After an extraordinary time in Switzerland, it was time for us to leave to head to our next city: Genova. You can read about my time in Switzerland here. Because this drive is so long, our tour guide decided that we should stop in Bellagio for a break.
Bussin’
With this plan, we went on our way. We drove for about an hour and a half to the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s largest and deepest tunnel. The tunnel is around 35 and a half miles long and a mile and a half deep. Typically you wouldn’t have to stop at the base before entering the tunnel. Unfortunately, we weren’t that lucky. Once a month, the police choose a random vehicle to check for any flaws. We happened to be that random vehicle! We had about an hour delay when we waited for the Swiss police to stop inspecting the bus. During this, we could leave the bus after half an hour and wait outside. The most entertaining moment during our wait was when our tour guide raced one of the kids to the bus to get someone’s water bottle. Also, a cop was on a bike and watched us while we were outside. It was random but provided some entertainment during the wait.
Boatin’
After the delay, we could return to the bus and continue our drive to Bellagio! We played music like Party in the USA, Bella Ciao, and Flowers. Everyone sang along to Party in the USA; the hold that song continues to have on 2000s babies is always impressive. I ate some of the snacks that I packed in my carry-on. To see what’s else I packed, you can read about that here. After another two-hour drive, we finally made it to Bellagio. First, we took a half an hour boat tour around Lake Como to look at the houses. They were stunning and very lavish! The weather was perfect for a boat ride. There were also some very expensive speedboats in the water around us.
Bellagio
We arrived at Bellagio and had an hour to explore the city before the boat returned. There were a lot of tourists in the city, but it was still beautiful! With only an hour to spare, we went to get food first. My friend and I went to a small sandwich shop; the sandwich maker just handed us random sandwiches. We ate them while we explored the city. There are a lot of stairs; they’re typically crowded. I went into some stores, but couldn’t find anything to buy.
After taking some photos, we went and purchased some gelato. It was delicious; I got raspberry. After that, we took some more pictures and walked around some more to find the restrooms.We found a bar near the water. I wanted to buy a nonalcoholic drink; the bartender let me try one of them for free. It was strawberry and delicious, but I couldn’t order my own because I had to return to the boat.We found a bar near the water. I wanted to buy a nonalcoholic drink; the bartender let me try one of them for free. It was strawberry and delicious, but I couldn’t order my own because I had to return to the boat.
Bon Appétit*
After the boat ride, we returned to the bus and continued our journey to Genoa. After another two hours, we stopped at a gas station. I got a coffee that was similar to a frappuccino. Eventually, we arrived at the Tower Hotel Genova Airport. My view was the runway! For dinner, we had pasta with pesto, pork chops, and dessert. The hotel was nice, but the air conditioning was poor. I had a fantastic time in Bellagio and am excited about going to Cinque Terre tomorrow.
*I do know that bon appétit is French, but I want to stick with the B theme ☺️
I’m very impressed with your commentary about the places you are seeing. It sounds like you’re having a great time. Keep up the good work and the interesting blob.
Gentry, the trip sounds amazing! I am really enjoying following along!