lavitaebrom

I have a fantastic man in my life. Il Marito is equally my partner-in-crime and my rock. He works hard, plays hard, and is without a doubt my best friend. He’s also a devoted father and friend to il Bambino.

For years, we had a tradition of planning a surprise anniversary weekend. We alternated the planning responsibilities and would create a weekend that was tailored for the other. We also joyously eff’ed with each other– dropping hints (mostly untrue) about the impending trip. I once faked a fight with my brother at a family wedding to keep il Marito off the trail of our actual plans.

For the last couple of years, we’ve minimized this tradition. We were adjusting to il Bambino and didn’t have the bandwidth to plan and engage in subterfuge. This year, we’re bringing the anniversary trip back. (Il Bambino is going to hang out with Nonna and Nonno for the weekend.)

This year, I’m in charge. I’ve tailored a weekend of his favorite things (many of which I would rather not do). So far, I’ve scheduled a modern dance workshop, an EARLY morning hot yoga session, dinner at his favorite vegan restaurant, and have two front row tickets to a “Peppa Pig Live!” show.

Sometimes, love is patience. You give up a weekend and channel your inner Martha Graham for your husband. It’s a small price for all he does. (Just don’t tell him about our plans… It’s still a secret. )

The last half of our stay was jammed packed with activity and visitors, which limited my blogging. I’m here to make amends.

We left Siena, and drove 4.5 hours north to Bellano. Bellano is a smallish city in the central region of Lago di Como. Unlike it’s more famous neighbors, Bellagio and Varenna, there is less tourist buildup in Bellano. (Although I would guess that it is still packed with tourists come mid-summer.)

We rented another epic apartment through Airbnb, but this time with friends in tow. Years ago, we became friends with a Swedish couple. We decided to have a reunion on il Lago.

The view from our terrace.

Exploring the beach across the street…

And the waterfall next door.

Although the meteorologists had threatened rain, we were greeted with sunshine and warm weather. On our first day, we boarded a ferry to Bellagio for some exploring.

Day Two involved another fun boat ride, this time to Villa Carlotta. While Villa Carlotta boasts a lovely museum, we were there for the botanical gardens. The azaleas and spring flowers were in bloom, and the kids ran through acres of wooded trails, bamboo groves, and eye-popping garden beds.

We wrapped up the day at a lovely lakeside playground and restaurant.

Bambino liked the gelato.

Our last day included a hike to the Orrido di Bellano, a powerful waterfall that is used to supply hydroelectric power to the region.

We finished the day in our “hometown” of Varese. We revisited the gardens at Estense, had an apertivo in the piazza, and ate at our favorite pizzeria. Italian friends joined us for dinner, and Bambino loved telling their eleven year-old son stories of his adventures.