Day number next, 10, May

Welp, had a weird case of delayed jet lag last night. My body decided that 10pm Michigan time would be an appropriate time to fall asleep. That’s 4 am Italy time. I guess the ability to make these adjustments changes over time. Never had trouble with jet lag in the past… well nerts.

Ah then, carry on, sleep is for wimps.

The usual coffee on the balcony for me and yogurt for D this morning. Time to do some planning. Planning this morning was really just looking at the map in hopes that we would sort of know where we were when we got there. I’m perfectly comfortable with this kind of ‘plan’ but some folks seem to need a little more detail. That’s what makes for balance.

A bit of leftover pizza for lunch and off we go. First stop, gelato shop!

They were out of coffee flavor… 😦

We stroll through town, watching the crazy, as far as I’m concerned, rather sad, selfie people. They walk down the street, arm aloft at ¾ high watching themselves on that little screen as another famous town slips by in the background. They can say they were here and they think they have proof, but they weren’t really here.

We though we would stay in town until dinner time, but Bellagio is really a pretty small town. We went inside the basilica, we checked out a bunch of shops, we had coffee and tea at a table on the waterfront, and we bought sunscreen and lotion and more lead for my new pencil. That pretty much covers a day in Bellagio.

It’s about 5pm when we head back to the apartment. We’ll have a glass of wine on the balcony, note in our notebooks and head back down around 7:30, a proper time for dinner.

The place is called La Bellagina. Just a little place on the side of the road but it has a remarkably extant menu. We head up to the terrace level. Ooh, fancy. There are windows all along the lake side view and they are open to the breeze. D has the Scallopini al Limone, a perennial favorite and required at least once every time we are in Italy. Entrecote per mio. (grilled beef with tomatoes, arugula, etc.) It was perfectly done and tender. Mmm, yum. A tasty young Barbera to wash it down.

The room has 18 tables that seat 75 to 80 people. There is 1 waitress. Her name is Nicol and she is the only server, busser and bartender. She is upbeat, funny, fast, efficient and handles the whole room like a pro. In Italy food service is considered a legit, respectable career. It’s not just something to do while you are in school or until you get a ‘real’ job. Nicol recommends the hybrid panna cotta/tiramisu for desert… It was AMAZING!

The sun sets as we waddle back up the hill to the apartment. Lights twinkle on across the lake and I could get used to this real fast.