Lost In Summer

Just a funny thing we were going skiing yesterday, it was 20 degrees 0730 in the morning. unfortunately the ski lifts was not going due to too much wind. However we went to col du Lautaret we climbed a mounting (2h) and then sled down on the snow. Afterwards we went for a well deserved mountain meal in La Grave.

                           

So when travelling in France you soon come to realise the great diversity the country possesses. It it also very convenient, the distances are note very long and you can always find a stop that will be interesting and small cosy hostel are never far. Of course there exist some exceptions such as the French Riviera during the summer, it's really a mess. But some example of the diversity are the year around snowy mountains of the alps, lavender fields of Provence, old villages, hiking the grand canyon of Verdon, vineyard hopping, surfing the Atlantic waves and watching the sun set in the Atlantic ocean to cliff dives in the Mediterranean, driving along the Mediterranean coast with the windows down just enjoying the views and listening to your favourite music and all the buzzing medieval city centres most of this are within one day of driving.

Grenoble -> Lac du Sautet -> Digne Les Bains -> Castellane & the grand canyon of Verdon -> Grasse -> Cannes -> Sainte Auygulf -> Saint-Tropez -> Bandol & the island of Bender -> Marseille -> Aix en Provence -> Grand Motte -> Montpellier -> Banuyls-sur-Mer -> Andorra la Vella -> Biarritz -> Hossegor -> Saint-Girons-Plage -> Bassin d'Archachon & the great sand dunes of Pyla -> Bordeaux -> vineyards of Haute Médoc -> Lacanau -> Lascaux -> Grenoble

A great road trip!

The best meals was bouillabaisse in Marseille & beef with a perfect wine in Bordeaux

The best beaches are on the west coast, huge white sandy beached, in the Mediterranean the beaches close to the Hyeres area is the best.

Summer is turning into fall, and the first snow came on the mountain summits last weekend. It's feels great gazing up at the white snowy peaks, then you realise that ski season is not far away even if its still around 20 degrees in Grenoble, we are actually expecting 26 degrees this weekend.

Anyway since I'm not very synchronised with current events in this blog I intend to write some words about the events that took place in my life during august. It was vacation time.

To celebrate the vacation month we started the first of august by visiting Chamonix. Chamonix is very nice, I must say that it's one of few French alpine tourist villages that has kept its charms. I say tourist villages because there exist a lot of smaller not that famous villages that are very nice that not yet have been overexploited as many popular ski resort.

While in Chamonix we visited Aiguille the Midi looking down the vallée Blanche run you really looking forward to returning with your skis on. One of the few larger French ski resorts I didn't ski on last season. Of course you also have a decent panoramic view over the Mont Blanc massif. We were actually having dinner on the altitude of 3842m altitude, I must say I had some problem with the altitude feeling dizzy and nausea I was a bit surprised since I had been skiing on altitudes around 3300m before without any problems, but I guess I reached my threshold.

Venice unlimited: Treat or Trick!

Halloween is not an Italian holiday but it has been adopted to a limited extent in Venice and, because it involves a lot of elements that Italians like--ie, costumes, sweets, and kids on the loose--I suppose throughout most of the country. But here, trick-or-treaters don't go from house to house or apartment to apartment, but from shop to shop, as the kids will soon do for the upcoming Festa di San Martino on November 10.

Of course not everyone here is happy about Halloween's growing prominence. The Church of San Martino near the Arsenale posted a very stern notice--two actually, side by side--on the bulletin board in front of their door stating that they would have nothing at all to do with the holiday and its costumes and jack-o-lanterns and candy and other impious nonsense. On the evening of October 31 they would be saying a rosary for the souls of all the departed. 

And so they were, murmuring their way from bead to bead, when our sugared-up son and his school friend, fully-costumed and toting maniacally-grinning pumpkin bags filled with their hauls of candy, decided that the best place to stop and goof off and break into ear-splitting banshee screams was directly in front of the open church door.

It's almost as if they took the church notices as a challenge. But as neither of them is yet four years old, and neither can read, it must have just been instinctive primal hooliganism.

Of course we told them to keep it down and hurried them along, but I did so with a very rare sense that at least for a couple of minutes all was right in the world. The Church had done its part and announced what it considered appropriate activity on such a significant night and the pre-schoolers had done theirs and spontaneously flouted that same activitycon gusto.

For piety needs impiety to feel itself to the fullest, just as impiety needs piety to really have any fun. 

Now in this sense the ostensibly pious have it better these days than ever: they need only turn the computer or television or radio to buck themselves up. Their ancestors might have had to leave their house, or at least look out the window.

While the poor would-be impious of the Western world...! Their case is almost hopeless. When everything and everyone is relentlessly telling you to indulge your appetites and cravings it becomes hard to even recognize those appetites as your own, or as yourself. The only truly transgressive act is to become an ascetic.

But last night at San Martino with the barbarians--or pagans--running wild at the door of the church it all balanced out perfectly, as it so rarely does anymore. I hope at least one cranky churchgoer, or maybe the priest, caught sight of the costumed racket at the door and benefitted from its contrast to his or her own focus. And though neither my unlettered son nor his friend could appreciate the dynamic, I could and did. I considered it my very own Halloween treat.

Lake Como in Italy / Heaven on Earth

Lake Como, Lago di Como in Italian, is Italy's most popular lake and also its deepest. Lake Como is shaped like an inverted Y giving it a long perimeter. The lake is surrounded by beautiful villas and resort villages as well as hiking paths and it's popular for boat trips and water activities.

Lake Como, a popular destination since Roman times, is a top romantic travel destination and a great spot for photography.

Location:

Lake Como is in the northern Italian Lakes District. Lake Como lies between Milan and the border of Switzerland. It's southern tip is about 40km north of Milan. It is surrounded by mountains and hills.

Transportation to and from Lake Como:

Lake Como lies on the Milan to Switzerland train line. The train stops in the town of Como, the main town on the lake, where there is a tourist office in Piazza Cavour. The Ferrovia Nord Milano, a small train line that leaves Como from via Manzoni, runs only between Como and Milan. Milan's Malpensa Airport is 40 miles away. To get to Como from the airport, take the Malpensa Express Train to Saronna and transfer to train LeNord to Como.

Lake Como Transportation - Getting Around the Lake:

Ferries link the major villages and towns of Lake Como, providing both a good form of public transportation and a good way to do some sightseeing from the lake. There is also a bus system to villages around the lake. There are several funiculars to take you into the hills. You can rent cars in Como (Auto Europe rentals in Como) if you want to explore other nearby areas on your own.

Lake Como - When to Go:

Lake Como is a popular weekend destination for people from Milan so the weekdays may be less crowded. July and August are the most crowded months. Spring and Fall are the best times to visit as it is less crowded and the weather is usually pleasant. During the winter, some services may be closed, but you can ski in the mountains nearby.

Como and Lake Como Average Temperatures and Precipitation

Lake Como Festivals:

The Sagra di San Giovanni is celebrated the last weekend of June in the town of Como with folk arts and fireworks and in Ossuccio with a festival, boat procession, and boat race. The Palio del Baradello, a historical re-enactment, is the first week of September. Also in September is a traditional rowing race, Palio Remiero del Lario. LakeComo Festival features summer music performances in venues around the lake and there are gastronomic festivals in fall and drama from January through April.

Lake Como - Where to Stay:

Lake Como has a variety of lodging options, from campgrounds to elegant villas. Here are theTop User Rated Lake Como Hotels on Venere, 1-5 stars, around the lake. The elegant 5-star Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni read reviews and book direct in Bellagio is a top luxury hotel on the lake and one of the oldest.

Lake Como Map and Pictures:

Our Lake Como map shows the major towns around the lake. For a look at the town of Como and the lake from there, see our Como Pictures or take a look at Bellagio, the Pearl of Lake Como, with our Bellagio Pictures.

Lake Como Shopping:

The town of Como has many silk factories so if you want to buy silk Como is a good place to go. Prices are low on designer fashion fabrics. Como also has a Silk Museum dating from 1900 where you can see the entire silk-making process.

Lake Como Attractions:

• Bellagio, known as the pearl of the lake, is in a beautiful setting where the three branches of Lake Como come together. It's easy to get to by ferry or bus from other cities on the lake. Read more in our Bellagio Travel Guide.
• The walled town of Como has a good historic center and lively squares with nice cafes. There are several walking paths near town. Como makes a good base if you're traveling by train. From Como you can take the funicular to the village of Brunate, 720m above Como, for hiking trails and beautiful views of the lake and the Alps.
• Villa d'Este, in the village of Cernobbio on the west coast, is the most famous of Lake Como's villas. The villa is now a luxury hotel on a wooded peninsula. Each of its 161 rooms is unique.
• Menaggio, against the mountains, is a lively resort with a lakeside promenade. Menaggio is popular with outdoor enthusiasts for walking or hiking, swimming, windsurfing, and rock climbing.
• Villa Carlotta, south of Menaggio, has beautiful gardens. You can tour the inside with its original 18th century furniture and art works.
• Villa del Balbianello, in the village of Lenno, is also worth a visit and has some unusual treasures. The villa was used as a set for one of the Star Wars movies.
• The fishing village of Varenna has picturesque narrow alleyways and streets below a castle and a lakeside walking path.
• Outdoor Activities - Biking, mountain biking, hiking, boating, paragliding and windsurfing. In the winter, you can ski in the nearby mountains.
• Cruises - there are some interesting cruises around the lake on commercial boats, mainly on weekends in the summer season.
• Camping - there are a number of campsites around the lake.