Casa Olea and the Lake Como Area

What a great couple of days we've had.  Our apartment is fabulous!  It overlooks Lake Como and has an interesting history.  It is part of a remodeled old stone farmhouse.  Our landlady took the broken down old farmhouse and turned it into four modern (Ikea furnished) apartments while keeping as much of the original stone as possible.

Of course, the view of the lake and mountains are the most spectacular part.  We can lay in bed and look out at that panorama.

The apartment is nesseled in a area bounded by a beautiful church, lovely old houses and narrow passage ways.  Since it's not the high season, we are the only ones here now.  We even have our own private swimming pool, but it's way too cold to make use of it.

Yesterday, we took a road trip to Como and Bellagio.  We drove through Como looking for a place to have lunch.  Like every thing in Italy, Como is charming with picture postcard vistas at every turn.  We found a parking place (always a challenge) and a very nice place right on the lake to have lunch.

Refreshed and full, we headed north for Bellagio.  On the way, we stopped to try to find George Clooney's Italian home.  We were across the lake from his place and we weren't exactly sure where it was, but we were sure we saw it!  Anyway, we took lots of pictures, so it must be there somewhere.

Bellagio was bustling with tourists and locals.  This was the most people we've come in contact with.  We shopped the little shops up the alleys and in the passages.

We took the ferry back over to Varenna and back to the apartment.  Such a nice day!
Today we went to the Castello di Vezio, the castle we can see from our apartment.  The castle was built by Toedolinda queen of the Longbards during the Roman age.

The position of the castle allowed control of the lake and walls were built around the hillside to protect the village of Varenna.

We walked the wooden stairs up to the top for the most spectacular views.

The castle also serves as a falconry.  We saw several birds of prey, but no show.

There are also "ghosts" around the castle.  They are made of white chalk.  Every summer, tourists offer to be put in position and covered with gauze and then white chalk for 20 minutes until the chalk dries.  Count me out on that opportunity.