After a long journey, moods tend to fluctuate—there’s the excitement at the start, the wonder of arriving in a new place, the anticipation of meeting new people, the loneliness of being on your own, the dullness of long bus rides, and the numbness of crowded tourist spots. "Too much time spent in bustling city streets. Passing through Milan, I couldn’t help but escape the crowds for a while, so I deliberately set aside some time to head out to the suburbs to breathe some fresh air and refresh my travel spirit. Perhaps Lake Como is the perfect place to get away from it all.
In the morning, I took a train from Milan to Varenna-Esino, a lakeside town by Lake Como. Lake Como is a glacial lake in the Italian Alps, and the towns around the lake area have become famous holiday destinations in Italy. Even the train station looks like the entrance to a fairy-tale world—set off with the spirit of adventure.
I followed a couple who also got off at this station. We first stopped by the tourist center to pick up a complete map of Lake Como and the ferry schedule, which finally gave me a rough idea of today’s itinerary. I planned to head to the dock to buy tickets first. Walking toward the lake felt like stepping into a paradise. The town in the morning was exceptionally quiet, with very few tourists around. Walking along the lakeside path, I eventually reached the dock to check the ferry schedule and bought my ticket before strolling around at ease.
The waters of Lake Como were crystal clear, with distant mountains stretching into the horizon. In the far distance, you could see hills dusted with patches of snow. An elderly man told me that was the direction of the Alps. On a clear day, you can see the snow-capped mountain ranges distinctly, but unfortunately, today only a faint outline was visible.
Perhaps it’s fate—building up the karma for our next meeting.
Varenna-Esino is a town built along the lake. While strolling by the water, I saw two swans swimming closer and closer. On a whim, I followed their trail and eventually discovered a time tunnel leading into the heart of the town.
Looking from the side, the town’s buildings were interspersed among one another. I imagined them as a peaceful little world of their own: fishing or taking a leisurely walk by the lake in your spare time, sipping white wine and reading in a small restaurant in the afternoon, watching the sunset from the mountain town in the evening, chatting nonsense over drinks with the tavern owner at night, and stargazing from the attic when you’re back home.
Fantasies are always beautiful, imagining that one day, you could live like this.
Only after passing through the time tunnel did I truly step into a flower-filled paradise. The town, just entering early summer, was blooming with vibrant little flowers. In front of a row of quaint, uneven low houses, I couldn’t help but lie down on a bench to fully enjoy this rare moment of leisure.
Besides the beautiful scenery and perfect timing, the good weather was indispensable. Strolling through it felt like having this most stunning view all to myself.
After walking along the calm lakeside, I ventured into the alleys. I really love that feeling of not knowing what lies ahead—because not seeing it makes every surprise delightful. Accidentally walking into a dead end only led to another exit by the lake, thinking I had climbed upstairs only to end up back where I started, and passing through a narrow stone wall passage only to emerge into a broader square.
I love this kind of aimless wandering, this carefree and whimsical feeling, and even more, this adventurous and bubbly mood.
In the square, besides a small church and bell tower, the restaurants on either side had their own charm too. Their colorful facades created the town’s unique color palette. Unfortunately, it was still too early for any restaurants to be open, so I had to leave with nothing but envy.
Just as I had wandered for about an hour, I returned to the lakeside dock. After a short wait, I could board the boat and leave this paradise, setting off for another one.
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Transportation Info
Italian National Railway (Train): Milano Centrale – Varenna-Esino
Fare: €6.7
Travel Time: 1 hour 03 minutes
Ferry: Varenna – Bellagio
Fare: €4.6
More schedules:
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