Slept relatively well even in the heat. Awake 6:24.
Slow start, having to do all my photo and blogging stuff. Went and got our included breakfast (a pastry and a drink) from the café next door. Then got ready and out the door around 09:00.
It was already pretty warm and muggy. I considered catching a bus into town, but I didn't know how they worked. I even researched this before we got here but literally couldn't find anything online about the mechanics of it. Hopeless. So we walked.
Boat house maybe? Off Lake Como
Villa Gallia
Monumento ai Caduti (War Memorial)
Tempio Voltiano
It took about forty minutes to walk all the way around to the Brunate Funicular. Got some tickets and waited twenty minutes for the 10:00 train.
Brunate Funicular
View of Como from the Brunate Funicular
At the top I knew there was a great view of Como because I'd seen it on street view. But after we got out of the station there was nothing around. It was all buildings and trees and no view. So we decided we'd go to Volta's Lighthouse. Thirty six minutes they said. 1.43 kilometres. Pfft yeah right. Took us nearly an hour and it was STEEP. Nearly broke the mother type person. But she wanted to keep going so we did. Turns out the lighthouse has a great view northwest, but you can't actually see Como from it. Oh well.
Faro Voltiano (Volta Lighthouse)
Photo by Mum
Stair well in Volta Lighthouse
Brunate and Como from Volta Lighthouse
Como from Volta Lighthouse
Cernobbio and Lake Como from Volta Lighthouse
Lake Como from Volta Lighthouse
Villa Olmo from Volta Lighthouse
Lizard near Volta Lighthouse
So headed back to the station
My on the very long walk to Volta Lighthouse
Photo by Mum
Parrocchia Sant'Andrea Apostolo
Interior of Parrocchia Sant'Andrea Apostolo
Went and found the "panoramico" which is actually *below* the station. If we'd seen this first I don't think I would have bothered with the epic climb in the heat.
Como from the lookout near the top of the funicular
Lake Como from the lookout near the top of the funicular
Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral from the lookout near the top of the funicular
So back down the funicular.
Entrance to the Brunate Funicular (and the long line of people that weren't there when we went up)
We wandered into town to find some lunch. First stopping to have a look inside the Duomo.
Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral
Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral
Roof of Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral
Rose window in Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral
Interior of Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral
Organ in Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral
Roof of Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral
Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral
The place we had dinner last night was closed, so found somewhere else. It was a little more expensive but we shared a pizza and I had a beer so that was a nice pitstop.
Next we headed up to the station so see about catching a train to Lugano. 19.60 each for a return trip on regional trains. Next train at 15:10. So that was a pleasant trip. The first stop is Chiasso which is just across the border in Switzerland. The Swiss police came on board and did a walk through the train. I'm guessing we didn't fit the profile of illegal immigrants because they didn't ask to see our passports.
View across Como to Brunate (lighthouse is on top of that middle peak - doesn't look that far does it??)
View across Lake Lugano from the train
View across Lake Lugano to Campione d'Italia from the train
View across Lake Lugano from the train
View across Lake Lugano from the train
So Lugano. I didn't realise that the station was right at the top of an epic hill. Walking down was ok but I didn't like the idea of a walk back up. Turns out there's a funicular! Anyway so wandered all the way down to the lake and that was all quite pleasant.
Lugano train station
Cattedrale di San Lorenzo bell tower
View over Lugano from the train station
Walking down the alley from the train station
Boats at Lake Lugano
Photo by Mum
Lugano waterfront
View across Lake Lugano
Lugano waterfront
Lugano waterfront
View across Lake Lugano
This young swan totally crashed some wedding photos
Walked back to the bottom of the funicular and stopped and had a drink first, since it was still a while to the next train back. Then 1.30 each for the funicular (luckily I was able to pay for drinks and the train on credit card, because I'd packed up all my Swiss francs).
Cattedrale di San Lorenzo from the funicular
Mum and me at Lugano train station
There were two trains we could have taken back - the RE80 at 18:02 and an S10 at 18:06. The RE80 did come first, but apparently there'd been a cancellation and so the train was packed and we had to stand half the way back. Which our feet did *not* appreciate. No ticket checks on the return trip either. And my GPS didn't work either direction. Stoopid faraday cage trains.
View across Lake Lugano from the train
Me and Mum at Como train station
Looked for a supermarket on my phone (battery was almost dead) and found one so went there to pick up some supplies for a light dinner. Ended up with sushi and yoghurt (and beer!). Then did photo stuff but it was *still* a late night (22:30 lights out).
Comments