While in Como for only 1 1/2 days I had the wonderful fortune to speak with a young woman at two of the tourist offices.
Not knowing they were fiends it was a nice surprise when Victoria (at the train station office) told me she had heard about me…..hmmm sounds like I might look like a stalker, but if you do not ask questions, you never find out what life in Italy is REALLY like.
And traveling in winter there are fewer travelers and most of the office staff have time to spend telling you more than ‘where to catch the boat on the lake’ or what hours is the Duomo open.
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| Elena |
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| Victoria |
So it was a GREAT treat when Victoria allowed me to walk with her to meet her friend Ele at the tourist office in town. They were very gracious to allow me to tag along while they went to lunch (yes they may have thought I was crazy) and I learned that their jobs stopped in December and would not start again until the Spring tourist season started.
How refreshing to find young people who do not discriminate against someone over 20 years old. These woman were open minded, excited about sharing their city with others and gave me information that is NEVER written in tourist books.
This has prompted me to start a new blog this year: http://www.maturesolotravel.com Look for suggestion for mature travelers to manage solo.
Elena and Victoria can show you Como or if you have a special interest they may be able to find a connection for you: do you like to hike, would you like to try to visit a particular village. On my next trip I shall ask them to route a complete boat and train trip around lake Como for me.
Home to Italy: An Italian American returning 'home' 