bellagio ♥ italia

b e l l a g i o, lake como is everything i had dreamed of
and imagined in my mind’s eye. pulling up to it after a
long ferry cruise and taking it the picture perfect setting
was so heavenly. it was one of those moments where you’re
not quite sure it can be real. here poshness meets charm:: with
bright colors, striped umbrellas, every shade of blue water,
italian words hanging in the air, hot days + a cold lake,
and pretty much just happiness in the form of a place.
i took the above photo and then stared at it on my camera
just to make sure that what i was seeing was actually there. 
as we wandered the warm streets up the hill to our hotel, i think
my jaw was permanently dropped. perfect pink blossoms against
pink buildings, italian railings, little narrow streets, happy
people walking them, and all of it set against the pretty lake.
once we dropped our bags it was straight for a dip, done in
style! once chase spotted this high dive in the middle of the
lake there was no question what our first order of business was.
second order of business ^^
then i sat on this little dock all day waving to boats as
they passed. nothing happier in life than the boat wave!
ps if i ever go missing, you can probably find me right
here in this exact spot…and who can blame me? ^^
life is peachy at the lake.
oh, back again doing tricks off the board.
(it helped that he got a fan club of little italian
kids who were cheering him on from the shore! :)
i could wander here forever were it not
for the sweltering heat which created a…
third order of business ^^ (because when in como, right?)
we found some shady streets to peruse some paintings ^^
^^ i knocked on this door to see if i could move in (i wish :)
we stepped back in time at a few classic hotels
to get a taste of lake como from years past ^^
and then back out into present day for
some george clooney searching ;)
i went pasta shopping and came back to find this going on ^^
two words: not happening. hah, i had to crush his italian dreams!
after looking at dozens of menus we decided on a little
streetside restaurant when we saw brown butter sage
ravioli on the menu … and we did not choose wrong.
^^ after dinner in italy there is really only one option.
ps this one was grapefruit / mint which sounds weird
but was one of the best combos ever on a hot day.
delicious dusk ^^
i think in heaven there will be a ferry over to bellagio.
i also think there will be butter & sage ravioli and grapefruit
gelato. at least that’s what i’m planning on if i make it there!

*more tomorrow from our como hotel*
xo