Bellagio

We took the passenger ferry from Varenna to Bellagio this morning. We climbed up to the part of town that is on the hill and found an internet cafe/wine bar/restaurant. It has something for everyone in the family. Bob and Kelly are downstairs eating and drinking while I use the internet on the balcony. Yesterday I incorrectly said we had stopped in Turino. I was wrong - it was Lugano. Yesterday we went to the Lion's Club festival that was in the town of Varenna. It is called a Passeggiata Gastronomica. For 15 Euros you get a book of tickets that will give you food at food tents throughout the town. Since it was for charity we bought 3 tickets. At the first stop you had a plate of appetizers and a fruit punch. At stop number 2 (about 10 steps away) you got a plate of antipasti, hard rolls and a glass of wine. At stop number 3 (a climb down steep steps and down to the harbor) you got a huge portion of polenta and salami and a glass of wine. The polenta was being made in what looked like small cement mixers. At Station 4 across the square you got a plate of local cheeses on bread and crackers and guess what! You got another glass of wine! Station 5 was Dolci - a plate of assorted cookies and fruit tarts for everyone - but NO WINE! Station 6 was Glace - ice cream (Kelly was able to eat the glace but by that point Bob and I had had enough.) Station 7 was cafe (coffee) with either grappo or cognac. Since Bob doesn't drink coffee, I had his ticket. So I got a cafe with grappo and one with cognac. Finally station 7 was espresso which I vaguely remember drinking. The walk up the hill and up the inclines to the hotel was harder than it was in the morning. We had a light dinner that night. Today is a beautiful sunny day in Bellagio - we're just enjoying the scenery and the weather.