Lake | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Bellagio Lake Como Italy

April 9, 2017 by David Herd

Playground for the Rich & Famous

Bellagio Lake Como Italy

Bellagio Lake Como Italy with it’s cobblestone lanes and elegant buildings with beautiful views over the famous lake. The village is characterized by century-old buildings & interesting stone lanes & steps.

Cobblestone steps

Climbing all the Bellagio stairs is an excellent way to work up an appetite. 🙂

View from the top of the steps.

Every time you turn around there is another great photo opportunity.

Narrow lanes

I used to wonder why so many European towns & villages had such narrow streets & lanes. Then a friend of mine Riny Doyle, from Breil Sur Roya in the south of France, explained it was simple to control the temperature. Narrow lanes meant a much cooler environment, & lets face it in those ancient times there were no air conditioned shopping malls where you could get relief from the heat. 🙂

Breil Sur Roya devastated by storm Alex on October 4 2020.

Delightful little cafes & restaurants

Around every corner there is a little cafe or restaurant.

If you prefer a water view

Here is a perfecy spot to soak up the view of Bellagio Lake Como Italy. Perhaps if you hang around long enough you may see George Clooney wander in with his beautiful bride. 🙂

Sadly I don’t have the time.

I don’t have the time to wait for George as I’m about to catch the car ferry to the other side of the lake.

Bit of a rust bucket

At least I don’t have far to travel.

Lets explore a little more before I leave.

More stairs and more shops.

And another little hidden restaurant.

A surprise around every corner.

Hotel Metropole

Right in the heart of town, just book through THIS LINK for a great discount on the room rate.

Or Hotel Splendide

Has views of the lake which is even better, just book through THIS LINK.

The crowd builds up

Lunch is over, now for some serious shopping.

Farewell to beautiful Bellagio

Just a wonderful Italian village.

As Andrea Bocelli would say……

Time to say goodbye. (lets not forget Sarah Brightman)

Ferry across Lake Como

The views from the ferry are absolutely stunning.

Thanks for visiting my Beautiful Bellagio Lake Como Italy photo blog.

Here are some more posts to check out

Zagreb Croatia Rio de Janeiro Brisbane River

Koh Samui Korea London

Bangkok Osaka Pattaya

Chiang Mai Pattaya Chao Phraya river

Pattaya live webcam

9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

Brussels for mussels

Upmarket Portofino

Barcelona

Prague way back in 93

Amsterdam

Sarajevo

Beautiful Budapest

Fabulous Dubrovnik

Ancient Lisbon

Summer in St Moritz

Pattaya live webcam

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Beautiful St Moritz Switzerland

May 24, 2016 by David Herd

Lake St Moritz

Beautiful St Moritz Switzerland

Beautiful St Moritz Switzerland was the first stop on my road trip from Pejo in the Italian alps Salzburg. This was certainly my best ever European trip which started in Lake Como then on to the French Riviera, a few days in the Cinque Terre before heading for Milan, Verona and Lake Garda.

I spent 10 days in a beautiful little French village north of Menton called Breil Sur Roya is known for trout fishing.

St Moritz Switzerland

A perfect summer day in St Moritz, check out some great hotel deals HERE.

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel

Any hotel name with Palace in it you can bet you will need your black Amex. 🙂 Just use THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.

St Moritz

The streets were very quiet.

St Moritz in summer.

The whole city has an expensive feel about it.

St Moritz

Those mountains would be an amazing sight in the winter.

Here comes the snow

That’s the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel with snow on the roof.

Fast asleep in St Moritz

Get a suntan on a beautiful summers day in St Moritz.

St Moritz

A family picnic by Lake St Moritz.

Picnic at Saint Moritz

Every January or early February, Polo matches are held on the lake.

Beautiful St Moritz

If you book a hotel using THIS LINK you will receive an excellent discounted rate.

I bet that water is cold

Even though it’s summer I’m sure that water would be freezing. 🙂

Breathtaking

If you would like the get a huge discount here just use THIS LINK to book.

Beautiful St Moritz Switzerland, I must say farewell.

After a pleasant couple of hours in St Moritz I’m back on the road again heading for Germany.

Thanks for visiting my Beautiful St Moritz Switzerland photo blog.

Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.

Please check out these fabulous posts

Gold Coast Pattaya Cinque Terre

Rio de Janeiro Singapore Eastern Europe

Bangkok Bars Tokyo Cape Town Safari

Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam

Check out these great photo blogs.

Rio beach babes

Florianopolis Brazil

Bangkok river ferry

Fabulous HCMC

Amazing World Food

Lyme Regis Jurassic coast

Hiroshima Japan

Sydney Harbour

Lake Como Lake Garda Italy

Pattaya live webcam

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Beautiful Lake Garda northern Italy

August 18, 2015 by David Herd

Another Italian Gem.

Beautiful Lake Garda northern Italy

Beautiful Lake Garda northern Italy is the largest Italian lake. The wealthy and the snobbish will always prefer Lake Como because that’s what they read about in the social pages and gossip columns, the experienced traveller however would most certainly choose Lake Garda as the more interesting and user friendly location.

Lake Garda northern Italy

Lake Garda is Italy’s largest and most visited lake. The lake is 51km long but only 17km wide at its widest point in the south. The distance around the lake is 158km. Picturesque villages, medieval castles, and lakeside promenades dot the shoreline.

Swimming at Lake Garda

The lake has numerous small islands and five main ones, the largest being Isola del Garda. Nearby to the south is Isola San Biagio, also known as the Isola dei Conigli (“Island of the Rabbits”). Both are offshore of San Felice del Benaco, on the west side. The three other main islands are Isola dell’Olivo, Isola di Sogno, and Isola di Trimelone, all farther north near the east side. The main tributary is the Sarca River, while the only outlet is the Mincio River.

Relaxing beside Lake Garda

There are many delightful cafes and restaurants around the lake where you can relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Beautiful Lake Garda

Lake Garda is known for its clear water, great for swimming in summer. Windsurfing, sailing, and hiking in the lake’s many parks are popular activities.

Beautiful Lake Garda northern Italy

Is it surprising that Italy is my favourite European country?

Lakeside restaurant

A perfect spot to relax by the lake.

Lake Garda church

If you would like to rent an apartment here use THIS LINK for an excellent rate.

Fabulous colours

Magnificent colours on the buildings.

Shopping arcade beside the lake

Shop, drink coffee or enjoy pasta for lunch.

Ferry at Lake Garda

You can also explore the lake from the ferry.

Old castle

The lake has a diverse landscape with beaches along the southern shores and rocky cliffs above the northern shoreline.

North of Lake Garda.

The surrounding countryside is magnificent.

The Castle of Sirmione on Lake Garda.

The Sirmione castle is the most significant example of the defensive structures on Lake Garda. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, the village of Sirmione was a border town situated between the land owned by the Della Scala dynasty of Verona and the property of the lords of Milan. The original nucleus was delimited by a tall square wall with three towers, and was probably built on top of the remains of a Roman fortress.

Thanks for visiting my Beautiful Lake Garda northern Italy photo blog, which one do you prefer Lake Como Lake Garda?

Please check out these fabulous posts

Istanbul Budapest London

Mostar Dubrobnik Split

Saigon Zagreb Vung tau

Pattaya live webcam

That’s all folks

Check out these great posts

Fabulous Soi 11 Bangkok

French village Breil Sur Roya

Breil Sur Roya devastated

Hong Kong 2014

Bradford on Avon

Coogee Beach Australia

Pattaya Thailand 2013

Amazing Iguazu Falls

New York City

Buddhist Temple Asakusa Tokyo

Pattaya live webcam

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Lake Como northern Italy

August 17, 2015 by David Herd

Lake Como northern Italy

Lake Como northern Italy has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people since Roman times, it’s a very popular tourist attraction with many artistic and cultural gems. It has many villas and palaces such as Villa Olmo, Villa Serbelloni, and Villa Carlotta.

Fabulous Lake Como home

Lake Como weather is generally mild. It is known for its Mediterranean-like climate where sub-tropical plants can grow year-round, Average daily temperatures range from about 2 °C (36 °F) in January to 30 °C (86 °F) in July.

Bellagio on Lake Como northern Italy

Bellagio is a wonderful upmarket village on Lake Como, certainly a place that attracts the wealthy. Bellagio & Lake Como are both beautiful and famous, however I do prefer the larger Lake Garda which is a couple of hours east. I found it more “user friendly” in so much as there were many more places you could actually access the lake itself. The wealthy and the snobbish will always pick Como because that’s what they read about in the fashion magazines and gossip columns, but the experienced traveller I believe would choose Lake Garda as the more interesting location.

My little road rocket

This little car really covered a lot of miles in the coming weeks, all the way to Saint Tropez, Cinque Terre, Menton, Breil Sur Roya, Verona, Pejo, St Moritz and Salzburg.

Lake Como northern Italy

Taking the shortcut across Lake Como northern Italy.

West side Lake Como

It is a rather short trip on the ferry.

For whom the bell tolls

Pardon me quoting the title of Ernest Hemingway’s 1940 novel, however I’m sure he would have sometime in his life sipped his double daiquiris on the shore of Lake Como. 🙂

Hemingway did enjoy a drink

What a fabulous old photo.

San Giacomo Church, Ossuccio

This Romanesque church is situated along the shore at Spurano, Ossuccio. It was built between the 10th and 12th centuries. The sail bell tower on the outside wasn’t built until after the 14th century. The double arched apse is typical of the local architecture and inside the church you can see visible traces of original frescoes.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Dining outside on the terrace overlooking the lake with the lights of Bellagio twinkling is a magical experience.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Way above my pay grade I’m afraid. 🙂

Como Cathedral

No, I didn’t go inside. 🙂

Como

Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Its proximity to Lake Como and to the Alps has made Como a popular tourist destination and the city contains numerous works of art, churches, gardens, museums, theatres, parks and palaces.

Veal Scallopini

One of my favourite meals is veal scallopini and this dish I had in Como at the restaurant shown below was perhaps the best I have ever experienced.