Monday, July 11, 2011

WHERE'S GEORGE?

Richard Branson's home
I laughed when I saw all the comments about George Clooney and me sharing the same postal code during my stay in Lake Como. Happy to hear that I wasn't the only one with a serious "George Crush" (yes my husband knows); I knew that my chances of running into "GC" would never be better than on the sunny shores of Lake Como.  So when we decided that we would visit Como, I packed plenty of shoes and my school girl infatuation came along for the ride.  I waited a few days so I wouldn't look desperate and decided to ask a woman in the know- Maria, the Villa's sweet housekeeper, about George.  "Oh, yes," she said shyly smiling.  "George has been on the lake for a while.  He and Elisabetta have broken up!"  "Broken up?" I nearly cried,  "How could I have missed this very important news?"  (Time to bring in an interpreter to make sure I understood her correctly!) 


"Poor George.  He's probably nursing a broken heart. Maybe I'll see him in the village trattoria with a bottle of Chianti and pizza Margarita," I mused. So I casually looked for GC wherever we went.  We spent a day in beautiful Bellagio-a delicious al fresco lunch, some shopping and a boat ride- absolutely perfect.  The next day I saw Maria who couldn't wait to tell me that GC had been sighted at a small restaurant in Lenno, two towns away, just the day before.  So close!  I was optimistic--my chances of an encounter with GC was much higher here on the lake than in NYC; surely we would bump into each other.  But it needed to be sooner--we had just two days left and though there had been several sightings, GC had remained elusive. 


The day before we left, we took an afternoon boat ride around the lake.  The beautiful teak boat cut through the crystal water as our driver pointed out stunning mansions and told colorful anecdotes about the lake and its residents.  Click, click went our collective cameras as we passed Richard Branson's luxurious mansion on the water.  We peered through the tall cypress trees catching two maids smoking out the balcony window. Then we passed a lovely Italianate villa with a wooden sign posted to the edge of the property.  Our driver started to laugh--it says "No George," he said and drove us closer.  The Papparazzi had been stalking the house for ages via boat, looking for "GC".  But it wasn't his house, so the owner did what he could to deter the constant unwelcome visitors and posted his "No George" sign.  
NOT George Clooney's home!
I wish I had a better outcome to report to you all, one where I met "CG", and charmed by my witty banter, he invited me for a drink.  Wouldn't that be fantastic?  Maybe next year in Como.

10 comments:

Ann said...

What a lovely place...

No wonder George Clooney opted to stay there. I think he's the one who broke Elisabetta's heart and therefore he's not nursing a broken heart anymore. But still, he's back in the market again... good news for us ladies, yes, even married ones like us can fantasize about George ♥

quintessence said...

I think your trip sounds simply divine even without a George sighting!!

Vannessa@Luxuria said...

Hi Barbara
Your photos are simply stunning; feeling so jealous ;-)

Bellagio is also one of my favorite places in Italy. Your hols really sound divine. What a pity you didn't bump into GC. Wouldn't that have just been the icing on a wonderful cake?
p.s you can usually glean more from the maids in these places than from the paparazzi ;-)

jeanette from everton terrace said...

Such gorgeous splendor. It seems the neighbors aren't that thrilled to have a hearthrob in their 'hood :)

The enchanted home said...

Well the view in my eyes made up for not finding George or getting an invite to have dinner at his villa! Looks like a wonderful amazing vacation.

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

It looks so gorgeous! And I loved your charming George story! Next year, for sure! (How could he resist a glass of wine with one of the loveliest bloggers around?)

Concrete Jungle said...

Thanks for the smiles and very pretty views!

Unknown said...

Oh wow, I was sooo hoping you'd run into him but, it was fun thinking you would. And hopefully "next" year you'll see him. And your trip sounded fabulous! We went to Italy for the first time last November and loved it. We stayed in Rome for 5-days and we are hoping for Venice over Thanksgiving this year..."hoping" *fingers crossed*.

red ticking said...

oh what a holiday you are having!!! and i think george is a fool... she is amazing...

enjoy sweet friend...xoxo

Jane Kilpatrick Schott said...

I just returned from Lake Como and Bellagio and we did the wonderful boat tour...I was so overwhelmed by the sights that I forgot George completely. But his place along the lake is totally fabulous. He is smarter than I every imagined when you get a glimpse of his hideaway. www.empressoftheeye.blogspot.com
Ciao Bella!