Tuesday 25 September 2012

Canal-side dinner. Italian dishes look a bit Spartan, huh? It's that 1st/2nd course thing. Lucky they have desert! wink

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Can hardly see waiter through a crowd, but could make eye contact & tap an empty glass so another drink appears. Now that's nice service smile

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Down at the Ponte di Rialto. In the sun even. Nice. Busy as always though!

Tuesday 25 September 2012

When in Venice... she made me do it! And I'd never admit it was actually rather entertaining. No, never! wink

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Taking a break. Oh look, a café. Oh look, tiramisu & coffee. Don't worry, I had a treat too but don't look as nice wink

Tuesday 25 September 2012

A sunny lunchtime in and around Piazza San Marco. Yup - is a bit busy. Imagine if this was actually tourist season?!

Tuesday 25 September 2012

More Venice randomness...

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Glass demo. Stallion & bowl: 2 minutes each. Shame they don't show how those $10,000 pieces upstairs are made! sad

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Sunshine! Then if the hotel is to arrange a free water taxi to Murano (as any good one will), who are we to argue? smile

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Breakfast in Venice. Course 1 of 4... or was that 5?... 6? Kindof lost count wink Not too shabby either way! tongue

Monday 24 September 2012

After nasty looking clouds most of the day... boom! Luckily this passed quickly, & the sun even tried to come out smile

Monday 24 September 2012

Lot of masks for sale here. Even we picked one up at what seemed like an authentic studio. Not for me of course wink

Monday 24 September 2012

Poor light? Take it as an opportunity to try some different post-processing. Like this view from Ponte di Rialto.

Monday 24 September 2012

Overcast today. We wondered randomly for miles just taking in the atmosphere. Such a unique place & crazy busy!

Monday 24 September 2012

Lunch in Venice: couple slices of pizza in this quite little square. Tranquillity before hitting the tourist madness!

Sunday 23 September 2012

Another meat-ful dinner (this is just the entrée!). Prosciutto & peaches very nice. Interesting drinks trolley too smile

Sunday 23 September 2012

You somehow accidentally uncouple a lens & drop it. Is this: A) junk kit lens B) your favourite & most expensive one? #NikonRepairNeeded cry

Sunday 23 September 2012

Went for short walk & lunch in 'Gardone Riviera'. Pretty, but I don't know - something Como has is lacking at Garda?

Sunday 23 September 2012

Oh look: RaiSport2 showing entire worlds. Should be entertaining watching break form before some lunch. Pace certainly looks hot right now!

Saturday 22 September 2012

Very well behaved farm dog, just sitting outside the kitchen & watching on. Looked pretty funny from the restaurant!

Saturday 22 September 2012

Dinner tonight. They like their meat here. When that's what you order, that's what you get! Leaves room for desert smile

Saturday 22 September 2012

Even though we are above Lake Garda it's not visible from here. Still - can't complain about the autumn sunset, huh?

Saturday 22 September 2012

Pratiwi making a new friend wink One of the advantages of staying at an agritourism place (accommodation on/by a farm).

Saturday 22 September 2012

Arrivederci Lago di Como... Buongiorno Lago di Garda smile

Saturday 22 September 2012

Lunch in 'Legends Pub'. One wouldn't expect much, but... best value so far? €7 for rosemary lamb shanks & chips! tongue

Friday 21 September 2012

Last classic of the season next week & we'll (hopefully) be there... at top of the highest climb. Bring it! grin http://youtu.be/y5U6kE_PHkY

Friday 21 September 2012

Feeling good! Strava says I pushed 280 watts up today's first climb & over 300 up the last: Yay! Don't mention stuff in the middle though wink

Friday 21 September 2012

"sequence shortened" "image simulated" etc. They all do it. Why isn't it illegal to show a device in an ad doing stuff it can't do for real?

Thursday 20 September 2012

Last ferry. So it's goodbye Bellagio as we head home. Lucky to have sunshine all the way, great day out on Lake Como!

Thursday 20 September 2012

Wondering the streets of Bellagio. Lots more narrow, steep places to explore in the sunshine... where it can get it.

Thursday 20 September 2012

Well, we don't go out for lunch often so might as well do it right wink Food with a view at Hotel Florence, Bellagio smile

Thursday 20 September 2012

Two more ferries sees us leave Varenna, briefly back in Menaggio then approaching Bellagio. Confused yet!?

Thursday 20 September 2012

Short stop in Varenna. Lots of narrow, steep alleys lead up from the water, crossed by more to complete the maze!

Thursday 20 September 2012

First ferry of the day: looking back to Menaggio then approaching Varenna on the opposite side of Lake Como.

Thursday 20 September 2012

When I see something offensive or distasteful I just ignore it. Doing otherwise just encourages said activities. Wouldn't you agree?

Thursday 20 September 2012

@mcewenrobbie Very sad about Cabedo. What other sport sees elites killed by the public while out training? sad Stay safe on the roads people.

Tuesday 18 September 2012

This morning's ride was round a misty Lake Como. Menaggio to Bellagio. Shots on the ferry back home. Nice way to end.

Tuesday 18 September 2012

Little bit of smashfest this morn. Strava says 2nd Menaggio-Como & 2nd Como-Bellagio. Even better as got there 2 mins before ferry home grin

Monday 17 September 2012

Late afternoon walk down to 'central' Menaggio here by Lake Como. Stopped for gelato. Or was that the plan all along?

Monday 17 September 2012

When in Italy... wink Simple but tasty lunch at home. Nom, nom, nom! tongue

Sunday 16 September 2012

Sitting on the balcony at dusk, looking across at the lights on the other side of Lake Como. Nice way to 'unwind' wink

Sunday 16 September 2012

Home made chicken & vegetable soup. Yuuuum tongue

Sunday 16 September 2012

Today's ride in the hills above Lake Como. Amazing views, but keep your eyes on the insane roads & insane drivers! wink

Saturday 15 September 2012

Arrived in Menaggio & love the view. A few shots straight off the balcony. 12/85/300mm (DX) if you're wondering wink

Saturday 15 September 2012

If noodles are hard to come by in Europe, what to do when finding a store that sells your favourite brand? wink Yum! tongue

Saturday 15 September 2012

In Italy, but had a look up a valley into Switzerland as we passed. Lakeside train station here: nice waiting room!

Friday 14 September 2012

Messing around at Passo del Gavia. Pratiwi showing how to throw &... erm... 'catch' snowballs. And make a snowman wink

Friday 14 September 2012

Gavia pass: Snowy up top. Warm & green down low. Note the Giro connection but road is very rough. Good luck in 2013!

Friday 14 September 2012

Already at 1586m altitude but there's 36 hairpins left to do. Or you've done 72 if coming back down like I was! wink

Friday 14 September 2012

Few of the 36 official hairpins coming from Bormio. There are more below but they must have got bored with numbering!