Do It For The Points!: European Holiday: Lake Como and Dinner in Milan

After taking a great nap we headed back to Milano Centrale and attempted to purchase tickets to Como so we could see Lake Como, something Kelsey had wanted to do from the moment we found out we would be flying into Milan.

We tried to purchase our tickets using the automated machines in the track area of the station, but we quickly found out that our cards would not work in the machines. Even the cards we had with a chip did not work so we missed the train we wanted to take originally. We asked for help from some of the Train Italia agents that were on the track level and the only solution they offered was for us to head down to the -1 level to the ticket office. Once down there we were helped by an awesome agent who was able to book our tickets for around 12 Euro per person one-way to Como. There are a couple of different types of trains that go to Como and they range from 6 to 15 Euros and they vary from local trains to express trains headed to Zurich (which we ended up taking the next day).

Beautiful Train Station in Milan

Como is the first stop out of Milan and so after a quick 40 minute ride we arrived to a very foggy and cold Como. The train station is on a hill above the city so it is about a 10 minute walk to the center of town, but as our luck would have it the clouds started to clear as soon as we reached the lake and we saw the beautiful homes on the side of the surrounding hills and mountains.

Clouds Slowly Clearing

We walked a little around the lake and then wandered through the center of town and were amazed at how many people were out and about for the day after Christmas. Turns out it was a bank holiday in Italy so folks were off of work and school and used the opportunity to just walk around and look in shop windows. No shops were open, but people just wanted to be out and about with their family and to enjoy the day.

After walking for a few minutes we stumbled upon what was left of the Christmas Market for the town, which was an awesome surprise. There were so many different vendors that were selling everything from cheese to candy, cured meats to crafts. The market was spread around the surrounding four or five streets and was centered around the towns Duomo which was very pretty.

Christmas Market

Area Around the Duomo

Como Duomo

After walking around for a bit we decided it was the perfect time to get something to eat...and when in Italy....you have to get gelato! It was my first gelato so we went with coffee and chocolate...and now it all makes sense, it was absolutely delicious and I could have stayed there ordering more and more all day long but we decided to head out to the area in front of the Duomo to people watch for a bit and enjoy our surroundings. Just 6 hours or so before we had been in New York and now somehow we were worlds away in one of the most beautiful places I have visited.

Maybe It Was the Gelato Talking, But I Loved Como

After relaxing and enjoying the people watching for a bit we headed back to the train station and paid a little extra to upgrade to a sooner train so we could get back to Milan before we passed out from jet lag exhaustion. The train ride back was absolutely packed so we were lucky to get a seat.

We got back to the hotel and realized that before we hit the hay we had to grab some dinner. The problem with it being a bank holiday is that most every restaurant was closed so the hotel suggested we head down to the Duomo area of Milan and see if there were some restaurants open down there. I was so glad when they suggested this because it afforded us an amazing view of the intricate Duomo in the Milan city center shrouded with fog. It was beautiful in the foggy light and the stained glass windows were lit so you could see the intricate detail that was present. From there we walked over to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II which was built in 1861 and features a beautiful glass dome and walkways. Here we were able to find an open restaurant and even though it featured what I like to call "tourist prices" we were just happy to find something that was open. The food, unlike other restaurants I have dined at near tourist areas, was actually very good. The pizza I got was amazing and the gnocchi that Kelsey got was the best I have ever had. The staff was very nice and the service was very good, so it worked out in the end. After that we headed back to the hotel and turned in for some well needed sleep....and we would need it because it was off to Zurich the next day.