Hi yall…
I’m not sure where this blog is going. For some reason, writing about my daily life, food or work doesn’t seem appealing at the moment and I often find myself procrastinating on updating my blog.
All I can think about is: TRAVEL! Us French people enjoy about 11 national holidays and 5 weeks paid vacation a year! Also, most workers, like my husband, also have “RTT days”, which are extra days off to compensate for his working 40 hours a week instead of the legal 35 hours. ah ah ha! Well you understand now that work and money aren’t a priority in this country. Maybe it is also because things like healthcare and education are virtually free. But we are very passionate about our vacations. Try to cut our time off and you will see the French workers down on the street, pounding the pavement with banners and yelling anti-government slogans…. Ah France….
Well being a doctor, the 35 hour work week is a mere utopia and I sure don’t get nearly as many days off as my husband. But every now and then I get to enjoy a 3 day week end and I better make the best of it! And if you ask me where I want to go for a short vacation, my first answer will always be “ITALY!”. I am so in love with this country. But more than going to the major big cities like Rome, Florence or Milan, we like to explore the more remote towns. Since our wedding, almost 4 years ago, we have gone to Italy about once a year. We particularly liked Venice and the Cinque Terre. But this time, Bellagio (on lake Como) was our destination.
After a short flight (1h and 20 min) we arrived in Milan, then took a train to Como (about 1h15), then a hydrofoil to Bellagio (about 50 min). It was quite a trip to get there but once we arrived, we knew we had made the right decision.
We had booked a room at Hotel Florence and it was so romantic:
We spent our days walking around, exploring the nearby fishermen towns, drinking tons of cappucinos, enjoying mid-afternoon snacks of cheese and wine (brought back a bottle of Amarone del Valpolicella, our favorite!) and late nights “italian coffees” with Amaretto ;). Bellagio, “the pearl of the lake”, is an extremely beautiful town, with 2 18th-century villas (Villa Serbelloni and Villa Melzi), small tiny streets and an incredible view on the lake!
Here are a few photos. Enjoy!
First, some shots taken while walking around Bellagio:
Lunch at La Punta, the tip of the town with a beautiful view of the lake:
Travis found these intertwined daisies and requested I take a picture of them for his desktop. This turned out to be our favorite photo…..
Walking to Pescallo, a nearby fisherman village:
The gardens of the Villa Melzi:
The view from the villa’s porch. Notice the snowy Alps in the background:
As you could tell from the photos, the weather was quite changing. Here are 2 shots taken from our hotel room. The first one at 9:30 am, before breakfast. Looked like a cloudy day, right?
Well, here is the same view, an hour later, when we got back from our breakfast. Surprise!!!!
We had such a FANTASTIC time! Bellagio is amazing…..
Luckily, we’ll be back in Italy in less than a month. We’ll be in Positano and Pompei with our friends Nick and Melissa for 10 days! Can’t wait to be there and especially to spend time with them!
I’ve been having some growing pains with my blog too and have come to the conclusion that it’s a fun hobby and a great way to “meet” people from around the world. I love the photos from your trip, thanks for sharing!!!
I am with Carrie about the whole blogging business — and see?! You came to my blog to say hello, too! It can be so much fun, and really has been a lifeline for me as I adjust to living in Paris.
These photos made me sigh with absolute delight and encouraged me to keep on. Keep on living life, I guess (not to sound too dramatic, lol — but my lack of employment and discouragement sometimes keeps me from being more positive about life). Seeing these beautiful images makes me want to persevere, though, and to say “I want to go there someday.” So the dreaming begins and the idea that if I keep my chin up, things will get better and I can go there one day.
So there you go. Incredibly busy life you may lead, and you may question the wisdom of blogging, but this post really encouraged me today as did your comments on my blog, too. So it is a good thing, I think.
I’m really glad to have “met” you and hope you will continue to post as you can! 🙂
Karin
(an alien parisienne)
Thanks Karin! Your comment really touched my heart!
I got teary looking at those photos…I miss being in Italy! I would do things so differently if I were to live abroad again! Gorgeous pictures, what a trip! I’ve been to Como, it is stunning!!
I love the photos! I miss Italy so much. But just wait, Jeremy and I will be there next summer and you will have to go once again. I’m sure you are sooo sad about this. lol. I miss you guys a whole lot. Especially the late night talks eating cheese and drinking Kir. By the way, I had a glass the other day and thought of you!
xoxox
These photos are amazing! I can’t wait to go shooting with you =)
Wow–great shots–u and your hubby are adorable! My husband and I are planning on visiting Italy this summer. Can’t wait…should be fun with our then 5 mth old!! 🙂
Blogging is ever evolving like our lives…just as long as you write about what you love because it always comes through in the wording or in this case your gorgeous photographs.
I want to live in France because work and money are not priority to me either..ha ha ha!
The only Bellagio I’ve been to is in Las Vegas 😉 Looks beautiful and the pic of the daisies is my favorite too. Put a copywright on that baby.
love it! Beautiful photos. Italy seems to be one of those magnificant countries full of beauty1 Oddly, I am quite the opposite right now. all i can think about is blogging about food…though I do think about travel no doubt. i’ll enjoy more..
I love the photos! Glad you guys had a great time, and I know you will enjoy Positano–it’s SO beautiful!
You may be tired of blogging but please keep taking photos. They’re amazing. You have an eye for it and I so enjoyed seeing this. Great job.
Miss you! Hope all is well!
wow! look at all those pictures! what a great trip!