I suppose that I should have thought twice about how popular a destination Lago di Como is. Then I would have realized that there must be a good reason for it being in every guide book and given copious pages of attention. But not me. I just expected a pretty lake. What a shock it was to first behold the natural and created beauty of that place.

Steep mountains slope down into a vast space of deep blue. The lake is far longer than it is wide; thus, as one glides along the waters by boat, one passes villages every ten minutes or so on either the right or left. The villages are traditional Italian with brightly painted houses and a tall bell tower proclaiming the church’s location.

Steve’s parents came in from Sheffield, England, for an extended weekend holiday. His mother’s ancestors came from a small village called Varenna, just above Bellagio. Someone in her family, a great, great, great grandfather or so painted the frescoes in the Varenna church. We were on a mission to trace their heritage. The day began in Como where we boarded a ferry that would take us as far as Bellagio. This is a picture of Steve's parents on the boat: View image
They were absolutely charming people. So down to earth and authentic, I cracked up all weekend as they entertained me with stories of their son and witty jokes. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if it was Steve making the jokes or his dad, the resemblance was so strong. View image
Steve’s father, Roger, retired from public service at the age of 50, only to go back to school. He joined 16 year old students in a German class and completed a degree in that language before taking a job working nights with mentally disabled children. I was awed by him. What kind of man studies alongside of 16 year olds at that age just because he fancies learning German? What kind of man works nights during his retirement so that he can try to make a child smile in the darkness of its life? A man who merits great respect. I was honored to spend four days in his company. And Steve’s mom was just as charming and endearing. Janet was constantly the source of laughter, as both son and husband teased her. And what a sense of humor she had to put up with the both of them! It was really a wonderful weekend.

We had lunch in Varenna and then wandered around. A bit of time was spent playing in the water: View image
Steve and I went off in search of the church, leaving Janet and Roger sitting on a pier with their feet dangling into the crystal water. The stone church offered a refreshingly cool hiding place from the summer heat. Most of the frescoes had faded but the information plague credited the past glories of the church’s art to Janet’s family name. With Roger and Janet, we made our second visit to the church. There is something special in tracing your heritage I think. Steve bought his mom a sketch of Varenna that had a clear view of the church tower as a reminder of that day before we boarded a boat and set off for Bellagio. Some ice cream and a slow stroll through town were all we had time for. The narrow, cobblestone streets and colorful buildings offered a taste of a quintessential Italian village. God I love Italy! Strolling along the promenade, we came to the “port.” Together we headed back to Como for the drive home. It was so beautiful there.