Lake Como

Our days in Lake Como were filled with long, late lunches and shopping.  It poured in the late afternoons so we retreated to our room and read.  We loved the leisurely pace that our life took on.

The day we were left was picture perfect.

Rainy Days

After a wonderful time of lounging around in Lake Garda we headed to Lake Come.  We had the first rainy,  cool weather of the trip.  We (I) decided to take a little drive to Lake Orta.  WE planned to take a boat ride in Stressa but the weather was not co-operating.  We had a lunch reservation at Villa Crespi in Orta San Guilio.  K is such a good sport-she is an adventurous eater and rarely tries anything that she doesn't like.  She doesn't like main courses that are sweet.  I am not crazy about that type of food either.  I say there is always something on every menu that you can eat.  

I wish I could have bought everything in this place.

Love a little purse stool.

Bread choices.  

Cuttlefish appetizer.  Interesting texture.  Don't know that I would order it again.

My main course.  Fish-don't remember what type.

K's "banana split."

My chocolate desert.

Extra deserts.  Wonder if anybody eats these???

More of those cool light balls.

Villa Crespi.

Lake Garda

Our next stop was Lake Garda for some serious relaxing!   We had big sight seeing plans but ended up not leaving our hotel.  The view was fabulous, the pool was perfect for relaxing and escaping the heat and the food was amazing!  Now we need to make some plans to go back and do some sightseeing.

Our lovely hotel

Loved the pool 

I could get used to listening to the church bells 

Venice

Our final stop was Venice.  Always break taking, always amazing!  Highlights of this visit were a trip to the Peggy Guggenheim museum, an evening at Musica Palazzo and lunch at the Cipriani with cousins Heidi and Ted.  We also spent a lot of time at our local pharmacist-blisters, allergies and seemed like we had a different need at least twice a day.  And did I mention the pharmacist was really cute but that had nothing to do with it.

The Musica Palazzo was really enjoyable.  K had never been to an opera and this was a perfect starter opera.  It was held in a beautiful palazzo and each act was in a different room so you changed rooms with each act.  There was an intermission that included champagne and the whole thing only lasted two hours.  We saw Barber of Seville.  The singers were really talented, funny and engaged the audience.   I highly recommend this if you are in Venice.

On our final day Heidi and Ted arrived in Venice and we all had lunch at the Cipriani.  It was so tranquil and beautiful and the food was fabulous.  You know you are in trouble when the bill comes in a gold box!

Lunch at Psis at our hotel

Pigeon whacker device provided by the hotel at breakfast.  They also provided squirt guns-see them in the background.

Guy in the background was getting really carried away with his squirt gun

Rooftop deck at the Bauer Il Palazzo where we stayed.  Most amazing place for breakfast!

Courtyard at the Peggy Guggenheim museum.  It was sooo hot!

On the way to the Cipriani for lunch.

K went vegetarian on this trip.  Vegetable risotto.

I had fish.

Chocolate souffle with pistachio ice cream

Gold box that the check arrived in

Gardens at the Cipriani.  It was so nice to be out of the heat and crowds of Venice.  The number of selfie sticks was astronomical!

Croatia Part 3

Our final stop in Croatia was Rovinj, a beautiful little seaside town.  We walked around and then headed back to the ship because it was also water sports day.  There was a trampoline set up in the water at the back of the boat, kayaks and boats for water skiing.  This was K's favorite day of the cruise and she took part in every activity.

Croatia-Part 2

We spent a day in Split.  Another incredibly hot day.  I like heat but it was almost impossible to walk around.  Maybe because there is no air flow in a walled city?  More beautiful crystal clear water and lovely people.

Croatia Part I

Dubrovnik is a beautiful walled city with interesting history.  It was a blistering hot day the day we were there.  We were going to walk around the town on the surrounding walls but the man selling tickets told us he recommended against it because it was so hot.  So we had lunch instead and went back to the ship and hung out in the pool.