We decided to explore an area of Italy that both Rory and I had never visited before – the Lakes. So we picked a small town of Lombardy called Cadenabbia, situated right of the shores of Lake Como. Our room in the small family-run hotel had views of the lake and the town of Bellagio (so we finally saw what our Las Vegas honeymoon hotel was attempting to imitate), and the bulk of our time here involved pottering around quaint Italian towns sipping Proseco and eating gelato – you know the deal.
However, just to ensure that we couldn’t be accused of spending our entire time here in a state of self-indulgent naval-gazing, we decided it would be worthwhile to struggle our way up one of the many steep inclines that hems in the Lakes (also known as the Pre-Alps). So we pitched up the tourist office and selected a map and directions for a hike (yes, I said hike). We decided not to be complete pansies and opted for one graded a “medium” level of difficulty. We reassured ourselves that we should be able to manage it no worries – we’re young (well, one of us is), I go to the gym and all that, Rory was a representative swimmer at one time or another – of course we can handle an “above average” hike. Well, after a lot of huffing, puffing, sweating, cursing and shouts of “who’s stupid idea was this anyway?!”, we made it to the Menaggio Rifugio (m. 1400). Let’s just say that if we had any idea that “rifugio” means mountain shelter, we never would have attempted it. “Medium” indeed. But the views of Lake Como and Lake Lugano were fantastic.
However, just to ensure that we couldn’t be accused of spending our entire time here in a state of self-indulgent naval-gazing, we decided it would be worthwhile to struggle our way up one of the many steep inclines that hems in the Lakes (also known as the Pre-Alps). So we pitched up the tourist office and selected a map and directions for a hike (yes, I said hike). We decided not to be complete pansies and opted for one graded a “medium” level of difficulty. We reassured ourselves that we should be able to manage it no worries – we’re young (well, one of us is), I go to the gym and all that, Rory was a representative swimmer at one time or another – of course we can handle an “above average” hike. Well, after a lot of huffing, puffing, sweating, cursing and shouts of “who’s stupid idea was this anyway?!”, we made it to the Menaggio Rifugio (m. 1400). Let’s just say that if we had any idea that “rifugio” means mountain shelter, we never would have attempted it. “Medium” indeed. But the views of Lake Como and Lake Lugano were fantastic. 
Needless to say it took a whole lot of gelato and an entire day by the swimming pool for our aching calves to recover. 
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