Como, Italy

We arrived in Como for the Swing Crash 2010 Festival. We were there for a week, taking classes and dancing the nights away. (I will post more about that stuff later.) Because we were there for a while, Lisa had booked a really nice flat for all of the cinque to stay in. It was very close to the activities for the event, and walking distance to Lake Como. 

entrance to the cinque headquarters

We were on the top floor of a renovated, late 1800's era building, with our own courtyard off of the outdoor atrium. We had a full kitchen, a washer, and a nice size bathroom. It also had some really nice views of the atrium courtyard, and the streets of Como. 

the never ending flight of stairs

Our host, Rosella, had given us the run down of the city, and told us about the markets. We shopped at this amazing fruit and vegetable market. It was a little slice of heaven for the vegetarians in our bunch. For the rest of us too, of course. Lots of folks were milling around the multitude of stands shouting out prices in Italian and bagging up their purchases. There were a couple of stands that seemed to be the most popular with the older Italian folks, so I would follow them around, figuring they knew where the best deals, and freshest produce was. 

very affordable fresh food

We ate in mostly, making big salads, and pasta dishes. I felt very fortunate have such good cooks in our little flat. I had brought my computer, so we would put on some good Swing Jazz music and hang out while the cooking smells of Italy wafted through our flat. We enjoyed our meals on the outdoor patio in the atrium accompanied by really great wine, and sometimes Limoncello (I love Limoncello!). In the mornings we would start our day at Caffee' & Caffee'. A really good coffee bar on the Piazza down the street from us. Robbie, the owner, would greet us with a smile, and a welcoming, "Orygooone!" then proceed to make us some of the best cappuccino's I have ever tasted. I would usually get a marmalade brioche to go with mine. Sheer joy! 

yum.

robin, susanna, cafee'&caffee' staffer, michelle, lisa, ROBBIE!, me

Dance classes didn't generally start until 1 or 2 in the afternoon, so we would do out site seeing in the mornings. Como is full of grand old Cathedrals and the lake is stunning. We took a trip on the water taxi to a small town on the lake called Varenna.

walking to the beach in varenna

It was very a very cute small town where we had a really good meal (pizza!), and drinks with fruit in it that I have never seen before. We hung out on the beach and swam in clear waters, a view of the snow capped Alps in the far off distance. The water was cold, but you got used to it after a few minutes. I swam away from shore, turning back to see the view of the village, and the mountains. As I treaded water there, taking it all in, it felt a bit surreal. I couldn't believe how far from home I was. Far from anything familiar. It was a moment of bliss, and that's what life's about, right?!, the moments!