To Italy and beyond: Day Trippers (Como and Verona)

We caught the train into Como. Off the train we started to walk up one of the nearby mountains in hope to see the lake from the top. Along the way we stopped in at a quirky cafe, with character. I would have to go back if I was staying for a few days. Despite the horrible shade of pink the walls were painted in, it was kind of cool, the waitress was particularly lovely. No two coffee cups were the same, and a goldfish bowl was balanced a top the cake fridge. After a brief lunch we headed on.

At he top of the mountain we still could not see the lake. We stopped to take a view, of the surrounding mountains, there peaks shrouded in clouds. I leaned down from the fence I was sitting on to take a grape from someone’s garden. It was the most exquisite grape, I've ever tasted; sweet and plump and delicious, bursting with flavour. No wonder why the wine is so dangerously drinkable here. When we got to the bottom, we headed straight for the lake. Shimmering in the light of the afternoon, the waster was calm as it winded it's way through the mountains. The flying club was situated where we were standing. I would have liked to take a boat plane across the lake and may return to do so if I can convince Kevin or Alex to do it with me. 120 euro for a 30 minute flight. I would of paid it on the spot but, no more flights were running that day. So I contented myself watching the ducks, playing in the water.

On the way home from Como, we had forgotten to validate our tickets so we got of at the nest station. The dodgiest, most graffiti ridden train station I have ever seen, kind of cool though. The validation machine at this train station was not working, in keeping with the general theme, so we thought we'ld try our luck on the next train, and try explain what happened if we got pulled up. We headed back home without any worries from the train officials.

In the morning of the next day we decided to go to Verona seeing as it was a shorter train trip then Cinque Terre. We found the art gallery Castelveccho (Old castle) and walked through its halls. Renting the audio guide that explained the artworks, I feel like a have learnt a little about art; one could defiantly see how the slant if an organ gave a bifocal dynamic perspective to the compersition. To be honest I can appreciate, the skill in the artist, but am no scholar. The moment I when oh Cool! Is when I saw, all the sward from over the eras; it's a guy thing, anything old, sharp and pointy does spark memories of imagination as a child.

Close by was the amphitheatre of Verona, which is still used for live performances, unfortunately none where running that day and the drizzle would of made for uncomfortable al fresco seating. We climbed the bell tower, only small, about 220 steps. At the top we were waiting for the 4:30 bells to chime, after hearing the bells from another town and 3 minutes over time, we assumed that this bell would not chime...wrongly. I was very loud and caught us completely unaware, one defining ring, but defiantly sneak, sneaky surprise. Before heading back, we saw the Duomo of Verona, understated on the outside, less on the inside but, an awesome building none the less. It did make we wonder with the dedication to faith in order to make these constructions, should I be less critical of church and it's believers? I will have to see.

Alex returned home, must off been a good and odd time in Amsterdam, I still don't know all that happened, but he came back with a smile on his face.
I was able to cook a three coarse dinner that night, the first I've done so far on this trip. Gnochi with scampi and squid, rustic beef tongue with pan roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and basil burre niosette. Dark chocolate panna cotta with sugar coated
fig and raspberries. After we tried to watch the first Pokemon movie for the third time, and for the third time we fell asleep before the end. It was a strange sleeping arrangement in Alex's apartment that worked on rotation between the couch/bed for two people and pillows on the floor for the third. What can I say it was comfy and travelling give you an instant sense of friendship. Kevin and I had said our good byes as he was to head of in the morning and me to head to Cinque Terre before he woke.