Forecast wrong...

Playlist

Yes – Close to the Edge

Yes – Tales From Topographic Oceans

Yes - Relayer

Yes – Going for the One

Yes - Tormato

Yes - Drama

Yes - 90125

Yes – Big Generator

Various – Shine On

Various Composers – Adagio Box Set

Various – Quiet Playlist

Various - Shuffleplay

Anne had been worrying about the forecasts we’d seen on the Italian Cable Weather Channel here – and on the net before we’d left – both had predicted rain and thunder for the area around Milan and up into the mountains – exactly where we were - and yesterday hadn’t been “sunny” but “hot and hazy”...

With the noise of the thunder storm and the unfamiliar bed, I didn’t get much sleep and rose at 5:30, made myself a pot of coffee and listened to some Yes-music whilst watching the moon go down and the sun come up...

The storm had cleared the air and today it was hot and sunny with clear blue skies - the forecasting was completely wrong...

Anne woke around 8 and I walked to the shop but it was still closed, so I went back and picked up the car and drove to the next village for some bread, over on the other side of the high valley our house overlooked...

As I parked the car, I could see our house, and Anne on the balcony...

Breakfast was accompanied by more classics from the adagio box...

...and then we set off down the mountain, shaving 4 minutes off the time today. We drove to Como and were parked and out on the streets by 10:15...

The town is a lot bigger than we remembered from our short visit here for a couple of very rainy days back in the 80’s...

After wandering past the Cathedral and Theatre, we ended up at another square overlooked by a church and took a seat and a coffee to relax for a few moments before walking back down to the lake..

We took an hour long boat trip around various small villages on the lakeside but didn’t take the opportunity to alight anywhere. It was enough for us that the weather was hot, the scenery was beautiful, the boat trip was relaxing - a great time...

Back on land, we walked through the old town again and found a little pizza-slice takeaway place for lunch...

 ...then a much needed tub each of tasty ice-cream...

30.5 degrees...

We collected the car and drove to the foot of the funicular which would take us to the top of the hill which overlooked the town and the lake. We bought our tickets, boarded the train and waited for 15 minutes in the sweltering heat for it to get underway...

The views from the top were a little disappointing, with most of the town concealed by trees – I did however partake of a very fine home made beer whilst up there...

By 5:30 we were back at the car and drove along the lakeside and up the mountain to the villa again, via the next village, Zelbio, where we picked up some parmesan cheese and from where we took some longer range pics of the house...

Looking back to where we were...

As the sun was setting, this little cloud came over the top of the mountain to our left...

Tonight, tagliatelle at home with a tomato and onion based sauce, cooked by Anne and tasting delicious...

All scoffed...

..before the beast dealt with the washing up...

Later, Anne read while I listened to the jukebox on shuffleplay...

Glancing out the window I noticed a flash in the sky – we went outside and witnessed a lightning storm – no thunder or rain, just the sky being lit up from behind the clouds – it was like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"...

Sadly, no pics...

We finished off the night watching an Eddie Izzard DVD, one of four or five in the house. Very funny it was too, especially the "Darth Vader in the Death Star Canteen" routine...

At midnight, the lightning storm was still going strong...

Highlight of the Day : a trip around the lake