Storms over Villa Melzi // Lake Como, Italy
On our first morning in Bellagio the weatherman’s promises came to fruition – the cracks of thunder the previous night continued right through breakfast. Our rental apartment, with its huge skylights, permitted the flashes of lightning to evoke a rather creepy sense of vulnerability into our living room. Our visit to Lake Como thus far was limited to a 11PM arrival after the long drive from Heidelberg the previous day (including a 2 hour wait at the famous Gotthard tunnel, essentially the only way of passing through the Alps and not to be overlooked for its lengthy delays for drivers!) so we were eager to stretch our legs and find George and Amal scope out what the fuss was all about.
Joined by our close friends, Lucas and Lisa, the aggravating weather quite literally couldn’t rain on our vacation parade. Two years ago we had jokingly named them Start’s Godparents because we adore them so much. In turn, they take their role seriously… so serious in fact that a picture of Stuart is on Lisa’s home screen on her phone.
When the skies broke for a few hours around lunch we made a run for it to explore Villa Melzi, a gorgeous estate close to the town center of Bellagio famed for its garden.
With the streets totally desolate, we quickly scooted across the village and along the lakefront. The water was grayish-blue from all the commotion from the previous 12 hours.
Upon arrival to the gardens we were delighted to find that while we had tucked away to hide from the storm, just about everything around us was blooming vibrantly, reaching upwards for more water. We heard rumbling on the far side of the lake (a la the cup of water scene in Jurassic Park?) so our pace quickened as we began to wind our way through the property.
Without time or a plan, we went choose-your-own-adventure style through the various footpaths and paved walkways, opting for the route that offered the most appealing flora within eyesight.
With the skies darkening rapidly and dramatically and a tangible change in pressure, we knew that it wouldn’t be long before the next series of storms arrived.
today I learned that my favorite color palette is ‘Italian villa gardens between storms’ 💕☔️
A photo posted by Margo (@margo.paige) on
High-stepping it back through the village we made a necessary, but risky, pit stop at the local market for essentials – wine, cheese, and baguettes. Big fat raindrops fell on our jackets as we walk-jogged the final 50 feet into the safety of our apartment. Lisa and I promptly washed and sliced strawberries, then tossed them in our barrel-sized glasses of white wine for an afternoon of chatter and libations.
In the spirit of being totally cheesy – while the storms raged outside we made our own little sunshine inside. Rain or shine, nothing beats traveling with friends. 🙂
