Indelible Adventures: Fantastico!

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Words cannot describe the feeling when we disembarked at Milan’s Malpensa airport early Sunday morning. Even after an 8-hour flight I felt energized, especially as the deep azure sky beckoned from outside the terminal window. It certainly wouldn’t be long until the warm Italian sun warmed my soul, and I’d take my first deep breath of the gorgeous fragrant air.

I have such an intangible feeling of connectedness to Italy, which I suppose is somewhat normal for most people who venture to her shores, but for me her allure is deep and powerful and her warm embrace always ready for my return. This year marks the 30th year since I first visited and it never disappoints.

Our first few days have been spent in my favorite village – San Giovanni di Bellagio situated just two kilometers from the hustle and bustle of the town of Bellagio which is nestled on the end of the peninsula that forms the triangle between Como on the south western shore and Lecco to the south east with Bellagio at the point. This area of Italy is rivaled only by Tuscany as the primo tourist destination in Italy, so it can be a little busy if you know what I mean.

I personally enjoy renting an apartment and melding into the local community rather than staying in a hotel when I’m in this part of the world. The Apartments II Vicolo in San Giovanni feels like my home away from home. In fact two years ago when I was writing and editing the manuscript for my book I stayed here for a number of weeks getting it ready to submit to my editor upon my return. They have three apartments centrally located adjacent to the town’s free carpark and opposite the new hip café called ne nè across the alleyway.

My favorite apartment is the one bedroom on the first floor with terrace. The large and gorgeous terrace is partially covered in grapevines and is a fantastic place to sit with a glass of wine in the cool of the early evening and contemplate the meaning of life, or at least where you’d like to go for dinner. Although after this visit I'd also recommend it to star watch late at night. J

This week blog also includes a number of "Indelible" tips that will make your experience all the more enjoyable if you're looking to visit Italy, or feel free to contact me directly at terence@indelible-adventures.com to help you create the trip of a lifetime.

Indelible tip #1: If you’d like to experience Bellagio in a whole new way check out Apartments II Vicolo – to book contact Carla or Alissa at info@bellagioedintorni.com Tell them Terence from Indelible Adventures sent you.

The pace of life in San Giovanni is slow and unrushed, with an intimacy and familiarity that warms your heart when you see your neighbors in the street and exchange a friendly buongiorno or buonasera’s as you pass. However, the real treat is your shopping experience at the local organic market where no one speaks English and you have to rely on your 40 words of Italian to get by. Fun times indeed!

Part of the charm of San Giovanni is that it has its own ferry dock, and only a five-minute ferry ride away from Bellagio or a 20-minute walk which ever you prefer, although because the roads are so narrow in this part of the world (barely two lanes) and no footpaths or sidewalks to speak of it can be a little hair raising to make the walk along the busy road – certainly not for the faint of heart!

Lake Como is a fascinating place to explore, all accessible by local ferry service, in fact a car ferry in addition to regularly scheduled passenger ferries chug back and forth across the lake much like they have for the past hundred years or so. Here a couple of great experiences that will make your stay even more memorable!

Indelible tip #2: Enjoy a special wine tasting experience at Aperitivo et al wine bar (Salita Serbelloni, 34) – they have a delicious Brunello by the glass for 8€, and friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you choose from an expansive wine menu. A great pre-dinner or afternoon place to sojourn!

Indelible tip #3: For a memorable dinner you can't go wrong with the La Fontana (Via Centrale, 7), the Seafood Risotto is to die for but a reservation is a must. The welcoming brothers (Mario & Rafaelle) who own and run the restaurant will only be too happy to ensure your time at La Fontana is unforgettable. Salute!

After four nights in San Giovanni we set out for our next destination on our grand tour - Venice, but not before stopping in Verona (a UNESCO world heritage site) for a short visit. As you know three of Shakespeare's most famous plays were set in Verona - Romeo & Juliet, The two gentlemen of Verona and the Taming of the Shrew. Unfortunately our quick pit-stop only afforded us a couple of hours exploring Piazza Bra and the ancient Coliseum before getting back in the car and setting out for Venice some 50 miles further east.

One of the high points of our trip to Italy are our tickets to see Verdi’s La Traviata at Venezia’s famed opera house – Teatro La Fenice. This three-act tragedy is a classic but even more amazing to see it at one of the world's most beautiful Opera houses - spectacular!

Stay tuned for our continuing adventure next week. So much to see, do and explore.

Arrivederci. Ciao!

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“Hanoi Posting”

A series of micro-stories by Terence Wallis

Episode 9: Running on Empty

Lea felt completely empty since Bill left for his new post in Hanoi. She played out the argument at the restaurant over and over in her mind, she'd hoped deep down that he’d see how important she was to him and choose their relationship over his posting. She chastised herself about the way she'd handled the whole situation and had missed any opportunity to talk before he'd left for Vietnam.

Even though they’d fought she now realized that she had loved him deeply and that in all likelihood he had been the love of her life, not that it mattered now that he was half way around the world.

To try and take her mind off Bill she'd jumped back into the fray and tried dating, but each time she found herself measuring the men against Bill and each time they came up wanting. There were just too many memories of him that lingered and played on her mind, and definitely no one even came close to being as interesting as Bill, nor as ruggedly handsome.

She felt so guilty and ashamed of the way she’d handled that final conversation, and now the void in her heart was deep and more than painful - she ached for his warm embrace and the way he'd whisper in her ear as they made love early in the morning.

If only I could have that moment back she thought to herself…if only…

Next week: Episode 10: Dangerous

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This weeks photos are from Italy - where else? J Enjoy!