I've tried many times to compose this post in my mind but struggled each time. How do you express that you visited the most exquisite gardens in Italy when you know that you cannot do them justice? Known in English as the Villa Melzi Gardens, i Giardini di Villa Melzi d'Eril are located on the shore of Lake Como in Bellagio and feature a neoclassical villa, acres of carefully appointed gardens, and an impressive selection of sculptures.
Last Saturday, we planned the quintessential London day. We took a stroll down Oxford Street, had lunch in Soho and spent an afternoon watching Just for One Day: The Live Aid Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
It was a lovely day, the perfect day for wandering about, and it was thankfully cooler than it had been earlier in the summer.
I’ve always wanted to visit the bombed-out Church of St Luke’s in Liverpool but it was pouring with rain every time I went. Added to that, it wasn’t always possible to get inside due to closures or scaffolding. Our time finally came this year when Stephen and I found ourselves with an hour to spare before we met my cousin at Lime Street Station.
It's strange how travel myths can shape our perceptions. I always believed the grand Italian lakes were only for the wealthy and famous, not for someone like me. As it turns out, nothing could be further from the truth. On my third day in Italy, my friend and I travelled to the delightful village of Bellagio, perched at the tip of the promontory dividing the two southern arms of Lake Como.
When planning our trip to France, I quickly realised that the drive from the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais to our hotel in Poissy, just outside Paris, was far longer than I’d expected. I went in search of a charming, photogenic spot for lunch and struck gold with the storybook village of Gerberoy.