Desperately seeking George

George, George where are you ???!!!!! Don't you remember you invited the family Mack for brunch? Actually we were so busy rattling around Como (just over the border in Italy) and taking a cruise around the lake that we had to skip brunch with Mr Clooney. We hope that he didn't stock too many Nespresso options in preparation for our visit. Awwwwwww well, we'll send him an Aussie souvenir when we get home.

For those not in the know, George Clooney is currently a lake Como resident and he wasn't the reason we were there. While it would have been quite nice to have brunch with george, we did have a very pleasant day. It was quite beautiful and it was nice strolling the streets - the incredible ornate church was mind boggling in its fabulous 'overdoneness'.

We found a nice park for dash to play in that was dedicated to the Brazilian environmentalist and social activist Chico Mendes. Dash was underawed by the political significance of the sight, but he made a couple of little friends, seemingly unhindered by the language barrier - he still managed to get them to board his 'train' (yes, he is a little obsessed: note pic with Mum roped into one of many vaiations - 'armchair train).

The return journey was a study in starkly contrasting public transport priorities. Our hearts sank as the Italian train (circa 1950s?) approached, or should we say wheezed and rattled into the station. No lit-up buttons activating silent, sliding doors, just a rather rude note saying the carriage was fully booked. We boarded anyway, unable to heave our luggage further along. En route we entered a tunnel where the lights failed. When we reached the border to change trains, we had to be rescued from our carriage by a rail employee, as the door had failed as well. Looking to the other side of the platform we saw with considerable relief, our Swiss train awaiting us, all sleek, aerodynamic curves and we sank into it's plush seats gratefully. Italy may have George, but he evidently isn't paying enough tax!