Last weekend I got to spend the weekend at Lake Como while visiting a friend. Como is only an hour away by train from Milano Cadorna (to Como Camerlata) or Milano Centrale (to Como San Giovanni), with tickets being at a fixed price of 4.80€ each way, which is a pretty good deal. The town of Como was much bigger than I expected, but still being a lake town. I arrived at Como Camerlata train station, the stop just before the main Como train station. The bright orange walls brighten up the day! We went to see the new Beauty & the Beast film (yes in Italian and we nearly understood everything!). The costumes and set were amazing, they even translated all the songs in Italian and they were beautiful (this might have something to do with the large number of Italian opera singers...). Waking up on Saturday morning, the view was pretty nice! We walked pass the Duomo di Como (Como's Cathedral) and went inside to see the decorative sculptures and paintings. Walking through the little streets. This bakery is one of the most famous ones here, selling a huge variety of pastries and bread types. After trying gelato from Grom in Milan and finding it one of the best gelatos I've ever tasted, we saw another one in the streets of Como and went straight to it! I chose a nougat scoop and "crostata crema e pinoli" (creme patissiere, biscotti by Grom and pine nuts). So so so good! Sneakily trying to take a picture of the 3 guys on the left drinking their Aperol Spritz at 11 in the morning. Off for a tour of the Southern part of the Lake! We hopped on the small ferry hoping to get off at the first stop (we only paid 2.50€ each) but it actually ended up doing a whole tour of the different towns around the South part and our stop was one of the last ones! So it was a lovely long tour for cheap..! (Credits to Laura Coles for this photo) (Credits to Laura Coles for this photo) Many castle-like villas were built around the lake, making it pretty magical, feeling like a fairytale. This little town called Torno looked quite like a Scandinavian harbour town. We got off finally at Cernobbio to have a picnic and walk around the town. We found this huge (abandoned?) villa on our walk back to Como with impressive decorative details. I liked the border design on this house, it made me think of a bikini with big stitches on the edges!! Of course you can never run out of pizzerias. An abandoned boatyard with hidden treasures. (Credits to Laura Coles for this photo) Me & my future car (please). These interesting "caves" are actually private storage spaces for boats! Walking back to Como. Also my dream house hidden away! This looked like an artist's studio, with big glass windows for a nice view on the lake. (Credits to Laura Coles for this photo) Coloured glass window on the other side of this mysterious artist studio. Some very interesting texture photos by Laura Coles
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Living in Milan, day trips are very easy. Just hop on the train and before you know it, you are by the sea with beautiful views. I decided to head to the Portofino area. To get there, you have to take a train from Milano Centrale direct to Santa Margherita Ligure - Portofino. Then you will have to take a walk along the coast (1 hour and a half) or a short bus trip (5€ return, 15mins). Arriving at the train little station in Santa Margherita Ligure. I walked down to the sea and felt so happy to smell the salt in the air again! Views on the marina. The streets are lined with palm trees. The basilica of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia is very impressive, hidden away in the narrow streets not far from the seaside. Inside the church were beautiful decorations, paintings and statues. Look up! I felt a little hungry and stopped in a local "pasticceria". I asked what the local delicacies were and I decided to go for a "budini de riso" (made with milk, rice, salt, butter, eggs, sugar, orange and marsala). The paintings on the building walls were so detailed and well maintained, looking at the same a bit "kitch" but also gives a charm to the town. More local delicacies to see in the street windows. Walking around I found a little fresh pasta shop, which made their own pasta with old industrial machines! It is unusual to see these machines making fresh pasta as they are often made by hand in restaurants. The "technician" or artisan operating the machines. The different types of industrial machines, to make ravioli, tortellini, cappelletti and many more other varieties of fresh pasta. The sumptuous mayor's office. More beautiful views. I then decided to head towards Portofino. At the bus stop I met two English girls who were also going the same way, and we decided to get off in Paraggi to see the views and then walk to last 20mins to Portofino. Walking along we spotted this luxury yacht just parked in the bay! Imagine what it would be like in the summer... And then we spotted the famous colourful luxury villas built on the cliffs just before arriving in Portofino, the sea was so clear! In Portofino there was a art sculpture park with these funny bright pink meerkats. Unfortunately the park was closed to visitors. After lunch I went for a walk up some very steep steps but arrived to this very nice view of the town. The path followed the coast, passing along private villas and the Castello Brown. The views from up here looked like paintings. Arriving to the lighthouse, which you can't visit but there was a small cafe on the other side with a beautiful view (unfortunately closed until summer). After my long walk, I just had to have a gelato (dulce de leche and nocciole: caramel cream and hazelnut). When I got back to Santa Margherita Ligure I had time to wonder around the town a little bit more before my train. I discovered these streets with orange trees growing on the pavements! That felt very exotic.
I really enjoyed this lovely day away from the industrial city of Milan, it felt really nice to be able to go somewhere so different in just one day. This week I am exhibiting with my course (BA (Hons) Sustainable Product Design at Falmouth University) at New Designers at the Business Design Centre in Angel. I thought I'd meet up with my dad who has recently moved offices to hipster Shoreditch. We walked around to find somewhere to have lunch and found this hidden place called Dinerama, 5-10min walk from Old Street tube station. This place combines a variety of different food styles, from Duck-N-Roll (pulled duck wraps and buns) to Dick's Magic Tiki Bar (a rum bar with a view). Take your pick and then find a place to eat, either downstairs or upstairs on the open roof top where there is another bar to quench your thirst. Greenery around the space creates a balance with the industrial aesthetic. Just what you need after a long day in the office nearby. As my dad pointed out, this place looked like what a 5-year old would think is a fun place to eat at, but funnily enough, adults find it quite amusing too! A little bit of fresh air and quirkiness from the busy London lifestyle. A fresh ice-tea and some baby-pink chairs on the open-air roof terrace. Shoreditch art & graffiti on our way out
Last Summer I had a few weeks left before going back to university in Falmouth, so I decided to call Les Glénans, a French sailing school where I had previously worked. They told me there was a space helping to repair boats in Bonifacio in Corsica, so I booked my ferry tickets and off I was for a week! I thought I'd share a few photos of this magical place, where I am actually returning to in a few weeks because I loved it so much. Catching the 7 hour ferry across the Mediterranean at 7am from Toulon, watching the sunrise Arriving in the hidden lagoon of le Fazzio, a 15min boat ride from Bonifacio, where I would be staying for a week Camping and living in the Corsican (not sure how to say this) wild nature The shower and bathroom facilities, really basic but how nice is it to have a shower under the bright sunshine All the boats lined up, ready to set off We found snorkels and went for a swim in the warm clear waters, admiring the fish Going sailing everyday in the warm weather and learning new skills Colourful sunsets Sailing past La Madonetta on the way into the port of Bonifacio to get more food supplies for the camp La Madonetta by night
Beach in the Mourillon Fort Saint Louis Yacht Club Toulon (you can find more info here) Yacht Club Toulon Pool time Dinner with a local shepherd Colourful sunset We had breakfast on a beach near Bormes les Mimosas and le Cap Bénat (only accessible by boat) The sea was turquoise, it was like being in the Caribbean! After spending a day in Aoste, we arrived in Baveno, a small town on Lago Maggiore, North of Italy. We dropped our bags at the hotel (very excited to go in the pool the next day) and then went for dinner. Pizza of course. Followed by ice cream. I tried soya flavour which actually wasn't as nice as I imagined… My fault trying to be "healthy", said my brother. Sunday morning we had breakfast, then visited a church nearby. We then spent some time at the pool and had lunch. In the afternoon, we took a boat to one of the islands, Isola Bella. On the island is the Palace and Italian gardens. Inside the palace were many high ceiling rooms with lots of paintings and luxurious furniture, where many balls and banquets were held. The gardens were very impressive too. Perfectly groomed bushes, white peacocks and an open air theatre decorated with many statues. After a long afternoon walking around, we then took a boat to Isola Pescatori, a fisherman island. We went to Restaurente Casabella for dinner, which was very enjoyable, from the welcoming glass of Prosecco, to the spectacular decoration of the dishes, through to the dessert. The restaurant also provided us with a boat lift back to Baveno, in the nice evening breeze. We spent the next day relaxing by the pool, enjoying the sunny weather, before heading back to the French Alps.
On our way we had time to stop at Lago d'Orta to look at the view and have one last ice cream in an artisanal gelateria (peach and strawberry). |
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