Europe Vacation 2004

We were originally going only to Hamburg, Germany to attend the wedding of a good friend (to a Hamburger - sorry Philipp) and ended up wrapping some vacation around it. We spent a week on Lake Como in Italy. We then spent a few days in Hamburg for the wedding. We wrapped up the trip in and around Amsterdam. Despite being cool/cold most of the time (Stacy can only think of 5 times she was actually warm), we had a wonderful time. Being gone 16 days, we were glad to get home.

Lake Como, Italy

Our first destination was a little village named Varenna right in the middle (vertically) of the lake and facing Bellagio, Menaggio, Tremezzo, and other interesting towns. It was sunny for a few days but cloudly and cool the rest of the time with some rain/drizzle for mood. We mixed our time wandering the towns, walking in the hills, eating lots of yummy autumn Italian food (pumpkin gnocchi - yummmmm), and relaxing in cafes.

Approaching Varenna

This is a view of Varenna from the town just South. The Yellow villa just
under the steeple is the hotel (Hotel Villa Cipressi) in which we stayed.
The greenery all around the Villa are the botanical gardens.

View of Varenna from the Lake

This is a view of the main fisherman harbor around which the shops and
restaurants are centered.

Exploring Varenna - Alley Stair

The town rises steeply out of the lake and many of the "streets" are simply wide
staircases. The steps are also quite slippery when wet. This is my attempt at an
"artistic" shot.

Exploring Varenna - Camo Tree + Sundial

They had these sundials in several locations in each town. Unfortunately,
there wasn't much sun during our trip so we only saw one work once. Also note the camouflage tree.

Exploring Varenna - Wall with Ivy

This feels like typical Italy... a burnt yellow wall with ivy growing over
it.

Stacy on the Lake Walk

You can barely see Stacy standing on the curved bridge over a boathouse
cave cut into the rock. This walk went around the lower section of the
town and allows pedestrians to avoid the up/down route on the ridge above.

Exploring Varenna - Old Storehouse

Stacy in Varenna

The arch appears to be part of an original town wall.

Eating Gelato on the Lakeside Walk

Passenger Ferry at Varenna

This is a slow passenger ferry that shuttles between 8 different
towns. The engine has a stong chug-chug sounds that rumbles through your
entire body.

Varenna + Ferry

This is one of the larger car ferries. There is a tall thin gap
in between the superstructure that holds the cars and even huge tour
buses.

Sign

Andre the Giant has a Posse (in Menaggio, Italy)

This was funny b/c we see the same stickers all around Little Five
Points where we live. It was funny seeing it in such a
small out-of-the-way place as Menaggio.

Menaggio Lakefront Park

Menaggio Lakefront Park

Menaggio Tree (B&W)

Menaggio Tree (Color)

Fishing Platforms

There were these platforms out over the water in most of the
smaller towns. We assume they are for fishing.

View into Water from Fishing Platform

You're actually looking down into about 2-3 feet of water here. The water
was so clear we could see easily 10-20 feet down even with an overcast sky.

Menaggio Alley Stair 2

Menaggio Alley Stair

Hello Kitty... on Menaggio Alley

This little kitten followed us around for a while... taking lots of love against
our legs.

Bench

Menaggio Alleyway

Hydrofoil Ferry

The Hydrofoil Ferries (Fast Ferry) were really interesting to watch. Maybe
it's the James Bond move - Thunderball that we watched over and over
growing up that started the interest but it was still neat
to watch.

Stacy at Vezio Castle