My Life in Valencia

It’s hard to believe, but it has been 21 years since I moved to Milan, Italy and 17 years since I moved back to the US. Although I did visit once since then, it has been probably a decade since I’ve been back to Italy at all. The weekend before Halloween, for our fall break, I decided to go back to visit my friend Katie who is living in Cantu….a small town in between Milan and Lake Como. Weather was beautiful for visiting Lake Como, walking around Milan, eating fabulous food and just catching up with an old-time friend.

In some ways, Italy was just how I remember it-breathtaking scenery, especially around Lake Como, and food that literally melts in your mouth–pasta con pesto, prosciutto e melone, la pizza, risotto, el gelato, veal Milanese, not to mention delicious wine and cappuccino. All the classics.

The most breathtaking was the Villa Balbianello, which I had never been to before. For those of you unfamiliar with Lake Como, it is shaped like an upside down Y, with three slender branches or legs. Villa Balbianello is situated on the west or left branch alomost to where the two southern branches meet in a part that juts out like a penninusla into the lake. Its unique placement allows you to see both up and down the lake with the surrounding alps just in the distance. The villa itself dates back to the 12th or 13th century. The most famous and last resident was Guido Monzino, most known for his expeditions and collections….his most famous expedition being to Mount Everest. When he died in 1988 he left the villa to the Fondo Ambiente Italiana. James Bond and Star Wars fans may recognize as it was featured in Casino Royale (Bond movie) and Attack of the Clones (Star Wars). The grounds and the scenery are just breathtaking but my favourite are the two 200 year old mushroom-shaped or umbrella trees that you will see below. Truly Spectacular!

I was surprised by how much my Italian came back pretty easily….I understood most and although definitely mixed up words with Spanish, managed to hold my own. No one seemed to immediately break into English upon seeing me, so that is always a good sign! Visiting this beautiful area made nostalgic for my Dad, as although he wasn’t a huge traveler, Italy and Italian food, was his favourite. I can still see that big smile of his with his wide eyes, licking his chops at even the thought of having prosciutto e melone. He would have loved it all. Here are some of the photo highlights:

The hustle and bustle of Milan was a stark contrast to that of the idyllic lake scenery and it seemed the most changed. It seemed too to be exploding with people, much more than I remembered; seemed more like Christmas holidays than a regular weekend (and yes, Christmas decorations were already out in the stores!). The area around the Castillo seemed the most different….I never went their often as there wasn’t much there but now there are a ton of outside cafes and more pedestrian areas, which I suppose is also a consequence of the Pandemic. There were also tons of commuter bikes and scooters like in Valencia but not as many accessible bike paths. A stop by the Duomo is always a must and I am always in awe by its beauty. It’s by far, my favourite Duomo in Italy from the outside. Dinner was in the Brera…another old haunt for yummy dinners which was also bustling with people. Very fun to visit but not sure if I could live there any more….think I would venture to the countryside if I ever moved back.

The most amazing part though about the trip to Italy was just the sheer fact that I am so close…less than a two hour plane ride away, perfect for that long weekend getaway when I am longing for the scenery of the beautiful Alps, delicious food and of course friendship!