Day #6: Portofino - Como - Varese

On Day 6, everyone woke up really late. The owner was due to collect the apartment keys at 10am and we woke up at 9.20am. Everyone was rushing to wash up, pack up, clean the apt and prepare the remaining breakfast in the kitchen. We had to keep the owner waiting for another 5-10mins before we cleared out. Pretty good time keeping effort we have!!! In the car, decided to drive to Portofino for lunch since we are heading that direction on the motorway, driving back to Genova. Our main destination today is Lake Como and then Varese, that’s where we are staying at this 4star *** hotel. The route to Portofino was easy, got there about 12plus. Parked our car into this parking complex which was ridiculously expensive…€4.50 per hour…Phew!!! When we walked into Portofino town, we spotted small designer boutiques all around us. Err…I didn’t expect a small harbour town like this would have stores like Louis Vuitton and Rolex. My My… this is some Glamorous Set Harbour!!! More like a high class touristy town. Nevertheless, the scenery here is Beautiful with a nice harbour circled with rows of old buildings mainly of expensive harbourside restaurants and chic boutiques. Took some pictures and settled in a Pizza shop for lunch, which was the most reasonable of all. But still the drinks were expensive…I couldn’t believe it!!!! Good thing we spent 2hours here and not a night-out. Left Portofino about 2pm as we have a long way more to drive.

* ...On the Road Again... *

* ...Maps Maps Maps... *

* ...This is Portofino Harbour... *

* ...The Town Old Buildings... *

* ...More Look Alike Buildings... *

* ...WanLi, Amy & Me... *

* ...Big Square in the Middle... *

* ...Nice Solo of Dion & Good View... *

* ...Portofino Tourist Centre..Haha!!!... *

* ...Pretty Harbour... *

* ...With Clear Water & Fishes... *

* ...My Solo Shot... *

* ...Lunchtime... *

* ...Amyz: Proscuitto Pizza... *

* ...Dionz: Some Meaty Pizza... *

* ...Yum Yum... *

* ...Me & WanLiz: Anchovy Pizza...Same Same... *

* ...Girlz Desert: Tiramisu... *

* ...Souvenier Shopping... *

The drive from Portofino to Como was really long. The route from Portofino to Milan was very boring and the girls were sleeping again…Hmmph!!! The route from Milan to Como was interesting coz we lost our way again. Kept going around to find the right way as the signboards were bad and we didn’t have a map for Como and Varese. Somehow managed to reached Como after a few rounds on the roads. Lake Como is just a huge lake surrounded my hills with nice little houses built on the hills. The views are nice at certain locations around the lake. We parked the car at one spot and walked about abit. Somehow, it wasn’t as Fantastic having been to Cinque Terre.

* ...On the Way to Como... *

* ...View of Como Central... *

* ...Lake Como... *

* ...Guyz... *

* ...Girlz... *

Left Lake Como for Varese and got lost again. We have been driving a lot of unnecessary routes today!! As the hotel was off Varese town, it was pretty hard to find the place. Stopped at a local laundry shop to ask for direction and the old lady couldn’t speak a single word of English. All we did was just finger pointing but at least we got the direction right. Got to Varese town, stopped at their local McD and thankfully this time, they knew English and even drew us a map to our hotel. Finally we got there, checked in and it was already 8plus. From the outside and reception area, the hotel looks very Classy indeed!!! The rooms were Big, Clean and very much equivalent to a Five Star deco and facility. Soon, we left to buy dinner at a local supermarket and some champagne for a relaxing night in the room instead. Of course, enjoying ourselves with their sauna facility. This is the best hotel we have on this trip…Totally satisfy about it!!!

* ...The Hotel... *

* ...The Garden... *

* ...Main Building... *

* ...Main Entrance... *

* ...The Reception Area... *

* ...The Room... *

* ...The Bed... *

* ...To the SuperMarket... *

* ...Came Back for Sauna... *

* ...Roast Chicken & Champagne... *

* ...Snack: Salmon Salad... *

* ...Snack: Prawn Salad... *

* ...Snack: Prawn & Potato Salad... *

* ...Some Card Games... *

* ...Some Funny Moments... * * ...Sleepy Look... *

* ...GooD Nite... *