[A] Colico

 Over the week I had off for fall break, I decided to take a trip within Italy, both to save money and to better know the country I was in. I had heard great things about Lake Como, and in fact a few of my Italian friends were from the area and were able to suggest a good spot to spend a couple days to "recover" from my actually incredibly light schedule, but really just to center myself a bit. After Pomai came to visit for the weekend, I took a bus to Milan, a five hour trip first through the hills of Tuscany and Emilia, and then through a thoroughly flat piece of Italy, the Veneto, which reminded me a bit of Illinois. In Milan it was freezing cold, whereas in Siena it was still and indian summer. I made my way from the bus station to the train station and took an hour up along the lake to get to Colico, a tiny little town at the Northernmost point of the lake. My hotel was right next to the train station, along with the rest of the town, and I settled in before grabbing dinner at one of two restaurants. It had a nice selection of teas.

 The next day I began to walk, first going as far up the mountain on the base of which Colico rests as I could, and then down to the shore where I found a network of trails that led potentially miles away, connecting around the entire lake. I walked for a ways then decided, as it was lunchtime, to save more exploring for the next day. I returned to town for lunch, did a bit of store browsing, found a bookstore where I got a Pirandello novel and a cafe where I began to read it. By sunset I was mostly finished.

 That night I went to the other restaurant, Voglia, which turned out to be fantastic. Eating alone can be awkward, but it seemed that every one in the restaurant was also alone, giving it a sort of silent comraderie. I had quite a meal, then turned in early.

 The next day I returned early, after hotel breakfast, to the trails and walked, with my notebook and pencils, away. I found a fork about three miles down the trail the led me up to a Spanish fort (?) on top of a small hill. I sat there, read and drew, and enjoyed the brisk air and the mountainlake view. I saw no one the entire morning. I returned for a lunch at restaurant number one, and afterwards went for a much needed haircut, which has since received the following reviews:
"Best haircut of your life!"
"This is why you shouldn't go to Custom Cuts!"
"Why is this a revelation for you?"
I, resentful of the common disdain for all other haircuts I've ever had, resignedly agree.

That night I returned to Voglia, and this time I brought my kindle. It was a very nice addition, and I quickly finished a book and resumed another. My reading production skyrockets when I have a) free time b) no human contact. By the end of my Colico trip, amid the stunning nature and quaint mode of existence I had developed a new fondness for the people and tasks that fill my day. In other words, I accomplished exactly what I wanted to with the trip! Batteries recharged, I returned the next day by train to Siena.
-A