April 29-30 A wash-out but still beautiful

We have had SO much rain! Yes, that is disappointing. I don't mind the clouds, moisture, and humidity, but it's impossible to walk in the mountains when it's wet and slippery. Waterfalls are plentiful and gushing. In these last couple days, when I saw a small break in the clouds or just no rainfall, I grabbed my jacket to go out and walk and get some exercise. 

One thing that is SPECTACULAR about springtime in Lugano is that there are so many flowers - not just planted on the ground, but blooming on trees and vines. I'm beginning to recognize when I'm near certain trees - the smell is so sweet - should make perfume out of that tree of which I don't know the name! Back in Illinois we never experience such a variety of smells - also just the smell of the "green", as the plant life is so tropical - really, you'd think you were on a tropical island.My favorite plant at this time of year are incredibly large wisteria vines that wind their way around all types of things. The smell is heavenly! Plus, they are just plain beautiful!

I just had my iPhone along with me, but here are a few pictures of the surprises I always find on a walk!  I find that the movement of the clouds is always so mysterious. Weather fronts don't move quickly from west to east like in Chicago. They move slowly because there is almost always no wind. The clouds and fog come in and out of the mountains or up and down the valleys, often with clouds sticking here and there in the mountains as if they were cotton candy getting stuck on the trees. I always say, a vacation in Switzerland is ALWAYS worth it, no matter what the weather is!

On my hike in Pregassona, April 29 - a glimpse of Mt San Salvatore from between 2 houses - oh! a bit of blue sky!

On April 30 - same view in same spot. So mysterious!

This tree we found in a park is just SO huge! What is awesome is that since there is not much wind here, these old trees are just perfectly formed.

Another one of the magical moments when a hole opens up in the clouds - at just the right place - to show a snow capped mountain. It's God giving us another peak at heaven! This is from downtown Lugano. You can also see how high the water is from all the rain.

 

Along Lugano's lakefront, the road goes around this huge tree. We learned that it is a sequoia, given to Lugano from California - probably about 150 years ago. The trees surrounding it are average size trees. There are more sequoias in Lugano's Parco Ciani, but not this big.