Wednesday, July 17, 2024

The Last Day: Lake Como & Bellagio

 July 17

Today is the final day of our "Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps" cruise-tour through AMA Waterways.  We were up this morning for breakfast and in the lobby by 8:45 to meet our host for the day.  We were taken through the hotel to the same dock where Kim & I boarded our private boat yesterday to sail off on a boat large enough for our party of 40.  We headed off towards the peninsula of Bellagio passing many, MANY amazing villas (some we'd seen yesterday, others not).

Our tour boat
And we're off!
Villa used for filming "Oceans 11" & "Oceans 12"
Sailing away
It's a tradition in this village of villas to jump off the bridge
NOTE the cool waterfall!
Built in the 1500's this villa is now a luxury hotel that has only 17 rooms - but they cost $120,000 per week :O
George Clooney's villa - opted NOT to join him for lunch :)
Villa built in the 1500's now a luxury hotel
My favorite villa - used in the filming of James Bond's "Casino Royale"
Sailing on to Bellagio

When we arrived for lunch Kim and I took the other four right to the restaurant where we'd enjoyed a stunning view, and a good meal with the friends we'd met on our Viking Greece trip in April right on the water.  They were just setting up so Kim approached one of the workers and got us a reservation for 12:30.  Here's the ONLY thing about the day that I'd have "issues" with.  When we were here in the spring we had an hour and a half to explore, shop, and have lunch....and we stood in line to eat here for 45 minutes.  Today however it was the complete opposite.  Not only were the crowds SIGNIFICANTLY less, but we docked at 10:45 am and we were not leaving until 2:15 pm.  AND there was no tour of historic Bellagio.  "You're on your own."  Hmmmmm.  As I've said M-A-N-Y times, and have written on the post-cruise surveys as well - there should be one tour option that has free time/shopping time and one for those that want to see the sites and be given a guided tour.  But I'm not the boss of the tours.

The winding stairway of shops in Bellagio
Lunch with Bill & Linda last spring
Lunch with the group today
This time we sat RIGHT on the water - what a view
Truly "Lunch With A View"
Sailed right past us at lunch

Tomorrow we head for home.  Luggage out the door by 2:15 am .... depart the hotel at 3:15 am.  Flight leaves Milan at 9:45 and we touch down in Fort Lauderdale 

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The Last Day: Lake Como & Bellagio

  July 17 Today is the final day of our "Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps" cruise-tour through AMA Waterways.  We were up this morni...