Lake District (4/28/1979)

Saturday, April 28, 1979
Left by 8:30 taking the scenic route to the Lake District. All the small towns and many fields around the Grosso area have little shrines.

Roadside shrine

Got headed in the wrong direction at times. There was a ridiculously elbowing road towards Biella. Soon arrived at Arona on Lago Maggiore, but could not really see the lake. Campsites had control of the shore. Drove around the bottom of the lake and up right along the eastern shore. A peaceful lake with sail boats. Could not find the castle in Angera, but arrived there after getting lost in Ranco.

View of Lago Maggiore from Castello di Angera

Castello di Angera

Drove up along the shore, stopping at a beach, and then a park for photos.

Lago Maggiore at Ispra

Lago Maggiore at Cerro

At Lavena there was a ferry landing:

From there drove to Lago Varese and followed its shore looking for Sacro Monte. Didn't find it, so in the city of Varese tried to find my way to Lago Como.

Lago Varese at Gavirate

Got lost and headed down the wrong way on a one-way street. Was trying to put the car in reverse to turn around, in front of a bar with a group of "helpful" fellows. Ended up finding my way to Sacro Monte!

Lago Varese from Sacro Monte

A tiny town on a mountaintop known for its cathedral. Walked around a bit, but it started sprinkling rain. Saw a bolt of lightning go down into the valley. Needed gas and found only a self-serve open. Finally found my way to Como. The area around here is mostly woodsy hills. Lago Como was an impressive, beautiful lake, surrounded by tall mountains and having picturesque villages with red-tiled roofs on its shores.

Como on Lago Como

Drove as much as I could right on the shoreline. It reminded me of the Hudson River near Storm King.

Lago Como at Aregno

Stopped at a ferry landing in Menaggio, but the ferry did not leave for an hour.

From the ferry landing in Menaggio

So drove around the top of the lake. Down at Varenna, arrived just in time to catch the ferry. The car stalled so I was pushed aboard!

Gran Bretagne Hotel in Bellagio

Arrived at Bellagio and continued along the lake to Como, which was beautifully lighted at dusk. Along the shores were wealthy-looking villas with exotic gardens, including palm trees!

Lago Como at Nesso

In Como, looked for a gas station. Only a self-serve and had to get change at a bar. Took a more direct route home in the dark, apparently through rice paddy land (since the ground around me seemed to glisten in the dark!).

Around Lake Como and along the Riviera, I passed through many tunnels that dripped water. A funny sensation when you expect it to be dry in a tunnel if it's raining outside. Here the opposite effect.

My grandmother spent winters in Lake Como, Florida at her sister's (Aunt Sophie's) manufactured trailer home.