Epilogue

Two things have come up which merit some added commentary -

First, I heard today that we won the interview for the Boston City Hall and Plaza renovation project.......so the effort to fly back for a day really payed off!  So exciting!




Second, we wanted to show the results of our "Fitbit Marathon" for the month.  We are really proud to have logged more than 100 (108.27 miles / 3.5 mile average per day) miles during our trip! and lost a couple of pounds along the way!

Time to head home.....

Sunday has arrived.  We slept fairly well and managed to sleep until about 7:15.  We got some final packing and organization done and headed up for breakfast.  The weather was moody and it had rained overnight.  We ate breakfast inside in the café area and watched the clouds drift in and out over Lago d’Iseo.

We targeted 10:00 to leave, but actually got the car loaded and checked out by 9:45.
The sun was trying to break through, but as we left we ran into a heavy downpour just before reaching the autostrada.  The trip to the airport (Linate) ended up being a breeze, stopping once along the way to fill up with gas.  We were a bit apprehensive about dropping the car off because two years ago this was a challenge.

Today we lucked out and Siri brought us right to the car return garage.  Everything went smoothly with the car and similarly our baggage check-in was without any issues.  Our bags were a bit overweight, but they let us through.

We had plenty of time so we wandered through the duty-free shopping area and grabbed a quick coffee to keep us moving!

The flight was 15 minutes late due to incoming aircraft, but we had plenty of time on our connection in London.  Linate is smaller than Malpensa and handles most of the inter-European flights.  You even get to ride a bus out onto the runway to get to your plane!

We found a Priority Pass Club at Healthrow and got something to eat (although it was totally too crowded in the club!.......had to wait 15 minutes  just to get in).

On the flight from London to Boston we had a great break…….and ended up with an empty seat between us as well as extra legroom for the aisle seat.

Everything went smoothly and the flight got in a bit early.  Customs worked really well with our Global Entry status and the Planettran car was waiting.  It was good to get home, but such a change at many levels.  The best thing was that C&C had dropped Tessa off at the house earlier in the evening, so she was there to greet us! We spent the rest of the evening unpacking and reminiscing and hit the sack early. Off to work first thing in the morning!

WOW! Time to start planning for the next trip!

Down to the Lake and Back

This is going to be another blog post more about the pictures than our postcard writing style!

We just want to spend our energy in an 'absorption' mode.  It is a beautiful day and we are going sightseeing on the backroads of Erbusco and Iseo!

the vineyard just behind the hotel, next to our room

the view from the Cafe terrace.......the Swiss Alps in the distance

breakfast on the cafe terrace

looking down at the front entry lawn area

the lakefront at Iseo

Getting ready for the Giro d'Italia next week.  This is what we experienced in Asolo two years ago.......everything is pink!

The main piazza in Iseo.......lively cafe scene......so nice to have bikes and people rather than cars. This is a beautiful town.  It would be great to transport it back to the Wayland Town Center!

another pink bike!

what a great place to enjoy a glass of Franciacorta

back for a late lunch at L'Albereta

It is hard to describe L'Albereta in words........there is a magical quality to the whole place

more afternoon walking through the vineyards

our room is just on the left behind the hedge

we wish this were our car!

always someone there to help out!

back for an aperitivo on the terrace

this is how to relax........

Ciao e buona notte!

Un Giorno a Camogli

Woke up to sun shining over Camogli.......although the shutters on the terrace doors did a great job of keeping out the light, and we slept in  later than usual. 

Today we are going to let the images do most of the narrative for us.  This is for two reasons; first, the pictures often convey more than our descriptions.......and second, we are a bit tired of writing!

Our primary activities today were threefold. 

1. Explore Camogli
2. Visit our friends at Bogliasco
3. Take a late afternoon trip up to San Rocco

Each of these will become apparent.  The sun and lighting were great all day for our pictures.  In fact, I suspect that the volume of images here will create an overdose for some.  For us, however, it is difficult to edit.......so the more, the merrier!

EXPLORING CAMOGLI

Overall view of Camogli from Cenobio dei Dogi (hotel)

View from our terrace

Front entry courtyard to hotel

relaxing!

incredible wood structures for the weekend celebration and bonfire

pretty complicated framing!......totally unclear what they are building

violet gelato on strawberry!

BOGLIASCO FOUNDATION - VILLA DEI PINI

close to the view we had from our room 2 years ago

the roses were in full bloom

looking up the coast towards Genova

a stop at our favorite bench in the garden

looking up at Villa dei Pini........our old room on the upper left

on the front terrace after lunch

Fiske with the Director, Ivana

all 3 goldens still there!

OUR TRIP UP TO SAN ROCCO

A pilgrimage to the coolest bar anywhere......Bar Dai Muagetti......on the hilltop beyond the village of San Rocco

even the pictures don't do justice for how astonishing this is........on a hiking trail from San Rocco to San Frutuosa.......no cars, a few hikers......and a view to France!

Literally carved into rock in the side of a mountain

the most romantic place to watch the sun set

with aperitivi snacks that are enough for dinner!......although we kept ordering prosecco!

s small serving bar cut into the rock

BACK TO CAMOGLI FOR THE EVENING

the drive back as the sun was setting was beautiful.  We left around 8:00 because we did not want to walk back along the cliff in the dark!

SUN SETTING FROM OUR ROOM TERRACE

and a final dolce and limoncello from the hotel bar