Another amazingly perfect day here in Bellagio and the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni.
And for those of you who were hanging on by a thread…I opted for the Musk Bath Foam! I’ve never taken a bubble bath with thick mountains of bubbles before…very relaxing…and silly childish fun too! Yes…I put the foam on my head and create a bubble wig….aw…come on…like you’ve never done that!
I really don’t have much to share about today, because we gave our group the entire day off…a full day at leisure at this Grand property…and the weather was a gift from God…perfect in every way! Some opted for spa treatments, some went shopping, some slept until noon and had a lazy day while others explored the nearby Villa’s and surrounding towns…and some…did it all! Bottom line, everyone was BEYOND content and happy, and soaking up every bit of luxury afforded to them.
As for me…AH! No such thing as a day off! Helga and I started at 8 AM with breakfast and made ourselves available to the guests by sitting in the Grand Hall for two hours…just so that we were accessible to them. They were all having such a great time…no one came to visit! Our driver, Alesandro, was the happiest of all. No excursion meant he truly had the day off. We caught a glimpse of him sunning at the Grand Pool…can you picture it? A robust Italian man, in Italian “swim wear”…soaking up the sun and enjoying the “view”…and I’m not talking about the lake of surrounding villages….now you understand why I chose NOT to take a picture of that very funny sight. Helga and I have been laughing all day about it.
Anyway…after being shunned by our guests (and gladly so) we strolled through the local streets and just explored the many nooks and side streets and being both adventurous, we strayed from the “tourist” path and explored the more “residential” side of Bellagio. I cannot explain how “bene” it is to have my own personal guide who speaks three languages fluently and great knowledge of all these places…and a new friend whom I’m sure will be in my life until the last sunset.
We had lunch … “local” style…basically a local “deli” where they prepared fresh cut meats delicately placed between two slices of the freshest bread rolls, sliced with the precision and artistry only a local owner of the Almancari shop can do. This was followed by a wonderful café lakeside, under a “sky” of lush green grape vine leaves to shade us from the summer sun.
And then…back to business….we game planned tomorrow’s adventure…we leave Bellagio, Italy and head to Zermatt, Switzerland by way of the town of Tasch. Zermatt strictly prohibits motorized vehicle, so Tasch is known as the “parking lot” of Zermatt…you park there and take a “trolley train” into Zermatt. I’ll write more once I experience it for myself.
The ride should take about 5 hours from here…so we’ve planned stops along the way, and two of our guests have ordered meats, cheeses and cookies to share on the bus ride. I provided the cups, plates, napkins and trash bags. Hmmm…I guess I have just confirmed my station in life…well at least on this trip.
And now it’s evening…I have to share about the Trio of musicians that consisted of a piano player, stand-up bass player and a violinist...all dressed in formal wear...playing songs from Vivaldi? NO...try PINK, BEATTLES, MAROON 5, MADONNA and more...it was hysterical!
As I reflect on my last evening here in Bellagio…I am confident that I will return. Maybe not to stay at this Grand Hotel, but to visit the town that is rich with artistry in every little shop, or class as in the high end shops, or history with the Villa’s and villages, or stories and tales whispered by the old walls that suspend each fairy tale building or surround the city as a protector from the water. Bellagio….I will return.
This is also my last night in Italy. My past previous experiences have made Italy a destination that was never one I would ever plan on including on any worldly adventure. However, this visit, mandated by my tour group, has left me with a renewed sense of intrigue…a new sense of Amore…and a definite desire to return.
Molto bene….Gratzie, Italy….arrivederci!
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