From Cinque Terre to Lake Como

Trains in Italy seem, generally, to run on time. What doesn’t seem to work so well are clear instructions about which platform you should be on to catch your train. And you have to take stairs to get to platforms. And you have to carry your own suitcase. We were up and down a couple of platforms this morning but finally boarded our train to Milano. We were in first class, having previously experienced second class from Zurich to Milano, along with several other Americans. My god, they talk a lot, these Americans. The scenery was not stupendous, but we did see this on the way.

We changed trains in Milano and headed to Varenna, where we were met by Roberto, who owns the place where we are staying. Roberto speaks about three words in English, while we speak about two words of Italian, but we ended up communicating just fine. He drove us to a market, where we bought staples (coffee, bread, cheese, and dried sardines), and then we joined him for a  drink. Dan had homemade grappa, and I had an aperol spritz.

Our place is lovely, and the view is obscured only by electrical wires and hardware. Still, it is lovely. Tomorrow, we will visit the castle across the way (pictured below) and Bellagio. I feel sure that Dan will post a better photo.

I found out late last nite that I should have a paycheck through August, and as long as Dan doesn’t divorce me, get killed, or get fired, insurance is taken care of. The healing is happening, albeit slowly, and I’m starting to feel a little better about possibilities for the future. I may not be teaching, but maybe there is something else out there that I can do and that I love. Fingers crossed that what the universe has to show me is good stuff.