Time to go home. We have the same breakfast in our room as yesterday, then pack. We get the hotel shuttle bus to the airport which leaves at 8.25.
We're early for the flight, so spend our last Swiss francs on a coffee.
On going through to the gate we meet the Ramblers from the Manchester flight who've been at Ladis for the full fortnight. I think we've had better weather than them.
The flight is about 10 minutes late, but otherwise uneventful. On arriving at Manchester we have 2 hours to wait for the train, so get a meal and a drink.
We have to change at Penrith, where we only just make the connection, and at Glasgow Central. We finally arrive home about 8.45.
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Friday, 30 August 2013
Zurich
We have breakfast in our room, coffee and apple strudel bars we bought yesterday. Then take a tram to HB station in the city centre. We roughly follow the walking tour on the tourist map, which takes in the main sites and the old town.
When we reach Lake Zurich we get a boat across to Wollishofen on the west side of the lake, as we've seen adverts for a "Theaterspektakel" in the Landiwiese park there. It turns out it doesn't start till 6pm but the place looks nice so we decide to come back here later.
We walk back up the west side of the lake, then buy snacks and beer from the Coop and sit by the water having lunch.
We continue the walking tour, seeing the typical tourist sites like the Grosenmuster church.
In need of a rest we take a tram and bus from Central to China Garden on the east side of the lake and sit by the water for while.
After this we go and buy dinner from the Coop - pizza, strudel and some beer, and make our way back to the Landiwiese park. We sit on the grass on the island till the sun goes down, it's very lovely.
We then cross to the theatre area and watch some free performances.
We get a train back to the centre and visit a "traditional" beer hall. This turns out to be the worst tourist-trap of all, one drink each while watching the band costs us £20!
After this we take the tram back to the hotel.
When we reach Lake Zurich we get a boat across to Wollishofen on the west side of the lake, as we've seen adverts for a "Theaterspektakel" in the Landiwiese park there. It turns out it doesn't start till 6pm but the place looks nice so we decide to come back here later.
We walk back up the west side of the lake, then buy snacks and beer from the Coop and sit by the water having lunch.
We continue the walking tour, seeing the typical tourist sites like the Grosenmuster church.
In need of a rest we take a tram and bus from Central to China Garden on the east side of the lake and sit by the water for while.
After this we go and buy dinner from the Coop - pizza, strudel and some beer, and make our way back to the Landiwiese park. We sit on the grass on the island till the sun goes down, it's very lovely.
We then cross to the theatre area and watch some free performances.
We get a train back to the centre and visit a "traditional" beer hall. This turns out to be the worst tourist-trap of all, one drink each while watching the band costs us £20!
After this we take the tram back to the hotel.
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Lake Como to Zurich
We're leaving today and driving to Zurich. After breakfast we go to to the car ferry in Bellagio. If we take this to Varenna we miss out about 90 minutes of driving. We just miss the 9.25am sailing so get the 9.55. The weather is warm and sunny today.
We drive up east side of lake then up the Maloja Pass to Silvaplana, with a quick detour to see St Moritz.
Then up the Julier Pass, which at 2284m is the watershed divide between the Rhine and the Danube. We follow the Rhine for a bit - the traffic is heavy and there are lots of roadworks.
We drive to the Ibis Messe-Airport Hotel in Zurich and check in and drop off our luggage, then take the car to the airport to return it.
After this we get the train straight into central Zurich, and walk in the Langstrasse district. We visit Langsters bar, Mars Bar and Lily's Asian Fusion for food. We find that everything is very expensive - the locals seem to buy takeaway beer from shops and sit and drink it outside, so we decide to do the same. We walk through Platzspitz park then sit an relax in Rosenhof square in the old town.
Later we get a tram back to the hotel from Central station.
We drive up east side of lake then up the Maloja Pass to Silvaplana, with a quick detour to see St Moritz.
Then up the Julier Pass, which at 2284m is the watershed divide between the Rhine and the Danube. We follow the Rhine for a bit - the traffic is heavy and there are lots of roadworks.
We drive to the Ibis Messe-Airport Hotel in Zurich and check in and drop off our luggage, then take the car to the airport to return it.
After this we get the train straight into central Zurich, and walk in the Langstrasse district. We visit Langsters bar, Mars Bar and Lily's Asian Fusion for food. We find that everything is very expensive - the locals seem to buy takeaway beer from shops and sit and drink it outside, so we decide to do the same. We walk through Platzspitz park then sit an relax in Rosenhof square in the old town.
Later we get a tram back to the hotel from Central station.
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Monte San Primo
This is our last full day at Lake Como, so our only chance to go up Monte San Primo. Fortunately the weather forecast is still great so after breakfast in hotel we drive the 5km or so to the car park.
First we walk up past the Rifugio Martina - a bit early for a break yet - and on up a steep track to the peak at 1682m.
The views from here are amazing, you can see most of Lake Como, north into Austria and west to Switzerland. The highest peak we can see is the Matterhorn.
We then take a circular route back to car. Now it's only 1pm so we start another walk from the same place to another viewpoint with views over Bellagio.
After this we walk back up to refuge for a beer. It has a perfect situation and the weather is still amazing.
Later we drive back to the hotel, stopping at the cyclists chapel in Ghisallo. For dinner we walk to the local pizza restaurant again.
First we walk up past the Rifugio Martina - a bit early for a break yet - and on up a steep track to the peak at 1682m.
The views from here are amazing, you can see most of Lake Como, north into Austria and west to Switzerland. The highest peak we can see is the Matterhorn.
We then take a circular route back to car. Now it's only 1pm so we start another walk from the same place to another viewpoint with views over Bellagio.
After this we walk back up to refuge for a beer. It has a perfect situation and the weather is still amazing.
Later we drive back to the hotel, stopping at the cyclists chapel in Ghisallo. For dinner we walk to the local pizza restaurant again.
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Bellano and Lecco
Today at breakfast in the hotel we speak to a Finnish couple who climbed up Monte San Primo above the hotel yesterday and highly recommended it. However the forecast is a bit cloudy and looks better tomorrow so we decide not to do it today.
We drive to the car ferry in Bellagio and take the car over to Varenna.
After parking in Varenna near the station we walk up to the Sentiero del Viandante near the castle, an old mule track dating back to the Roman period running along the eastern coast of Lake Como. We walk along this to Bellano, with great views of the lake along the way.
At Bellano we buy a train ticket back to Varenna before having a walk around the town. It seems a nice place, not as touristy as Bellagio for example. After spending time walking in the narrow pedestrianised lanes we almost miss the train!
Back in Varenna we retrieve the car and drive up over ridge to the next valley to the east. We stop at a the Cascata del Troggia, a waterfall in Introbio, for lunch.
Then we drive on to Lecco, where we decide to do a steep walk up to the San Antonia chapel. From there we get great views over Lecco and that part of Lake Como.
After descending we go home via the supermarket where we buy ham salad for dinner with some beer and wine.
We drive to the car ferry in Bellagio and take the car over to Varenna.
After parking in Varenna near the station we walk up to the Sentiero del Viandante near the castle, an old mule track dating back to the Roman period running along the eastern coast of Lake Como. We walk along this to Bellano, with great views of the lake along the way.
At Bellano we buy a train ticket back to Varenna before having a walk around the town. It seems a nice place, not as touristy as Bellagio for example. After spending time walking in the narrow pedestrianised lanes we almost miss the train!
Back in Varenna we retrieve the car and drive up over ridge to the next valley to the east. We stop at a the Cascata del Troggia, a waterfall in Introbio, for lunch.
Then we drive on to Lecco, where we decide to do a steep walk up to the San Antonia chapel. From there we get great views over Lecco and that part of Lake Como.
After descending we go home via the supermarket where we buy ham salad for dinner with some beer and wine.
Monday, 26 August 2013
Menaggio Walk
We have breakfast in the hotel then go to the local shop to buy bread, cheese etc. for lunch. It's a bit cloudy at higher levels today so we decide on a lower level walk.
We drive to the same car park in Bellagio, walk to the boats and buy tickets to Menaggio on the west side of the lake.
Once there we walk up through the town, past lovely villas and with great views over Lake Como.
We pass a shrine then walk down to the River Sanagra and start walking up the Via Molina (Mill Way) at the side. We pass derelict water mills and farmhouses, at times having to scramble up rocks etc.
Eventually we reach a meadow called Monti di Madre, then a little further to cross the river at a bridge and up to a church at the furthest point of the walk.
We then start to walk back down a mule track to Menaggio, passing through some quiet villages on the way.
It's been mostly sunny all day, but later it clouds over and we get a few spots of rain.
When we reach Menaggio we have a drink in a bar then catch the boat back to Bellagio. After driving home and getting changed we ask at the hotel for a recommended restaurant. They book us in to La Genzianella in San Primo, about 5km up the mountain. It serves local style food: we start with air-dried beef with mushrooms and parmesan, then Scott has braised donkey(!) with polenta and Shirley has roast veal. We follow this with chestnuts with cream, meringue and ice cream cake.
We drive to the same car park in Bellagio, walk to the boats and buy tickets to Menaggio on the west side of the lake.
Once there we walk up through the town, past lovely villas and with great views over Lake Como.
We pass a shrine then walk down to the River Sanagra and start walking up the Via Molina (Mill Way) at the side. We pass derelict water mills and farmhouses, at times having to scramble up rocks etc.
Eventually we reach a meadow called Monti di Madre, then a little further to cross the river at a bridge and up to a church at the furthest point of the walk.
We then start to walk back down a mule track to Menaggio, passing through some quiet villages on the way.
It's been mostly sunny all day, but later it clouds over and we get a few spots of rain.
When we reach Menaggio we have a drink in a bar then catch the boat back to Bellagio. After driving home and getting changed we ask at the hotel for a recommended restaurant. They book us in to La Genzianella in San Primo, about 5km up the mountain. It serves local style food: we start with air-dried beef with mushrooms and parmesan, then Scott has braised donkey(!) with polenta and Shirley has roast veal. We follow this with chestnuts with cream, meringue and ice cream cake.
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