In search of George

By DIANA PLATER champagne, which was the perfect start to one of the most VERYBODY in Como pleasant Sunday lunches I’ve has a story about ever had. It included thin E George Clooney. pieces of rare roast beef with Even the local brochures list sublime mashed potatoes — the fact that the Hollywood not what you would expect to star lives in Laglio on Lake eat in Italy. Como, although others say he The service was laid back actually resides in the nearby but efficient. town of Carate Urio. Perhaps It was on the pricey side but his villa is in between the two. it was worth it — the bill came And a Nespresso ad with to about 64 Euros ($A86.60) Clooney jumping into a cab for two people. driven by God — played by Giordano, the bar manager John Malkovich — always (who previously worked in seems to be on TV. Perth), chatted to us before Once spotted all over the offering a free glass of dessert place, he’s become a bit more wine to perfectly end the meal. illusive in the past few months He told us the restaurant — not surprising considering was owned by ‘‘people in the slew of YouTube videos Venice’’ but it was not a depicting people aimlessly franchise and no relation to searching for him. the franchise chain, Harry’s K The local tourist office told bar, including the less than Y us that he likes to go for lunch salubrious one at the airport. M at Harry’s bar. Not that we He said not only Clooney C knew where Harry’s bar was, but Robert de Niro ate and or had the slightest interest drank there regularly. in finding it. STAR QUALITY: A view of actor George Clooney’s villa Oleandra in Laglio on Lake Como in northern Italy. Clooney, below, was once ‘‘George Clooney is nicer,’’ We spent a wet November spotted all over the place but he’s become a bit more illusive in the past few months he said. ‘‘He smiles and jokes weekend in this most beautiful a lot.’’ of areas, an hour or so by train He always came with his COLOR: north of Milan and close to the Sardinian model girlfriend

Swiss border. If you go Elisabetta Canalis. 53 Como is a place where the ‘‘But he hasn’t come for six rich Milanese have holidayed Harry’s bar: Piazza months,’’ he said. ‘‘Because of for centuries — escaping the Risorgimento 2. the paparazzi.’’ heat of the city to boat, swim Como Tourist Information We were lucky. The PAGE: and drink coffee in the sun. Office: Piazza Cavour, 17. Visit: restaurant was about to close May is meant to be the best www.lakecomo.org. For more details on Italy visit: for winter. We got there at month but even in winter rain www.italiantourism.com.au. 2pm and the closed sign was it’s still gorgeous. Como can be reached from put on the door at 3pm, The first thing tourists do Milan by Eurostar or regional disappointing a group of when they land here is take a train. It takes about an hour. people who knocked on it. boat trip around the lake — Visit: www.raileurope.com.au Usually guests of the 12-DEC-2010 before heading up the hill on Etihad flies to Abu Dhabi and luxurious hotel, Villa D’Este, the steep funicular to take in then on to Milan, Italy. Details: around the corner are directed the magnificent view. call 1800 998 995 or visit: www.etihadairways.com. here by the concierge but the The boat trip takes about an resort closes in November so DATE: hour and is refreshingly free we were also free of rich of commentary. Americans. We never did spot about an hour later. And what open and entered a little world would love. That area was Our beautifully presented You can just sit and stare at George but we felt as if he was was the first thing we saw but of its own. closed for a party of adults waitress languidly handed us the massive and beautiful there in spirit. Harry’s bar. Harry’s bar is an elegant with precocious children, who a menu and suggested an villas that dot the landscape. We knew he would have Running through the rain restaurant with windows annoyed the waiters no end. (I aperitif as we peered around.

We did just that and jumped loved to have met us, anyway. NT NEWS (we’d declined offers by a sea looking out on the lake and a was so glad to see that Of course we pretended to off at a random stop along the The writer was a guest of of barters to buy an umbrella good old fashioned bar — just precocious children don’t just have never heard of the actor. way, Cernobbio, knowing we the Italian Government Tourist in town) we pushed the door the sort of place George live in Australia these days.) I ordered a glass of could get back on the boat Office and Etihad. PUB:

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www.sundayterritorian.com.au Sunday Territorian, Sunday, December 12, 2010 — 53