Bellagio at Lake Como

Lake Como is surrounded with mountains blanketed with lush trees and greenery. Como itself is a bustling little town covered with gelaterias and piazzas, and its harbour is fully docked with boats of all sizes. For a more relaxed excursion, we took a cruise to Bellagio. After docking, we walked uphill away from the harbour’s crowds. The island’s hilly geography reminded me of Santorini.

The lake is beautiful, the home of many ducks and swans; from the lakeside, I could observe large fish below. But the lake’s real beauty is the surrounding mountains. They loom large, evincing a sense of history that pre-dates Milan’s centuries-old Duomo. I’m still surprised by the peacefulness getting away from the city instills in me. The feeling that time somehow slows down and quiet permeates are always welcome changes to city life.