And so we left Bagni de Lucca, on our way to Lago di Como. I have been at the Lake Como many many years ago with my parents and still I was having this picture in my mind of a beautiful area, with all small villages around a lake. Ineke never has been or seen before Lago di Como so she agreed to drive along the Como on our way to Freiburg. Freiburg, why? Because some of my friends gave me the tip to stay at a hostel in Freiburg and they loved Freiburg and said to me there was enough to see for a few days.

When we told the Tomtom we wanted to go Como without using the Autostrada it was sending us along Modena. So, there we went.

Halleluja, we knew it was going to be a country road. What we did not know was that this road was taking us up, in and OVER the mountains, until a height of 1525 m. While driving this 'road' we were enjoying the views, stunning (sorry, not possible to catch a view like that with any camera), until we get that high that we were really with our heads (and car) IN the clouds. No view, ascending 13% and more with curves going completely backwards. A few times I thought that Tweety could not do it. Ineke said to me: you have to go into the first gear, but I was already!!!!!!!!!!! Luckily she did not need to get out and push , Tweety managed! But, to be honest, I had a few scary, worrying moments going up up and up again.whit no sight at all, just clouds ahead of me. I made a picture when we were at the top (1525 m.) and I can tell you I was very happy to see that from now on it was only going down, slowly, but down..........(pictures will follow later).

But, I would not have missed that road for a million. It was fantastic, the views, the area, the excitement. Stef, you would have loved it! Countrycrossing, ralley driving, etc. Only, no way you could have given me a CLEAR! There was no clear, just clouds and sometimes a white line along the road to show me where I was going.

From Modena it was Autostrada again, and that was good, so my arms good have a bit of a rest, not making turns over and over and over again.

Finally we arrived at Como. Not knowing where to go or where to find a place to sleep, but watching the Lago di Como was all worth it. For me it was as I pictured it, although that was many years ago, for Ineke it was the first time, but also she was like Wow, Look at that, Fantastic!

We did not want to drive too far till late, so we stopped at Urio, a small village along the lake where a hotel called Fiorino was situated. Actually, we thought it was above our budget, but the man of the hotel (look a like Graucho Marx) was so nice and so funny, so we decided to stay there for the night.

We had a lovely dinner in his hotel, sitting along the lakeside. After dinner sitting outside on the balcony with some nice wine, while listening to...........yep,.......... life music! Graucho Marx was playing the harmonica.............. But, he was clever. He was playing his instrument sitting in a corner and not going along the tables.

We have a nice room, looking over the Lake and tomorrow breakfast will be served on the terrace, overlooking the same lake. We have time until 11.00, after that we are planning to drive up along the Lake and then going towards Freiburg.

All I can say of this day is, it was a Beautiful Day. A strange drive, sometimes worrying, but I would not have missed it for a second, ending up in this wonderful hotel with a nice, funny owner.

More to come my dear Friends, not home yet!

By the way, I also got a call from NH hoteles. I applied for a job as receptionist in Austria and now I have made an appointment for next Thursday in Utrecht to have a job interview. It could turn out to be a job somewhere in Germany or Austria from beginning of December until end of March. Would be perfect, don't you agree? So, keep fingers crossed and speak to you soon again, hopefully with some pictures.

Now time to switch of the lights, sleep and tomorrow more of Lago di Como.

Buonne notte, love you all.

Ciaooooooooooooooooooo

P.S. I see I haven't written about Florence yet. Ooops. You will get that next time. In short: fantastic!!!! What a city. The buildings are amazing. I think the pictures will just see everything, as soon as I can load them, you can enjoy the views with us. After walking through Florence for about 6 hours we headed back to Bagni di Lucca, the rest you have read above.

Ciao ciao, bacci bacci, love you all.