Europe 2014 - Lake Como Hike, Hydrofoil Ferry

The plan was to take the ferry back to Como, our departure city where the hotel is.  From the end of our hike there were two ways to get there - the slow way (2 hours) on the ferry to the left, or the faster way (40 minutes) in the hydrofoil approaching from the center of the photograph.  We were hot, tired, and in no mood to do any more leisurely sightseeing, so opted for the faster method, which was a bit more expensive but worth it.

These hydrofoils were fascinating.  They get going about 30 mph, and at that speed are lifted above the water's surface with wings mounted underneath.  As you can see in the photo below, brackets are installed to prevent the captain or others from inadvertently damaging the unseen appendages: