By Cathy H. Burroughs
International Travel Writer/Blogger

Enchanting. Captivating. Beyond words beautiful. Gorgeous. Transformative.

Capture idyllic vintage Italy. The dream of Italy as it once was, as it could still be. Out of a movie. The Garden of the Finzi Continis, Women In Love. Or Proust’s Rememberance of Things Past.

Do not miss exuberant gusty Northern Italy’s Lake Como, an hour and a half train ride, outside of Milan. Exhilarating. Completely mesmerizing. Perhaps the high point of our over two week Milan stay.

Lake Como! Preferably experienced in the dreamy luxury cloudlike smooth smooth ride in the Dream Lake private charter, preferably with the wonderful heroic navigator and storyteller Mauro at the helm. Antonio and Bessa who met us gracefully at the Port of Sant’ Agustino and their sublime luxury vessels is the ideal way to traverse the lake’s spectacular perimeter.

No sign of George Clooney but set within tiered gardens and built upon Medieval-style stone pedestal foundations with elements of the Italian Liberty style, each turn-of-the-century’s glorious ochre, white and blush creamsicle-colored hillside villa after another dotted the shoreline. Whispers of Gaga; appearances of Elton John that very night; a five level cliffside exterior stone elevator; a 5-star hotel with lake-floating swimming pool; gardens and statuary to rival Eden; remembrances of Gianni Versace; wedding venues 60,000 Euros nightly; Apple’s previous European head’s extraordinary house reformation, once a Russian Prince’s, back to its original splendor, saved from nearly complete decrepitude and flying angel planes, making their effortless, balletic, full lake landings.

Then there is the beyond nearly miraculous exuberant blue black, then green turquoise whitecaps of the lake itself.

Don’t make us ever have to leave. No wonder so many Milanese dream of living here. Como! An elusive dream nearly within our grasp!

Truly experienced, albeit, too briefly, aboard the shimmering, heavenly Dream Lake and Antonio and Bessa’s other elegant boat, at your service. Your wish is their command. And for one, all too brief hour, it was ours.

+393392671902
thedreamlakeitaly@gmail.com
Dream Lake is a luxury fleet of two stunning boats: one is a Karnic 701, 8 mt long with a 250 cv engine which can accommodate eight passengers plus the driver.
The other is a Sea Ray 230, 8 mt long with a 290 cv engine and the capacity for nine passengers plus the driver. Both have covers for the sun and ride like a dream!

Big thanks go to Giacomo Chieffi of YesMilano.

Cathy H. Burroughs is a widely published travel writer and blogger whose passion for Europe permeates her articles and travel coverage. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times international supplement and elsewhere. She is the travel and adventure blogger for www.journeypod.com, a lauded online luxury travel guide, and others.