TG: this needs polishing and photos, as well as some links and location-specific names/places.

Some places linger long after you've left them.

Lake Como is one of those places.

Afternoon view across Lake Como with mountains as backdrop.

My journey began with a late-night train ride from Paris to Milan, arriving tired but excited the day before I was due to meet our group with The Blue Walk. The next morning, introductions were made, luggage was stowed, and our adventure officially began with a visit to the magnificent Duomo in Milan. We wandered beneath soaring arches, admired centuries of artistry, and, naturally, enjoyed our first Italian gelato.

Creative travel experience combining art journaling, cultural exploration, and connection.

The following morning, I gathered everyone for our first travel journal workshop. As I looked around the room, I was delighted to see several familiar faces—women who had traveled with me before on previous art and travel experiences. There is something deeply comforting about welcoming returning travelers while also getting to know new ones. By the end of the week, strangers would become friends, and blank journals would become treasured keepsakes.

Women gathering for art journaling and creative reflection in Italy.

Before leaving Milan, we stopped for lunch at Mercato Centrale, where the energy of the city swirled around us in the most delicious way. Then it was onward to Lake Como.

Our home for the week was the charming Hotel Olivedo in Varenna, perched right on the edge of the lake. The moment I stepped onto my balcony and took in the sweeping view of the water, framed by mountains and colorful villages, I felt my shoulders drop. The pace of life seemed to soften.

Waterfront view of Varenna on Lake Como with colorful buildings and lakeside promenade.

That first evening, we strolled along the waterfront in Varenna, soaking in the golden light and the gentle rhythm of the lake. A group of us gathered for dinner on a terrace overlooking the water, sharing stories and anticipation for the week ahead.

Lakeside walking path in Varenna overlooking Lake Como.

The next morning brought our first ferry ride across the lake to Bellagio. There is something magical about approaching these lakeside villages from the water. The colorful buildings seem to rise directly from the shoreline, and every turn reveals another postcard-worthy view.

Photographic vignette in Bellagio during a creative travel experience on Lake Como.

That afternoon, we settled into our lakeside studio space for our first class. To this day, I still smile when I think about teaching while sipping an Aperol Spritz and gazing out at Lake Como. It may very well have been one of the most beautiful classrooms I've ever had.

Women participating in a travel journaling workshop on Lake Como, Italy.

As the week unfolded, a gentle rhythm emerged.

Each morning began with my now-sacred breakfast ritual in the hotel dining room: a cappuccino and a cream-filled cornetto. Some traditions are worth embracing wholeheartedly.

Cappuccino and cream-filled cornetto enjoyed during a morning in Lake Como.

One day, we crossed the lake to Lenno for a hands-on cooking experience at the beautiful Ristorante Giglio in the Albergo Lenno hotel. We gathered in the kitchen, rolling pasta, learning the secrets of ravioli and tiramisu, and sharing plenty of laughter—and wine—along the way. It was one of those experiences that felt distinctly Italian: equal parts food, hospitality, storytelling, and joy.

Hands-on Italian cooking class featuring homemade ravioli and tiramisu.

Afternoons were devoted to our journals. Pages filled with sketches, collage, watercolor, handwritten reflections, ticket stubs, pressed memories, and tiny details that might otherwise have slipped away unnoticed. Again and again, I was reminded that travel journaling is not about artistic perfection. It is about paying attention. It is about preserving not only what we see, but how we feel.

Creative community gathering for journaling, conversation, and travel inspiration.

Another morning brought a walk through the gardens of Villa Monastero. The pathways wound along the edge of the lake, lined with flowering plants, sculptures, and breathtaking views. Everywhere we looked, beauty seemed to reveal itself in layers.

Scenic viewpoint at the Villa Monastero Gardens on Lake Como.

And then, as it always does, the final day arrived.

We spent the morning putting the finishing touches on our journals before boarding the ferry to Lenno and Sala Comacina for our farewell lunch. Gathered together one last time, we shared our completed journals, reflected on our favorite moments, and celebrated all we had experienced together during the week.

Handmade travel journal filled with sketches, notes, and memories from Italy.

As often happens at the end of these journeys, emotions surfaced.

There is something profoundly moving about witnessing what happens when people slow down, create together, and share a meaningful experience in a beautiful place. By the end of the week, our journals held far more than paper and ink. They held conversations, laughter, discoveries, courage, beauty, friendship, and moments that might otherwise have been forgotten.

And yes, I cried.

I always do.

Not because something is ending, but because something meaningful happened.

Travelers who have been sharing completed journals during a farewell luncheon on Lake Como.

Lake Como gave us spectacular views, unforgettable meals, ferry rides, gardens, and endless inspiration. But what I carried home was something less tangible and far more lasting: the reminder that creativity invites us to fully inhabit our lives.

The journals we created are lovely. The memories are even better.

Until next time, Lake Como.

A Final Invitation

As I look back on this week in Lake Como, I'm already looking forward to the journeys still to come.

Next year, I'll be gathering with women in Spain and Switzerland for two creative travel experiences centered around art, journaling, connection, and meaningful travel.

Perhaps one of those seats has your name on it.

Learn More About Upcoming Journeys