural giant that hosts a huge yearly international festival of architecture, dance, music and theatre. These run from March to November with the annual Cinema festival grabbing the spotlight from August through September

Studying Italian From Ex Pat Blog

                                                                                                         Studying Italian

I will try and make this article short and sweet. Before I moved to Italy I studied Italian using interactive CD's on the computer. I used the Rosetta Stone package and really increased my vocabulary fast and learned a lot in a short time. The CD's are a bit expensive $400 US approx. (I was lucky to have free access because my workplace had a learning center), but if I was to try another language course I would certainly recommend them.
Anyways, I am not trying to sell anything, just thought that if you were going to tackle Italian, this would be a good place to start. The other thing I discovered is that once I had my Codice Fiscal (like a Social Security Number), I was able to register for free Italian language lessons three times a week at a local school downtown. Any documents that show you have permission (Permesso) to study in Italy should get you into these classes. The school is in Genova off of Via XX Septembre, on Via Fieschi. I cannot recall the name of the school but it's not hard to find. Feel free to contact me through my blog (help! I live with my Italian mother in law) if you want directions.
Ok, so no, I have not mastered the language, I am a work in progress as they say, but I am able to get by and every day my mother in law comments on how I have improved. There is also a website www.myhappyplanet.com where you can chat online with people who are looking for a language partner. I joined and chat with people who help me with my Italian in exchange for help with their English.

MY DADDY IS AN EXOTIC DANCER!

                                                            

One day a fourth-grade teacher asked the children what their fathers did for a living. All the typical answers came up -- fireman,

mechanic, businessman, salesman, doctor, lawyer, and so forth.
However, little Justin was being uncharacteristically quiet, so when
the teacher prodded him about his father, he finally replied,
'Okay... my father's an exotic dancer in a gay cabaret and takes off
all his clothes in front of other men and they put money in his
underwear. Sometimes, if the offer is really good, he will go home
with some guy and stay with him all night for money.'
The teacher, obviously shaken by this statement, hurriedly set the
other children to work on some exercises and then took little Justin aside to ask him, 'Is that really true about your father?'  'No', the boy said, 'He actually works for the Democratic NationalCommittee and helped get Barack Obama elected President last year, but I was too embarrassed to say that in front of the class.'

Malpensa Airport Milan

The Travel Itinerary

You are most likely to fly into Milan Malpensa Airport. Malpensa is located northwest of Milan, and is actually closer to Lago Maggiore than central Milan. From Malpensa, you can take the shuttle to Milano Centrale train station (Malpensa Shuttle departs every twenty minutes from early morning to late at night) to start your journey or to find a hotel (there are many around the train station). If you're coming from the smaller Linate, which is east of Milan, you can take the shorter shuttle to Milano Centrale. Getting back to Milan

The EuroStar Italia makes the journey from Venice Mestre station to Milano Centrale in two hours and 45 minutes or so, which is probably faster than a flight from Venice to Milan, considering the time to get to the airport and the hassles with luggage. If you still have some time left before your flight, you can take the train to Como or Stresa on Lago Maggiore in about an hour. Malpensa can be reached from Stresa. Take the train from Stressa to the Gallarate station, then taxi or bus to the airport. Or, you can do the whole trip by "ALIBUS" which departs from Milan Malpensa Airport - Terminal 1 - bus stop number 12 every day.

A Prayer For Grandpa!

"Dear God, this year please send clothes for all those poor ladies on Grandpa's computer, Amen."

A Trip Before or After Bellagio.

Location : Italy
Activity : Road Biking, Cultural Immersion, Biking, Wine
Price : From $3895
Departures : April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Duration : 6 days

Lodging : B&Bs/Inns, Villas

Minimum Age : 18

Group Size : 2 - 16

Interest : Couples, Solo Travelers

Biking in Italy

A bike tour in Tuscany is everything you read about. Cycle past olive groves and pastures to quaint hilltop villages on Tuscany's cypress-lined country roads. In Tuscany you feel like you're cycling inside a photograph. Each day you will be bike through vineyards and gliding along rolling fields to ancient villages. During your stay in Italy you will taste Brunello, Super Tuscan, Vino Nobile, and Chianti Classico. You will encounter some challenging hills in Tuscany, but your hard work will be well rewarded with delicious tuscan treats.

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Bellagio, Get Ready to Rumble!