Como

From Cinque Terre we went North to Como, a town about which I know very little. Como sits around a large glacial lake, and the town around it, quite frankly, is dumpy, deserving an hour of exploration maximum. No matter! Gabe and I arrived in Como in the afternoon and checked into our hostel, THE RESPAU ECO HOSTEL, which was without a doubt the BEST hostel we have stayed in so far. Before I tell you about Como, let me give you some more description of the hostel. RESPAU is located in the middle of a park outside of Como, and the location/general vibe is very serene, idyllic, and relaxing. The beds were clean, and get this, comfy! And perhaps most important, the staff was incredibly solicitous and helpful, answering every question and concern from the legitimate to the anxietious. Drinks were cheep and the food was delicious. For $24 a night, what more could you ask for. The first night we arrived at around 6pm and the place was so inviting that Gabe and I just opted for some serious R&R. To my family, this place was the hostel equivalent of the ST. REMY DE PROVENCE :) The following morning, Gabe and I slept in, something we haven't done, as we have been constantly on the move the entire trip! After a relaxed breakfast, we took the bus to Piazza Cavour and decided to take a ferry to Villa Babianello, the number 1 rated Trip Adviser destination in Como. In hindsight, this turned out to be a smart decision, as the following day, the ferry workers went on strike. The actual ride too was incredibly relaxing, and for 1.5 hours Gabe and I took in the lake and its surrounding towns. Villa Babianello itself was incredible. As the site and inspiration for Naboo for George Lucas' Star Wars, Villa Babianello had big expectations to defend. The Villa met every one (just google pictures of the gardens to get a sense), and perhaps the most interesting part of the tour was the focus on the Villa's owner, Guido Moncino, who was an Italian explorer and alpineist. Consequently, the tour of the villa was as much an homage to Guido's exploits -- including an Everest summit and visit to the North Pole -- as it was about the architecture of the Villa. After lakeside libations, we took the ferry back, walking the 40 mins from downtown Como to our hostel, thereby checking off "explore Como" from our tourist checklist. The following and final day, Gabe and I woke up early and took the furniculer from Como to Brunate and began a 6hr30 hike around to the lake to Pian Del Tivano, which is a little over half way on the road to Belaggio. With the threat of bad weather in the afternoon, Gabe and I booked it in the morning, arriving at Rifuggio Riella in time for a polenta-intensive lunch before hiking a further 2hrs to town. When we arrived in Pian Del Tivan, we learned the bus left only every 2hrs, so we relaxed at a bar (no English speakers present), relaxing and watching Formula 1. We eventually caught the bus back to Como, and though we were packed like sardines and forced to stand for 1hr10min, we made it back in time to RESPAU for one last night before leaving the following morning to meet Cullen in Zermatt.