I learned from my research that there is much disagreement as to whether people visiting Lake Como prefer Varenna or Bellagio as their home base. Seems like those who prefer tourist amenities go for Bellagio. Less fancy sorts choose Varenna. I'm one of the latter. In peculiar synchronicity, the fellow behind my little balcony at Albergo Milano in Varenna turned out to be the close friend of folks I'd gone to elementary school with, and he lives not 10 miles from where I do. Strange but true.