DAY SIX – Main Trip Day One

Heaven and Hell….that’s the title of today’s blog.  ARGH!

So all started as usual…drag my butt out of bed, get ready and out for breakfast…new staff today.  It’s Sunday and if it wasn’t for the many wonderful texts I got from home, I would have forgotten it was Father’s Day!  YAY for me!

Today is the transition from “Pre-Trip” to “Main Trip.”  We say goodbye to Luisa and Mauricio and meet our new Tour Manager and Driver; Helga and Alesandro.  We’ve become so attached to Luisa in such a short time, it’s hard to imagine the next 10 days without her.  We are also expecting the arrival of two more couples.

Part of the “hell” for today is a carryover from yesterday…RE-DO the entire trip…starting NOW!  So we delayed our departure to Como until Noon.  I feel so bad for my two couples coming in because I know how they will be feeling…exhausted, run over and ready just to find a shower and a nice bed.  But karma has its role to play…the Sunday morning drenched Milano with sheets of rain.  We should have just left as we had originally planned.  Oh well.  My next two couples arrived early and we were able to get them into other peoples rooms to relax and wait until noon.

And now I meet…HELGA!  First of all…I’m guilty of associating the name Helga with a mean and robust German woman.  She couldn’t be further from that.  She is the quintessential German MaMa…couldn’t be lovelier.  Luisa did the transition for me so I’m already in great graces with Helga and we hit it off very well.  Alesandro speaks no English at all…so this is going to be fun.  They were kind enough to take me by bus (two blocks) to my hotel so I could load up my bags and supply of water directly onto the bus versus walking with it through the rain.  Gratzie!

We collected our group, currently 20 guests strong, and headed to Como.  While everyone enjoyed the scenery, I was in the back of the bus doing administrative paperwork to make our registrations at future hotels seamless and smooth…I worked the entire hour and a half drive.

The countryside was beautiful.  The last 20 minutes had us driving through this incredibly narrow and almost nauseating winding road.  OH OH…yup…my group leader was starting to see red as she put the puzzle pieces together…yes, this is the only road in and out of our hotel…

Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is situated in an old fishing village on the shores of Lake Como.  Actually, Lake Como is comprised of three different lakes (legs) and where they all meet is where we will be staying.  The best of all three lakes are visible from our Hotel.  We are not staying in Como actually, but the town of Bellagio.  And yes…it is as grand as the name sounds.  The lakes are hidden in a valley, so at all points around the lake, you are surrounded by mountains.  Lush, green, majestic mountains.  So needless to say, the only way in is to descend from the top of the mountain, deep into the lake valley below.

Well…this meant that Helga and I would spend the next 4 hours, re-routing and providing multiple options for our guests.  We will stick with our original plans, but offer alternatives for transport, like a hydrofoil boat that will take them to the city of Como.

Luckily, everyone is absolutely engrossed by this facility.  Seriously…this is the closest I have come to Shangri-la.  It is rightfully called the “Grand Hotel.”  You see the pictures, but trust me…they do no justice and there is a magic that envelopes you as you walk through the halls of this magnificent structure or stroll the quaint streets of the village.  Rain or not, it is heaven on earth.

Tonight we have our Cocktail Reception and Welcome Dinner for all 24 guests…who are for the first time, all together to start their 10 day adventure.

The next piece of adventure was to arrange for the group to have dinner at VILLA D’ESTE…a HIGH HIGH HIGH Class hotel and restaurant across the lake.  The only way to get them there (ya know, without taking the bus through the winding roads) is by private boat.  So after some logistical acrobats, it’s done.  Tomorrow night they will all go by private boat to Villa D’Este for dinner…while Helga and I will have Serbelloni to ourselves.  You know the rule…if you have to ask how much…you can’t afford it?  Well…I can’t afford it.  But I’m really okay with that…I would much rather explore and enjoy my personal Shangri-la.

Our cocktail reception was set in this grand lounge with full glass picture windows exposing the lake and mountains in the distance as if it were a finely painted canvas.  Lavish, lush, elegant and royalty are words I would use to describe the room and service.  The guests dressed in semi-formal attire, which is mandatory at this Grand Hotel.  Dinner was AMAZING…started with Mozzarella in a thick tomato soup garnished with a delicate trim of vegetables, followed by a Veal filet and roasted potatoes.  A beautiful fruit tarte that was so beautiful you dared not eat it (but I did) rounded out the meal followed my café and assorted dessert bites.

Helga and I decided to eat alone away from the group…which turned out to be so very nice.  We got to know each other better and have strengthened our bond…which will be important seeing as our next few stops are going to require that.  We topped our evening off with a glass of champagne and toasted the end of a successful, albeit, stressful day.

By the end of the evening, we had everything in place for tomorrow’s adventures and everyone was buzzing with excitement and delight to be here in such a wonderful place.

Then there was my room.  OH…I could live here forever…YES…in a hotel!  Exquisite!  And the best two spots in my room are the bathroom (I know…I don’t get out much) and my window overlooking the village and church tower.  I used to think I was well educated and well travelled, but how naïve am I?  They have towels and linens and items throughout my room that I haven’t the slightest clue what to do with!  I know they all have a purpose, but for what?  I have no idea…I’ll just pretend I don’t need it.

I don’t even want to tell you about the bed…let’s just say….as my head touched the pillows…….