ThreeLakes

Most probably 'cause 'twas a lake you non compos cretin.
Three lakes crossing
Usually I'm a summer seafaring SOTTER ( neogioism (neologism by GIOANNI) for sit on topper) and after a week into the sea sometimes I feel the need of soft water not to become an anchovy NEXT

You can start from Bellano here on the north east shore where there are parking lots ( high paying in the season) and a shore for easy embark.
To reach Bellano fasten your seat belts grit your toots and launch on a wonderful iper tunnel-ed and viaduct-ed freeway where if you don't hurry up will be slaughtered.
Or you can relax on the old 'litoranea' resting in the inevitable traffic jams
I don't love cars, I use them, but I don't like...

I'm translating this for Ann and David from Columbus Ohio.
In the Italian version I was saying "this part of the lake is not fully antropized ".
Perhaps in the eyes of an italian used to see everywhere product of centuries of gardener's and mason's craftsmanship.
It's a constant seeing gardens where nothing is spontaneous.
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Before crossing the Lecco lake you must see the shortest river in Europe.
Fiumelatte (Milkyriver) is no more than a quarter mile long.
The lake has three branches and each has a different name
Lario is the whole while Lecco's lake is on the right Como's lake the left …

On this lake there's a periodic wind raising at noon really good for field testing the new sail I'm producing for friends
Click for a 183k movie

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It's evening but we're choosy and don't lodge at the G.H. Villa Serbelloni Mazzanti nor at Hotel Britannia but we find a secluded pebble beach near Villa Lucertola.
There were erected three canvas pavilions and a passable 'chef di sala ' contrived a light repas with spirit stove grilled tominos (semi soft bloomed crust little cheese ) mesciua (mixed legumes alla ligure) and a three kind salad a la vinaigrette.
All washed down by a young red barbera wine.

Italian students' nightmare is the "Promessi sposi" by Manzoni whose incipit is "Quel ramo del lago di Como che volge …." and these boats are really identical from centuries.
It's magical seeing them in the morning mist
They were training for a regatta and were realllllly fast )NEXT

Nothing compares seeing Villa Balbianello gradually emerging from the mist. It's an ancient villa with an historic garden donated to the FAI with money enough to maintain it.
I can't imagine how many gardeners you must have to tend it with the love you can feel seeing huge trees pruned from above in perfect spheres.NEXT

It's an anomalous Italian style garden but is a masterpiece of 'arte topiaria '

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These festoni are not anchored to the pillars
Grazing your mouse tail on the picture you can see they use nail scissors to prune them
Amazing isn't it ?

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This is a modern ugly villetta.
Here gardeners are rich people.

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You can see from the aerial picture that the western shore is densely populated so we hurry up and after noon we cross in Menaggio closing the three lakes tour.
The worst part.
300 ml of holiday highway home.