Honeymooning in Mennagio, Italy

 Tank Top || Pants || Sandals || Tote Bag || Sunglasses

I’m so happy to finally sit down and start to share all of the little details about my honeymoon abroad. Two weeks in Italy was nothing short of magical and it’s been hard to bounce back to reality, especially when moving is the next thing on the agenda. I would much rather be sitting on the shore of Lake Como, but here I am. Let’s get started!

Our base for the lake was the little town called Menaggio on the western shore, right next to the Swiss border. Although it’s one of the quieter spots, it was the perfect central location to hop on the ferry and cruise from town to town. I loved coming home each day after a day of sightseeing and actually feel home.

Where We Stayed

When we originally booked our trip, I wanted to find a place that was 1) affordable and 2) had a full view of the lake. I found exactly what I was looking for with this Airbnb. Not only were the views breathtaking, but there was even an infinity pool on the grounds to cool down after a day of shopping and exploring. At nights, as we enjoyed our wine and cheese, we would open the double french doors onto our private yard to enjoy the breeze. It felt like our own little slice of heaven.

Eat a Full Italian Meal

• La Trattoria Constantin: The owners of our Airbnb actually owned this restaurant in the town’s main square. Since we wanted to catch the World Cup game, it seemed like the perfect spot. We went a little hog-wild, but everything we ordered was delicious. Nothing made me feel more Italian than drinking glasses of wine while watching soccer and eating fresh pizza. We were living la dolce vida.
• La Grolla Menaggio: This one may have been my personal favorite because of the view! A quick ten minute walk from the main square, this restaurant gives you pure, unobstructed views of the water and some delicious food. Obviously being on a lake, seafood is the local speciality. The campione del lago, or lake sampler, had three kinds of local fish that had been caught that day. Since it was our last night, we had the full meal with pastas, wine, and washed it all down with two serving of their tiramisu.

Have Gelato Daily

• La Fabrica del Gelato: If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in Italy, be sure to get a generous helping of gelato everyday. It’s a very spiritual experience. Also in the town square, this was the best gelato we had in Lake Como. The little shop was adorable and always seemed to have a crowd. Our secret to skipping the line was popping in for a late night treat right before they closed, at 11. David and I strolled along the lake enjoying our ice cream: mine was papaya, his was cookies and cream. So romantic.

Shop Like the Locals

• Conad: Let me introduce you to the town’s grocery store. After all, it is where the majority of our food came from. Everyday we would get up early and walk into town for our grocery run. It always consisted of wine, cheese, salami, crackers, and cookies. We also tried to stay smart and buy bottled water, but tap water comes right from the lake and was just fine. Even though we ate very well in town, this was my favorite culinary experience.

Some Local Customs

It’s important to keep in mind that the restaurant culture in Italy is very different from what we’re used to in the States. One meal can take several hours and you have to be more forward if you want to grab attention from a server. There was definitely a little bit of a learning curve.

We also had to get used to their way of tipping. Everyone we asked told a slightly different answer, but we’ve gathered that it’s only customary to leave a few euros for good service. It’s by no means required or expected. There is a comperto fee that seems like it could be a tip, but that is how restaurants off set the cost of using linens and napkins. Another quirk we learned was that they will charge for water. It comes in a large bottle, but only cost a few euros.

Menaggio will always feel like a little piece of home. Everyone there was so kind and friendly. It may have taken a plane, train, automobile and boat to get there, but it was all worth it.

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Italian Mementos & Souvenirs

Dress || Sandals || Similar Scarf || Bag
Not Pictured: Heels

Souvenir may be a French word, but I still managed to snag some mementos while away in Italy. When I travel I try to avoid the tacky and find pieces that are meaningful and fit into my daily wardrobe. Picking up these little pieces to wear for the day will always remind me of the happiest trip of my life in Italy. Here’s a little glimpse of what I picked up.

Louis Vuitton Handbag

First, we have to start off with the big one. As a combination wedding/sorry-for-making-you-move gift, David let me have the run of Rome’s Louis Vuitton flagship store. There were so many things on my dream wishlist, but I ultimately decided to come home with this gorgeous Pochette crossbody bag. Not a surprise pick here, but navy is my favorite color and I love the subtlety of the classic LV print embossed in the leather. Inside, the bag opens up to two, surprisingly roomy sections that will fit everything I need in the city. I’m smitten with this bag, and more importantly, so thankful for my gift. It’s my very first designer bag, but hopefully not the last.

Lake Como Silk Scarf

Next up, I added to my scarf collection with a piece from our day trip to Bellagio in northern Italy. The silk industry has been alive in Lake Como since the 1400s and almost every shop in this city sells something to show for it. I’m obviously partial to scarves, but the variety of patterns in the ties, dresses, and wristlets was amazing. I decided on this beautiful blue and white scarf with tasseled pattern. It is reminiscent of one of the coveted Hermes silk scarves, but at a fraction of the price. The colors are going to easily transition into fall and will be the perfect accent with a crisp navy sweater and riding boots. My only regret is that I didn’t stockpile these while I had the chance to.

Ferragamo Heels

My last big purchase was a gift for myself. From me, to me. I have been in love with the Ferragamo Vara heel, specifically in navy, forever and decided a while ago that I was going to save up my money to buy them while in Italy. As the saying goes, when in Rome! They aren’t pictured here because I want to debut them on a special occasion, but they are gorgeous! The quick pop of gold against the patent navy leather is everything I could want it to be.

Touristy Treats

Other than that, I turned to the touristy shops for some little knick knacks to bring home. Just little gifts for my family. The best deal I came away, though, with was a blue and white tea towel with all of the Roman sites that perfectly fits the decor in my apartment. At only 4 euros, it was probably the most inexpensive thing I purchased during the entire trip.

Buying souvenirs on trips is fun, but the experiences abroad are the real treasures. I love being able to have these keepsakes to wear out. When people ask where it’s from, I’ll smile and say, ‘just a little something I picked up in Italy.’

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Welcome to Lake Como

Similar Dress || Similar Shoes|| Scarf || Tote Bag || Earrings || Watch

There are simply not enough words to describe how beautiful the first leg of our two-week European honeymoon is. Lago di Como is nestled in northern Italy and is about an hour train ride away from Milan. For honeymoon daydreams, Lake Como was always at the top of our list. We (mostly I) starting planning right after our engagement. That is over a year of research, booking, and waiting for our dream vacation. All of that anticipation still left us speechless when we got off the train and saw the lake in all of her glory.

The benefit of Lake Como being so narrow is that you can hop from town to town via the ferry. Menaggio, Varenna, Bellagio, Como, Colico, each of the towns are worth getting to know for at least the day. We even decided to spend the afternoon simply riding on the ferry, enjoying the view from the water. It cost a few Euros, but we got to see each town. It was money well spent.

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Even though it was a hot, Italian summer, the breeze from the lake was a constant relief. Sometimes it was to the point where I would have to wrap up with this little linen scarf from Nordstrom. I actually bought this on a whim on our way to the airport. It became the perfect layer for the trans-Atlantic flight, cooler nights, and the rare run-in with AC.

Pair my scarf with this sleeveless shirt dress from Tuckernuck (similar here), and you have the perfect European-chic summer look. I have had this little number in my closet for a while, but it’s a classic both domestically and abroad. To round out my first Lake Como look, I wore these tan and white tie-up Soludos espadrilles (similar here). I was a little nervous wearing these on the first day, when I knew I would be putting a lot of miles on them, but these kept up with me every step of the way without even a single blister. I swear by these.

Looking forward, I can’t wait to share our adventures in each town along Lake Como over the next few weeks. I’ll include what we did, where we ate, and what I wore. Consider this your unofficial Lake Como guide.

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.