BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: Pistachio
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 07:57 PM

Eerie, I went to Lake Como with my family in 1968 or 69 and remember it as described above by D McG. They happen to be my Dads'initials...(David McGregor) We toured through 8 countries, following a route my Dad had taken by motorcycle - with his 'Best man'- after the war!
We stayed longest in Gandria S.Austria and toured the local area One of my sisters was totally covered with mozzie bites and I remember the thunder storms and glow flies!
Thanx for the memory jerker.
H. x.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 07:56 PM

Yes, there is a Como Park Zoo. It's much nicer than it was 50 years ago, but it's been greatly overshadowed by the much larger Minnesota Zoo about 20 miles away in Apple Valley.

Getting back to Lake Como (in St. Paul): I should have mentioned that it has a pavilion that makes a nice venue for open-air concerts.

Here's a view from inside the pavilion,
a view from outside
a view from farther down the lake

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: frogprince
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 06:56 PM

Talk about flashbacks, Jim; I couldn't get that map, to see if it indicates if there is still a Como Park Zoo there. It's at least 50 years since I was there.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 10:41 AM

Not the one in Italy, but I've been to the one in St. Paul, Minnesota:
Google map

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 10:03 AM

I'm glad you made it back. We're used to driving in mountains, but for other people, it can be make for a really bad day.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: alanabit
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 12:47 PM

You are reminding me of an experience I had in the Alps a few years back Leenia. I have not tried to repeat it though. I had a three week gig in a hotel at the ski resort of Chateaux D'Oeux, somewhere in the south of Switzerland. In the afternoons, I occasionally drove out to Friebourg to do a bit of busking and have a look around. One afternoon, I thought I would take a more "interesting" route home. A geographically challenged alanabit found himself in the Jura Pass. Now I don't recall how high it was or any of the exact details about it. However, I can state with some conviction that it was not a good place for the sort of wimp, who gets vertigo standing on top of a step ladder. All I can recall about the "interesting" drive back down again, is that I have never before or since spent so long driving my car in second gear. When the locals tell you to stick to the main roads, they really do know what they are talking about!

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 11:48 AM

I will exercise restraint, michael. For one thing, my dear husband is so handsome and sexy, that George Clooney has no allure. For another, I float all too well.

As for George Clooney -- nice chin, but does he sing bass well? My guy does.

Back to Italy - what I would really like to do is relive an afternoon we spent in the Alps in France. We were driving up a dirt road and came to a spot where water was cascading down the rock face in a sheet. In the moist area below this cascade, many butterflies were flying to and fro, taking nectar from the flowers. We stayed an hour, admiring them and photographing them. That is my idea of heaven!

That was in August, in or near the Parc des Eccrines (sp)

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 08:31 PM

No never been there

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: michaelr
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 08:06 PM

Yep, George Clooney owns a villa on the lake shore. I believe that's where the final scenes of "Ocean's Twelve" were filmed.

This may be apocryphal, but I've seen stories (after he apparently assisted a swimmer in distress) of women throwing themselves off boats in front of his house in the hope he'll rescue them. Leeneia, I hope you'll exercise restraint!

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 04:29 PM

I've seen Perry Como. Does that count?

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: frogprince
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 02:37 PM

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 09:59 AM

Thanks. Sounds good, except for the mosquitoes. My husband is one of those people that mosquitoes just love.

When I looked at the map of Italy and saw that there is a wide, yellow highway smack along every millimeter of the shore, I began to have my doubts.

There's a national park to the west of Lake Como, and we could go there, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: Rman
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 04:50 AM

On one particular business trip to Brecia I stayed in an Albergo close to lake Garda.

I woke up the next morning to find my face, one arm and one of my arse cheeks had been dined upon by several battalions of starving mosquitos!

However, If you were to take the precaution to carry a can/pump spray of "off" you will find the lakes are the most wonderful places, and the cuisine is to die for.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: Susan A-R
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 10:04 PM

I went and stayed in, oh bother! was it Menaggio or Bellaggio, the less fancy one. I was there in early April and the first two days were warm and clear and sunny. The next two were wet and cold and the snow came down the Alps further, but it was still spectacular. Boating up the lake is gorgeous and they do some pretty wonderful food and beautiful silk on the Italian end of the lake. I also believe there's some wonderful, not very populated hiking if you do much of that. I'm an eating, strolling tourist, so I didn't explore that much.

Cinque Terra's also great on the Mediteranean coast, five little villages connected by train or hiking path and now a terrifying road. Good fish, pesto, olive groaves, lemon trees and gorgeous scenery. When I win the lottery . . .   It's also warmer than most other parts of Italy because of the protecting mountains to the north and the sea.

Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 05:27 PM

I plan on going to see George Clooney who lives there...heck with the rest of the scenery. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: jacqui.c
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 05:11 PM

My ex and I travelled there a couple of years running, about 10 years ago.

We went in September and never had any problem finding accommodation or with crowds.

The whole area is absolutely delightful, with plenty to do and see. If you have a car it is a great area for touring - we even got to Verona, a beautiful town, famous for Romeo and Juliet and for the Roman amphitheatre in which they now stage operas.

If you've got the chance GO! I'm sure you won't regret it.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: DMcG
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 05:01 PM

I went to Lake Como about 40 years ago now, so I expect things have changed a little!

But it was probably the first place I ever went with such a predictable weather pattern. At round about 4pm every day for the fortnight I was there, there was a thunderstorm and downpour, which lasted until perhaps 4.20pm.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: alanabit
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 03:57 PM

I went down to Switzerland, Austria and Italy to busk one February just after Carnival had ended in Köln. I stayed in Como for a couple of days and it was smashing. It's a lovely old Italian city, built around a lake. There are lots of lovely old buildings, those narrow Italian street, the cafe culture and all the stuff you expect in Italy. I spoke fifty words of appalling Italian, smiled a lot and waved my hands about and the people were friendly and cheerful. It was the birthplace of Alessandro Volta, so they have a big statue of him up there. There are plenty of better read Mudcatters than me, but it may also have been the city, from which the hero crossed into Switzerland at the end of Hemingway's "Farewell to Arms". The lake and the city bordering Switzerland both fit.
It was not too crowded at all. I would go and have a look. Milan is a lovely city too. The Piazza del Duomo is something you should not miss. In fact, if you go in Spring or Autumn, you should have lovely weather and really enjoy yourself. Happy trails!

Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 03:45 PM

Been to Lake Garda, near by....................fantastic.
Skipy

Subject: BS: Have you ever been to Lake Como...
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 03:42 PM

...or Lake Ligorno in northern Italy? What time of year was it, and what was it like?

My husband wants to go there. I'm worried that it would be overpopulated.