Arrivederci!

Time for us to head for the airport.  It's Paul's 50th Birthday celebration and we are on our way to London, Venice and Lake Como.  

Going to Italy has been the plan for about a year...getting there via the Orient Express came into view this spring. 

 

I hadn't known that Paul's wanted to travel "back through time" and am delighted that we'll be celebrating him in style.  His love of  luxury, design, literature and film (Agathy Christie's Hercule Poirot is a favorite) will make this a marvelous journey and memorable birthday.

Tuesday and Wednesday nights we'll be at The Ritz in London.  

Tea in the Palm Court on Tuesday afternoon looks something like this...pretty swish, eh?

We will be traveling in vintage rail cars through France, Switzerland and the Italian Dolemites on Thursday and Friday. We depart London by train and transfer to the Orient Express in Calais, France.  

Here's the route:

And our Itinerary

Day 1 - As you board the gleaming carriages of the British Pullman train at London Victoria station, your steward will show you to your reserved seat. Sit back and enjoy Brunch served with a Bellini as you travel throughout the Kentish countryside. After crossing the channel board the blue and gold carriages of the Continental Wagons-Lits. 

Throughout your journey you will be attended by your own personal Steward. After you have settled into your comfortable private compartment it will soon be time to dress for dinner. Why not sip a pre-dinner cocktail before making your way to one of the magnificent restaurant cars. Here you will be served a delicious four-course dinner, prepared by our skilled French chefs. After dinner you may want to linger in the bar car, listening to the sound of the baby grand piano. When you are ready, retire to your compartment, which has now been transformed into a cosy bedroom. 

Day 2 - You awake to the magnificent scenery of the Swiss Alps as breakfast is served in your compartment at a time to suit you. Spend the morning in the Bar Car chatting to fellow guests over coffee. Enjoy a leisurely three-course lunch served in another of the beautiful restaurant cars. While away the afternoon with a visit to the on board Boutique to purchase souvenirs, or relax in your compartment and admire passing scenery as the train travels through the Italian Dolomites. Later, afternoon tea is served in your compartment as you travel through the Brenner Pass. All too soon it is time to prepare to disembark as the train crosses the Venetian Lagoon and pulls into Santa Lucia station.

These are the accommodations:

Friday afternoon, we'll arrive in Venice and stay two nights at the Hotel Cipriani.

On Sunday, we'll travel to Milan by train , then drive to Bellagio on Lake Como

We'll meet our friends at Villa dei Sogni - Lake Como, Italy

Here's what the brochure says.....

The beautiful Villa dei Sogni, overlooking the town of Bellagio, known locally as the Pearl of Lario, is perfectly situated to live up to its name - the Villa of Dreams.

Each and every corner of this amazing property has been well thought out and finished to the highest quality assuring its house guests the most comfortable stay. From the Wine Cellar on the ground floor through to the well equipped kitchen which would content even the most discerning chef, the Pool area surrounded by a beautifully manicured garden to the Flat screen television with a selection of Satellite Channels, all this with the possibility to play music of choice throughout the villa - the owners of this amazing property have gone above and beyond to make sure that you will want for nothing when staying at this beautiful property.

Oh, did we mention the view yet? The view is definitely one that dreams are made of - whether you look west over Tremezzo and the beautiful Villa Carlotta or East towards the Grigne Mountain range or simply directly north where you have that picture postcard view of the beautiful promontory of Bellagio with the three branches of Lake Como in full view not forgetting the Alps standing majestically in the background - dragging yourself away from the Terrace, whether you are enjoying a meal al fresco there or simply relaxing in one of the easy chairs, will not be an easy feat.

As well as having the most amazing views and comforts, this beautiful property is also well located for those seeking to get out and about and explore the area further - with the very efficient local boat service just an easy five minutes drive down the hill from the villa in the heart of the historical center of Bellagio - exploring the lake using this villa as a base could not be easier. For those seeking to head further away you have Lecco just a short 35 minutes drive from the Villa, Como 45 minutes away and both Milan, Bergamo and Lugano (Switzerland) within an easy 90 minutes drive...

For those times when you choose not to have the Chef Service at the property - within an easy 2 minutes drive you have 3 restaurants/pizzerias, a pastry store with some of the best brioche that you will ever taste, a bar and small grocery store while down in Bellagio's historical center you have a wide range of stores, bars/restaurants and pizzeria's to choose from. 

Accommodation Details: The Property has plentiful parking on the ground level with three outdoor parking places, has electricity and is equipped with air conditioning. 

Ground Floor: You will find the traditional Turkish sauna, the gym, bathroom complete with shower, WC and sink, the laundry room complete with washing machine/drying machine and ironing facilities and the cantina with some of the country's most popular wines. 

First Floor: Can be easily accessed from the garden and pool area and external stairway - you can enjoy the dining room, the well equipped kitchen complimented with some fun Italian cookbooks from the different regions in Italy, the living room with beautiful lake views nor forgetting the satellite television too, one double bedroom (king bed) with ensuite bathroom complete with shower, sink and wc, one twin bedded room with ensuite bathroom complete with shower, sink and wc plus a further bathroom for day use. The elegant covered terrace on this floor, at the front of the villa, can be easily accessed from the living room and the double bedroom. The Pool Area can be easily accessed from the garden, double bedroom and twin bedded room not forgetting the external steps too from the ground floor. 

Second Floor: is accessed by a stairway from the living room and here we have two bedrooms each with its own ensuite bathroom completed with shower, wc and sink, as well as a storage area for your suitcases, the stereo system and work corner where you can connect to the Broadband Line for those who wish to bring their computer along. The swimming pool is for exclusive use of the guests at the villa and is the perfect place to begin your day taking in those breathtaking views as you enjoy a little morning exercise - the area around the pool is well equipped with sun loungers, sun umbrellas and small tables too. The Garden which surrounds the villa is well maintained and the botanists amongst us will be delighted to hear that many of the flowers that are enjoyed here in the garden are local and typical of this area. 

We'll be posting updates on Facebook.

You can follow our adventures at www.twitter.com/wheresgretchen.

Let the celebrations begin....Arrivederci!

Comments

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Experience is not interesting till it begins to repeat itself, in fact, till it does that, it hardly is experience.