A quick note from Laura: heading to the hospital for the delayed hip replacement surgery in a couple hours. Should be home tonight. There will be some delays in comment moderation for today’s post. And timing on the next few posts may be different as I take things one day at a time.

No work for me today. A little, I believe, for our dedicated business manager. Post workout, Kat informs me there’s a change in teams. Colt will join Team Ferry, as Logan and Lauren appear to be incommunicado this morning. They’ll join Team Car when and if.

Up to shower off the workout and dress for a hot day in Como Town. I’m just strapping on my sandals when Kayla comes in to tell me L&L are for Team Car.

Up we climb, and it’s a bit of a hike, to the garage. Jason discovers he left his wallet in the villa. Down and back for him.

It’s very pretty up here. I haven’t been on this level since arrival, and at that time didn’t notice the pretty potted olive trees. And, of course, there’s that amazing view.

All set now, and with Kayla at the wheel, off we go.  I gotta say, she handles it. I know she’s a good driver, but this is Italy, and these are roads even more windy and certainly more narrow than at home. Plus no room for error with stone buildings or walls kissing the side of the road.

And huh, helicopter. What’s it doing? Jason informs us it’s lifting a big tree. I’ve never seen a helicopter hauling a big tree.

Now here’s a guy outside his on-the-road house, bent over, ass in the road, pulling weeds or something. I can only think he doesn’t value his ass overmuch. Kayla curves around it.

Through tunnels, around the curves, squeezing by big vans. And into town. We have a parking lot on the GPS, so try following that. But it ends up being street parking and as loaded as it gets. We backtrack to an actual lot. Pedestrians tend to mosey across the streets here, with most not bothering to look either way much less both.

Now we’re the pedestrians, but we do look, and no moseying in the crosswalks. And here’s a pharmacy so Loren can find something for mosquito bites. I think the ones that feasted on her were the size of hummingbirds.

Communication from Team Ferry tells us they’re not far, and to Griffin’s (and Colt’s) delight, stopped at a McDonald’s, and are heading to the Duomo. Kayla wants McD’s! Wants to see what’s different. Shopping’s in that direction anyway, so we aim there.

It’s a really big McDonald’s. Also very busy and confusing. But the order boards offer both Italian and English. And have pictures.

I’m never one to refuse McD’s fries, so Kayla adds them for me. She’s going for the cheese empanadas. Definitely different from home. Logan’s hungry. So it’s Big Mac AND chicken tenders and fries. Jason had, I think, pizza for breakfast, so he’s going to skip the food and locate Team Ferry. Kayla and I find an outside table while Logan and Lauren wait for our order.

There are pigeons. A lot of pigeons. Kayla is displeased with the pigeons, and particularly with the little bit of pigeon poop on the edge of the table. But you’ll have this.

While the pigeons fight over fries on the ground, L&L bring out the food. Fries here are the same as at home, and that’s fine with me. If you want spicy ones—Logan did—the spice comes in a little packet like salt. There are also a variety of sauces for the nuggets. Kayla also has some sauces, but dips her fries in.

Me, I’m a fry purist. Salt is all they need.

While we eat Colt, who wants to shop, joins Team Car. Jason, who doesn’t, switches to Team Ferry.

After our McDonald’s, Italian Style, experience, we’re off to shop. In one, I see a really nice pair of pants, casual, summer weight. And no pockets. There should be a law against no pockets in pants. There’s a deal breaker for me. But I do find a little gift.

Off we go again, and into a department store. This is different, so we wander. As I suspected, we do not stay together as planned, but we have texts, so all good. And I hit a gifty motherlode. Very happy, and pleased to have Kayla as my consultant.

Escalators go up, but only stairs go down. We wander up, we wander down, and out. More shops.

And find Team Ferry having some ice cream. Consult on further plans. Separate.

Team Ferry and their ice cream. Photos by Kat.

Lots of people with dogs on leashes. Mostly tiny dogs, but a couple big guys. Pretty window displays. In and out we go. And it’s fun to wander around with the youngers.

Note from Laura: Since there are gifts in the shoppers bags, there are no photos. But Team Ferry obliged with some.

Another gift! Very successful day for me. Now a leather store. You just can’t beat Italian leather. Logan buys a lovely little black leather purse for Loren. And says she now has to ditch her current little black purse.

Astonished shock and a round of NOs! From every female in Team Car.

Men, what can you do?

Colt find something, and the really delightful shopkeeper does her best to talk him into a wallet. He resists, charmingly.

And oh, boy, here’s gelato! A bigger selection. Colt has already had three scoops of chocolate gelato with Team Ferry, but he’s all for more. I’m thinking Limone this time, but as the line progresses Kayla spots vanilla cream with dark chocolate chunks. Yes, please. Colt and Kayla agree. Loren sticks with her fave limone. Not sure what Logan got. Because I much too deep in bliss over that creamy, creamy gelato and those yummy chocolate chunks.

Colt, Kayla and I agree. Best gelato yet.

I think as the storm’s predicted for five-ish, and clouds are forming, we should wander our way in the direction of the parking garage.

This proves wise as a few drops of rain fall. Big, fat drops, but scarce. A little less scarce as we hustle down the ramp to the garage. Still, the storm holds off as Kayla once again handles town traffic. Skims her way along the skinny roads. Yes, a good driver, and one who takes no crap whatsoever from Italian drivers.

At last we turn and through the gates to the villa. Into the garage, and home.

Team Ferry is already there.

Absolutely Bellini time for me.

We’ve already planned to stay in. Kat and her team will hit the grocery and a place that has take-out. The storm’s coming. Marlo, one of the caretakers, is prepping outside. He’s also working with the tech who’s fixing the AC—Kayla’s room, and Colt’s, I think—are wonky there.

I go out, and I can see the rain wall over the town, and the wind’s starting to kick. Thunder’s grumbling.  It’s already cooled easily ten degrees. Here comes the rain, lightning, and more wind. There are whitecaps on the lake.

It’s gorgeous and wonderfully fierce.

Irene, one of the other staff, comes in. We must put down what she calls bomb shades. A precaution if the wind throws something—a lawn chair for instance—against the windows. The power goes off, comes on, goes off. She shows us batt operated lanterns.

And it’s back on.

Since no one’s going for food in this, Kat, Kayla, Jason, Colt and I start a game of Hearts. And in the first three hands, I take the Queen three times. I mean, really?

The thunder’s banging, the rain’s lashing, and the wind’s howling. But we’re all snug inside.

Loren and Logan are in the boat house. And so, at their insistence, are Marlo and the AC tech. They were going to stand outside the house! No, no, come in. Sit down.

The storm, while fierce, didn’t last all that long. Now it’s passed, the air is fresh and cool. Off goes Kat and her gang of helpers. Griffin stays back with me and his grandda—who is comfortably settled in the TV room.

Griffin asks if I want to have some fun outside. Whenever Griffin asks me if I want to have some fun, it means he’s going to make up a game full of physical challenges. There will be a lot of running, jumping and spinning. Some dancing.

He sort of combines Minecraft and Roblox maybe throws in some Sonic and Mario. We run, jump, run. We dance. Run more. He spins. Nana is excused from spinning due to vertigo.

Then he asks if I know where his pool stuff is. I do not, and also point out that due to the storm, the pool is full of leaves. Well, we can clean it. Nope. Marlo cleans the pool every morning, so we’ll go for the pool after that.

He sees the logic.

And here comes food. Lots of groceries. More wine. Team effort to store away. And now for dinner. Griffin’s already called for Nana’s lasagna, so I make him a big serving, warm it up. Honestly, by the time everyone else sorts out their meal, he’s done that and ready for more. So another hefty serving, warmed up.

He eats every bite, then has ice cream.

It’s a fine meal. The place had steak, so naturally Logan and Colt are in for that. The roasted potatoes are a bit soggy, it seems. We’ll fix them up tomorrow.

After dinner’s cleared, I go outside where it’s all breezy and fresh. BW comes out, shows me pictures he took of Villa D’Estes, where we stayed on our first trip to Lake Como.

Early to bed for me, and when I hear the boom of fireworks, I just ignore. Jason heard them the first night we were here, so apparently this is a regular deal. Maybe like Disney.

I sleep like a rock and wake to blue skies and breezes.

The big ferry’s on its way over the rippling blue lake.

Not sure what the plans are today. I know some may want to head to that street fair—it was closed yesterday. I may work, may join Pool Guy. Maybe both or all three if I get a shopping urge.

But now I’m going to sit here a few minutes more, then gear up for the gym.

Nora

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