Last evening as the wine mellowed the minds of the travellers they decided that the day on the lake was to be about rest and relaxation - breakfast in Varenna - morning tea on Menaggio - lunch in Bellaggio - Dinner in Varenna - slow- slow - slow.
We arise - downstairs - Brian is ascending - grin from ear to ear - he has been down early drinking coffee and observing - the sun is shining - the lake is showing off - Brian is enjoying the first day of his sixty fourth year.
Breakfast - slow- slow - slow - all according to plan - take time to observe the Americans from New Jersey meet the Americans from Indiana - observe the locals and tourists mill and gather for the Car ferry - take a slow stroll through Varenna.
On the ferry - photograph - photograph - Menaggio - slow - look at those ducks - look at the fish - to the square - coffee - this is nice - this is calming - look at that Triumph Spitfire - gee I like that Fiat 500 - and that one! - and that one!
Along the waterfront - slow - slow - photograph - photograph - the travellers love this!
Margaret excited - she must get a tea towell that depicts the lake - she hurries - she falls - we panic - she has torn a muscle - Brian runs to a taxi - Gary consoles - Mike completes Gary's acquisition of a walking stick - we gather our thoughts at the ferry station - Margaret is determined to continue on - she hobbles onto the ferry - she stoic - Gary worried - the rest concerned.
Bellaggio - Margaret still stoic - Gary still worried - the rest of as still concerned - a massage booked for late afternoon - Brian, Gary and I take turns to sit with Margaret - the girls head off to acquire the tea towell that was the source of Margaret's predicament .
Bellaggio is Bellaggio - old - quaint - preserved to within on inch of its life - shop after shop occupy the former residences - tourist after tourist occupy shop - occupy the stepped alley ways - occupy the narrow lanes that follow the contours.
The ferry back to Varenna - the massage unsuccessful - the situation serious - call to the travel insurer - Margaret is to go home .
Laura officially designated an honorary Australian - she assists Gary - she calls taxis - she makes the hotel phone available - she serves diners - she delivers a birthday cake for the old man.
Sad - sad for Margaret - she is stoic - Gary is caring and supportive.
