Towards Varenna

Monday

Towards Varenna

You know you have had a good time when you are sad to be leaving - are we sad to be leaving?- yes! - Brian, would you recommend  L'Uliviera to others? - to those in pursuit of 5 stars - No! - to those in  pursuit of cosy - authentic - character - convenience -Yes! - to those who have in their midst someone with a pre-disposition to long showers -Yes with a caveat! - the caveat ? - temper your pre-disposition -  L'Uliviera is not inclined to accommodate you or your pre-disposition!

Gary rises early - he must visit his elderly female bakery owner one more time - he returns ladened with croissant and breakfast breads - we breakfast - we clean - we clean some more.

Check those cases - look under those cushions - have you got the camera?  - have you remembered to get your washing? - have you got your passport? - your hat? - your wallet? - yes!

The rain gods have re-asserted their dominion over Tuscany - Brian's hire car steed senses that it has turned to home  - Brian lets it have its head - come on Gary - keep up - Gary hangs back - Margaret makes certain that significant tension is applied to the reins of the second rented steed.

Into Firenze  - follow the pre-defined route - make sure  we avoid those traffic control camera gateways - don't want a fine  for entering  the city centre without a permit - past the Hertz park - there  it is - we will be back soon!- to the station - pull over - hazard lights on - dump the luggage and its female custodians - wait there!- we will be back in 15 minutes - they wait - that wait - that wait - wrong turn - ask Don Tom for help - he does his best but even he does not cope well when the maintenance men of Firenze decide to close their roads - Tom tries an alternative - no good - tries another - round and round - Brian and I a little annoyed - look in the rear view minor - Gary is smiling - he is enjoying jostling with the Italian drivers whilst in sole control of steering wheel, brake and accelerator!  -Tom tries another route - no good - tries another - at last success!

300 kilometres an hour - smooth - gentle - the inevitable happens - the discussion turns  - why doesn't Australia have fast trains like this?  - the scenery changes -Tuscany was  special - short tunnel - open country - now we are into Northern Italy - agriculture - more agriculture - pleasant- unspectacular.

Slow into the suburbs of Milan - typical of the rail corridors of other cities - approach Milano Centrale - the rail corridor improves - the corridor flanked by modern apartments- by office building - by tertiary commerce - Into Milano Centrale to the second - why can't Australia have a transport system like this - alight at Milano Centrale - why can't Australia have rail terminals like this?

To the regional train towards Varenna - the train? - old - the windows?- dirty! - I sense my fellow travellers are un-impressed - load the luggage - occupy the best of the carriages - on our way -hold on- that Sign says first class - our ticket says second class - we await ire of the conductor- we await some more -more nervous than  before - here he is - tickets please - ok - Bonjouno!

Pass  Lecco - join Lake Como - the scenery becomes that of the Lake country - my fellow travellers forget the state of the train - they focus an the lake - their eyes rise to the ragged mountains that guard the Lake - their eyes stray to the snow covered Dolomites in the Northern distance.

Varenna - we alight at the little station - Bernie and I feel at home - roll the cases down the hill towards Abergo Oliveda - along the water - Margaret squeals - look at the ducks! - to the hotel - greeted by Laura - tall middle aged - Italian - dead pan by design - good English - Mrs Rebbechi! - why you no book a room with a view? - you book in November -  you could have had a view!

A tiny Italian lift- two at a time - lift only goes to the 3rd floor - we are in  the old servants rooms on the fourth floor - the cases are manhandled (literally) to the small but very pleasant rooms.

A hour of resting - downstairs to dinner on the water - Laura has arranged a long table so the 6 travellers can all book out over the lake - the travellers love it.

Too much good food  - too much house wine! - The dreaded weather no where in  site.