DAY SEVEN – Main Trip Day Two

And God smiled upon me and the group today…well every day, but especially today!  You’ll see why…

Okay…the only other thing more amazing than falling asleep in this Grand Hotel’s bed is waking up in this Grand Hotel’s bed!  And to be honest, I can’t believe I’m even telling you how wonderful the beds are…but they are INCREDIBLE!  As I pulled myself out of the warmth of my personal cocoon, I found my feet place themselves on the “foot towels” the maids had put down at the sides of the beds…nice touch.  The shower was like a waterfall…talk about being rejuvenated!

As usual, breakfast will start my day…and since I like to be prepared for the day, I also try to be the first to eat so that I can address my group’s issues as soon as they occur.  So after wandering down towering halls lined in marble, I finally found the restaurant where breakfast was being served.  Now I have to say…if I didn’t know that I was in Italy, I would have sworn I was eating in a room at Buckingham Palace!  AMAZING!  Just so you know, I was so embarrassed at the thought of taking a picture of the room, I apologize, but you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see it…I’ll get there REALLY EARLY to get a shot of it.

We started our day out at 10:00AM and amazingly, all but 2 guests decided to go on the city tour of Como…so off we went…22, Helga and me.  As I said before…God smiled on us, because what started as a slightly overcast sky has now turned into the most beautiful wash of blue above our heads…a calming breeze to keep the temperature comfy and the sun providing the most stunning lighting effects on the ravishing green landscape.  As they would say here in Italy…PERFECTO!

The drive was so beautiful, the group didn’t even notice or mind the hour and twenty minutes it took us to finally arrive in Como.  Our first line of business was to board our private boat for a tour of Como…on the lake.  Our “local” tour guide was Roberta and she delighted and entertained the group, providing the rich history (and gossip) of each villa we passed.  Ya know…I’m sure here Villa is translated appropriately, but as an American…when I think of Villa, I think of a place that is petit and quaint.  But here, especially along the shores of Como and Lecco, these Villas are palacial…something exactly like the mansion (or villa) from the movie…The Sound Of Music.  Stunning!  There is even one that is so hidden and nestled on the lake shore down a deep wall of hillside, that the only way to get there is by funicular!

And yes…this is where George Clooney has his private Villa.  And yes…he is in town today.  How do we know?  The paparazzi are a-buzzing.  Apparently, he is out on his motorcycle visiting nearby villages…so no Clooney sightings today…BUT he is in town.

We only saw about 1/20^th of the lake shore of this massive lake that is really three lakes that connect…in the shape of an upside-down “Y”.  Our hotel is right on the shore where all three lakes meet.  And even though we only saw a small portion of it, the list of impressive names throughout history and today who have Villa’s here is nothing short of a “Who’s Who” list of amazing people…and interesting people.  Sophia Loren, Clooney of course, the world’s first ballerina who went on point, Versace…and the list goes on.  Basically…the European playground for the worldly rich and powerful.  Even the most famous Villa in the world, Villa D’Este (voted the number one Villa in the world by Forbes or Fortune magazine) is home to an annual meeting of heads of state from around the world.

Once back to the city of Como, the group began to split up…some went on their own and another group stayed with Roberta for additional history of this magnificent town…rich in history from the Roman Era through the ages.  It’s amazing to be somewhere that has stood for centuries…preserved so that we too can stand there now.  Kinda sends a chill down your spine at certain spots.

Helga and I left the group to explore as we enjoyed lunch at a “Self Service” restaurant.  Translated…a cafeteria…but this was no cafeteria that I’ve ever been to.  Yes....food is displayed and you choose what you want…but everything is amazingly fresh and prepared right in front of you…and of course I had to include dessert….Tiramasu!  It was so good, I swear I’m coming back to Como…JUST for the tiramisu!

We made arrangements for the group to return to Bellagio via Hydrofoil…a high speed boat that rides the lake on a large “wing” that cuts through the water….travel time….43 minutes!  And an incredible view of the lake….

Tonight, the group has plans for dinner at Villa D’Este and they will travel via private boat.  After a few hours of allowing them time to prepare, I escorted them to their boat.  This was a wonderfully unique opportunity for everyone.  Straight out of a movie…private boat, captained by a local Italian fisherman…simple and plain, escorting these sophisticated American’s to an enchanting evening at a world renown Villa….the topper was the sun painted across the lake surface in a shimmer of gold!  Magnifico!

By the way…I’m left speechless…I’ve already expressed to you how incredible this “Grand” Hotel is.  And you’ve surmised by now (I hope) that my clients are en par with this type of facility.  So it was even more impressive to me tonight to overhear a conversation between two of my more affluent clients when they discussed …. “I’ve never stayed in a hotel as nice as this ever in my life!”  WHOA!  I have achieved a success beyond a success!  I’ve actually been able to beat the expectations of my clients!  WOO HOO!  And all of my gushing about this place is now justified….bravo.

The nice thing about my groups outing is that it allows me to “technically” have a night off.  Helga stayed in Como to visit with friends whom she doesn’t get to see often and I gladly escorted my group through the evenings events.  She missed the last boat to Bellagio, so her friend needs to drive her in…yes…the same hour and twenty minutes it took up to drive out to Como.  So our dinner plans together were cancelled, but we shall meet later tonight to discuss tomorrow’s adventures.  Actually, we need to triage our plans because the group has decided to cancel our originally planned outing to Lugano, and have opted for a day at leisure instead.  And that means a bit more planning to offer our guests options and ideas and the facilities in which to make personal plans.  Should be an interesting day tomorrow.

As a note:  today is June 21, 2010 and is the longest day of the year.  The locals seem to make a big deal about this…as I write to you, it is 9:54 pm and just now getting dark!  Whoa…that was one long day.  And now it comes to a close….my group is at dinner…Helga is on her way…

As for me…tonight…I do some CTE work…eNewsletters and all….complete my blog entries and upload yesterday’s blog…and perhaps indulge in a little pampering for myself.  I never do this, but being here it seems appropriate…a bath in my massive and deep tub…my only tough choice is…do I use the Rose Water they have provided, or do I opt for the Musk Bath Foam?  Hmmm….decisions, decisions….