Genoa and Lake Como

Wednesday was a sight seeing day.  We drove from Genoa on the coast northward to Milan and on to Lake Como.  Timing for travel could not be better.  Weather is perfect and most of the crowds are reduced to locals.  Getting out of Genoa was fun navigating but that could be said of every Italian city.  Space is very limited so every square inch is used for something.  Roads are just barely wide enough in the cities and streets are sometimes not.  When you come here prepare to share the road in every sense of the word.  Motorbikes outnumber cars.  Autos are all small compact with lots of Smart cars and tiny tiny Fiats. 

Most cities of size have their own system of directions different but understandable once we got used to it.  Our Garmin Nuvi has been our crutch in tight places.   In Genoa on Tuesday afternoon, we hit town at rush hour.  Motor bikes were coming at us like we were in a motocross race.  I pushed a yellow light without being aware of what I was doing ONCE.  Instantly, I had 45 friends teaching me both the language and how to drive simultaneously.  Claudia is hoping to calm down soon.  But with some luck we circuitously wound our way through tunnels, side streets, between motor bikes and cars to enter the Piazza where Nuvi told us to go.  There before us was our hotel.  Happy day !!

Tunnels everywhere as we drove to and out of Genoa.  It's proximity to the sea coast is much like Rio de janeiro in Brazil.  Huge granite mountains extending right to the water leaving no options but to carve through them for access.  Every sq ft of space is used and has seen hundreds of tenants in the 2500 years of civilization in Italy.  Likely more than can be documented.  

Leaving Genoa we traveled northeast toward the Swiss border.  Many more mountains as you get right into Como itself.  Milan is on the route but we elected to have a brief break from driving and then continue on. 

It is wonderful how this country has used the resources here to build its homes, streets and offices.  Everything is stone or masonry.  Did I mention the use of space?  If you can't grow laterally, grow vertically.  This good woman grew where she was planted and continued on planting more.

Nothing is constructed on flat earth.  The earth is leveled out on ledges and building proceeds from there.  Masons are artisans with their stone.  Buildings are intended to last a very long time.  Off her porch a view worth a thousand early mornings awaits her.  The mist seems to stay throughout the day but east across the lake is another small village accessible by ferry. 

Our hotel faces the south so we'll enjoy the day once the sun decides to get up.  Below are several pictures taken as we wandered up to this end of the lake.  We've searched for the private villa of our dear and close friend George and today we'll keep our invitation to have brunch.  Claudia had some advice for him concerning his new friend. 

 

If you need exercise, this is the place to live.  Nothing is easy.  The people seem to have resided for generations from the brief visits we've had with them.  These are very friendly people who do their best to help us.  We know so little Italian but use whatever we can.  Many of the local residents don't speak too much English however a goodly number speak some with the younger ones the best.  

 

Looking back west and south, the mist settles in over the water as evening descends.  Access to each dwelling is gained using a series of switchbacks.  These are protected by retaining walls, fences and markings to allow the initiated a measure of safety.

 
  Mountains rise high above the villages and supply a constant stream of fresh water to the lake.  Running between the buildings it meanders its way guarded by the stone bed and walls. 

 

 

As we ventured for some toothpaste at the Farmicia another friendly face greeted me and inquired about our travels.  Then he posed and said "Ciao - Bonjourno.  But I think he says that to everyone.

Our lovely hotel in this little village.  The street runs just in front of here which you can see just below the stone wall behind the sign.  I'd estimate the width of the two way street to be 16 feet.