Two favorite things I did in Italy

I just returned from a R.S. My Way Italy Tour. Their were two things we did that I particularly enjoyed.
1. In Varenna (Lake Como), I hired a boat to go sailing. This wasn’t a fancy yacht, sunbathing trip but actually actually an opportunity to sail around Lake Como in a 26ft boat. This was a super fun and was just me and the boat owner. I learned a lot just by getting to talk with a real Italian who wasn’t a waitress/clerk etc. The winds were high the day we went and we didn’t get to eat snacks until we returned which he shared with my family including wine he and his wife had made. I felt this was a very authentic experience and not at all touristy. He does take people sailing if you just want a ride or beginner sailing experience. Info: Sailing with Massimo, www.sailingwithmassimo.it, +39 339 668 6025
He doesn’t ave a FB page but actually the tourism office in town helped me make the arrangements.
2. My family decided on a whim to do a sunset tour in the Cinque Terre starting from Monterosso al Mare. We took a chance and hired a guide who was sitting on his boat about 30 min before we left. We had a great and authentic experience. Again, not a fancy boat but a young, really interesting guy who grew up in Monterosso and was able to tell us about his family’s house being bombed in WWII along with telling us all about the area. Well worth the money! Info: Andrea Giannechini, www.cinqueterreboattour.com, [email protected] +39 3461397687 or just go look for his red wooden boat tied up in the harbor in Monterosso!