Someone forgot to tell our host family that the cut lunch for today at Lake Como is only for us - not the whole bus load. Sharyn was relieved to get her bag back from Harold who had let the ‘Grappa’ affect his judgement when he got off the bus the previous night.
Como town is big with many beautiful buildings and the typical narrow streets. The boat harbour is surrounded with high hills with many houses (villas) built precariously on the slopes. The scenery from the boat (still tied up to the wharf) suddenly improved as this chick with long blonde hair and long slender legs was taking her dog for a walk along the promenade.
It looks like we are going to share the boat with the Argentinian band, NZ band and probably all the other bands from the Besana festival. Every one is feeding their faces before we leave the wharf. One would think the local fishermen had put their order in for some natural burly. Not far out from the shore the Israeli girls stripped down to their bikini tops to get a tan and some of the boys had smiles on their faces and were running around
like little kids in a lollie shop.
Who was the person who left their bag on the boat when we all disembarked at Bellagio? P.W.?? Thanks to Stephen B who retrieved it in time.
The hazy sky could not hide the beauty of this area. Every angle showed another gem. The sheer size of the villas on the water’s edge showed that this is the playground for the very rich and famous. Bellagio town is on the side of a hill and the narrow streets with their 1001 steps with overhanging flowered balconies was most enchanting.
All weary and hot we returned to our hosts to freshen up for the big parade and finale in Umberto Square. The short march was leisurely, but the roar of the crowd livened things up as we entered the square. What a buzz. The biggest audience we have performed for in such a confined area. The best was yet to come. We were not sure if the band would get the opportunity to do the diagram march display. Then it all started, we were 3rd band on. And did we give it to them. Every thing went really well, particularly the Aussie flag coming out of the kangaroo’s pouch. The crowd loved that. We finished it off with our throwing the koalas and wombats into the audience.
At the end of the night the band performed an impromptu massed
performance with David Griffin running amuck with the Aussie flag. What a fantastic night. Very hard to get out of bed the next morning.
