Italy is slightly larger than Arizona with a population of 11 million Italianos.
And fyi, Greece is slightly smaller than Alabama.
We jump on the hydrofoil for the 50 min ride to Como (the city).
No luxury boat but it did the trick in allowing us to see the stupendous Lake Como and the various neighborhoods.
Many Villa's to see- many of them have been converted to hotels and restaurants. Who can afford to have a Villa private residence these days? Oh yeah a celebrity from America- I heard today that Mr. Clooney is selling the place due to the refugee problem in Italy. Say what? George you way leftie, can't ya give a brother a hand?
Many have been renovated and several under renovation.
Pleep likes this one- reminds him of a castle.
Several villages and towns surround the lake. I had no idea Lake Como was so populated. The lake is an hour north of Milano so I guess it is a logical place for the Milanese to have a weekend/summer house.
It was fun to watch the hang gliders glide up and around the beautiful mountains.
We disembark at Como and grab a cab to take us to.....
VILLA D'ESTE-some say, the jewel of Lake Como. We originally made reservations to stay here but a friend of ours suggested Bellagio for more fun-hence the switch. Bubba thanks you Bobby Biebel. At least we wanted to check it out- what's all the fuss about?
Wowza! It certainly is a beauty. Located close to Como city at the south end of the lake- we are at the north end of the lake at the Villa Serboloni.
The grounds are out of this world.
We check in with the front desk and head out to the Veranda for Marlies Birthday Luncheon- the celebration continues! Bubs wondered if the young guy at the next table would get lucky tonight- bringing a gal here and all.
Boca ordered sardines. You heard that right.
Score!
Marlies was grateful that Boca sent over one her special birthday cakes-sans flour.
From nunnery to funnery- this place is fabulosity !
A gala dinner held at the Villa d’Este in 1948 was the scene for the celebrated murder of the wealthy silk manufacturer Carlo Sacchi, shot dead by his lover Countess Pia Bellentani with her husband’s Fegyverzyar automatic pistol. And now you know why Bub's locks his up, being married to a Serbian and all.
We continue to nose around the place - one room more obstreperous than the next.
Yes, Marlies that is quite the Venetian chandelier.
Unique in every way. Don't let Pleep see it as he has been know to hang from a chandelier or 10.
Hey Boca, this might be a good room to have a libation and ponder.
Never mind pondering. Let's head out and check out the world class grounds.
Eavesdropping on the manager getting some what for by a guest- and she WAS NOT AN AMERICAN! Must have been French. Ha.
Ah, there's the famous floating swimming pool. Seriously! Bubs and I would have to take turns using it as we wouldn't want it to sink!
Of course you can have your pooch join you for lunch Seniora!
They must have a crew of 250 yardmen to keep this place so impeccable. Not a weed or blade of grass out of place.
Hey, where is that monkey of yours? Juregen can't seem to find him?
We'll take a look over here....
There you are you little rascal. So what do you think of the place Pleep? Well, I am having a ball but I pretty sure this is not going to be a fav of Pops.
Now that we have a handle on Pleep, let's head over to the gift shop.
Very nice Juregen...fits like a glove.
Friends, Romans and countrymen....expect to see Boca in this dress? Wrap? Sheath? Mu Mu?
Don't tell Bubs- he says we have no more room for stuff.
Ok Boca, but enough of the shopping I'm heading back to find Bubs.
So Juregen, did you enjoy being the ladies escort? Better you than me buddy. I owe ya.
You sure do Bubba. And don't think I won't collect!
Friends and family, don't even ask Bubs about the prices at this magnificent venue- he's still in sticker shock.
Note to Bubba: "when in Rome".
Sent this photo to Alex saying....that could be us!
Her reply, "Photoshop is a beautiful thing!"
And fyi, Greece is slightly smaller than Alabama.
We jump on the hydrofoil for the 50 min ride to Como (the city).
No luxury boat but it did the trick in allowing us to see the stupendous Lake Como and the various neighborhoods.
Many Villa's to see- many of them have been converted to hotels and restaurants. Who can afford to have a Villa private residence these days? Oh yeah a celebrity from America- I heard today that Mr. Clooney is selling the place due to the refugee problem in Italy. Say what? George you way leftie, can't ya give a brother a hand?
Many have been renovated and several under renovation.
Pleep likes this one- reminds him of a castle.
Several villages and towns surround the lake. I had no idea Lake Como was so populated. The lake is an hour north of Milano so I guess it is a logical place for the Milanese to have a weekend/summer house.
It was fun to watch the hang gliders glide up and around the beautiful mountains.
We disembark at Como and grab a cab to take us to.....
VILLA D'ESTE-some say, the jewel of Lake Como. We originally made reservations to stay here but a friend of ours suggested Bellagio for more fun-hence the switch. Bubba thanks you Bobby Biebel. At least we wanted to check it out- what's all the fuss about?
Wowza! It certainly is a beauty. Located close to Como city at the south end of the lake- we are at the north end of the lake at the Villa Serboloni.
The grounds are out of this world.
The Villa d'Este, originally Villa del Garovo, is a Renaissance patrician residence in Cernobbio on the shores of Lake Como, northern Italy. Both the villa and the 25-acre park which surrounds it have undergone significant changes since their sixteenth-century origins as a summer residence for the Cardinal of Como. Since 1873 the complex has been a luxury hotel. Wonder why the Cardinal ditched the place?
What's the history on the place?
Gerardo Landriani, Bishop of Como (1437–1445), founded a female convent here in 1442. A century later Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio demolished the nunnery and commissioned Pellegrino Tibaldi to design a residence for his own use. The Villa del Garovo, together with its luxuriant gardens, was constructed during the years 1565–70 and during the cardinal’s lifetime it became a resort of politicians, intellectuals and ecclesiastics. On Gallio’s death the villa passed to his family who, over the years, allowed it to sink into a state of some decay. From 1749 to 1769 it was a Jesuit centre for spiritual exercises, after which it was acquired first by Count Mario Odescalchi and then in 1778 by a Count Marliani. In 1784 it passed to the Milanese Calderari family who undertook a major restoration project and created a new park all’Italiana with an impressive nymphaeum and a temple displaying a seventeenth-century statue of Hercules hurling Lichas into the sea. After the death of Marquis Calderari his wife Vittoria Peluso, a former ballerina at La Scala and known as la Pelusina, married a Napoleonic general, Count Domenico Pino and a mock fortress was erected in the park in his honour.
In 1815 it became the residence of Caroline of Brunswick, estranged wife of future King George IV. "She gave it the name Nuova Villa d'Este and had the park landscaped in the English style.
It was converted into a deluxe hotel for the nobility and the high bourgeoisie in 1873, and kept the name Villa d'Este to take advantage of the apparent link with the famous Villa d'Este in Tivoli, near Rome.
We check in with the front desk and head out to the Veranda for Marlies Birthday Luncheon- the celebration continues! Bubs wondered if the young guy at the next table would get lucky tonight- bringing a gal here and all.
Boca ordered sardines. You heard that right.
Score!
Marlies was grateful that Boca sent over one her special birthday cakes-sans flour.
From nunnery to funnery- this place is fabulosity !
A gala dinner held at the Villa d’Este in 1948 was the scene for the celebrated murder of the wealthy silk manufacturer Carlo Sacchi, shot dead by his lover Countess Pia Bellentani with her husband’s Fegyverzyar automatic pistol. And now you know why Bub's locks his up, being married to a Serbian and all.
We continue to nose around the place - one room more obstreperous than the next.
Yes, Marlies that is quite the Venetian chandelier.
Unique in every way. Don't let Pleep see it as he has been know to hang from a chandelier or 10.
Hey Boca, this might be a good room to have a libation and ponder.
Never mind pondering. Let's head out and check out the world class grounds.
Eavesdropping on the manager getting some what for by a guest- and she WAS NOT AN AMERICAN! Must have been French. Ha.
Ah, there's the famous floating swimming pool. Seriously! Bubs and I would have to take turns using it as we wouldn't want it to sink!
Of course you can have your pooch join you for lunch Seniora!
They must have a crew of 250 yardmen to keep this place so impeccable. Not a weed or blade of grass out of place.
Hey, where is that monkey of yours? Juregen can't seem to find him?
We'll take a look over here....
There you are you little rascal. So what do you think of the place Pleep? Well, I am having a ball but I pretty sure this is not going to be a fav of Pops.
Now that we have a handle on Pleep, let's head over to the gift shop.
Very nice Juregen...fits like a glove.
Friends, Romans and countrymen....expect to see Boca in this dress? Wrap? Sheath? Mu Mu?
Don't tell Bubs- he says we have no more room for stuff.
Ok Boca, but enough of the shopping I'm heading back to find Bubs.
So Juregen, did you enjoy being the ladies escort? Better you than me buddy. I owe ya.
You sure do Bubba. And don't think I won't collect!
Friends and family, don't even ask Bubs about the prices at this magnificent venue- he's still in sticker shock.
Note to Bubba: "when in Rome".
Sent this photo to Alex saying....that could be us!
Her reply, "Photoshop is a beautiful thing!"
