March 29 - Football story and other funny odds and ends

Here are a couple of stories that Rick has told me. The Lugano Lakers have practice every Wednesday and Friday evenings. 

There is a new 19 year old who wants to play and he has never played football before. Rick said it was quite humorous when he told the player he would play fullback. In the player's English with an Italian accent: "What is fullback?" Rick: "It's a running back." Player: "What is a running back? Oh, I catch the ball?" Rick: "No, the quarterback gives you the ball and you run with the ball.”

Rick said it was especially funny because the player looked just like Adam Sandler with a helmet on! This player’s dream is to become and American citizen.

Then, the other evening it was raining a little. Rick and the head coach picked up one of the players. While in the car the player asked: "Are we going to practice in the rain?" The head coach responded: "Sei un uomo o una farfalla!" Which in Italian means "Are you a man or a butterfly!”

Now, another little story. When we lived here 10 years ago, there was a red-haired man with a long red beard who I'd find in various places - in the piazza's, in front of a grocery store, or in the park. He played one of those organ grinder music things (with no monkey). I hear that he is a very nice man - I'm sure he is, but for some reason, his long red beard really freaks me out! 

So yesterday, when we were downtown to catch the bus to Campione d'Italia, who do I see? The red-bearded organ grinder man!!!! Aaaahhh!

Another one of those funny name places. We see this bar all the time on our bus route home. The OOPS Bar! "Oops! I gave you the wrong drink"??

March 28 - Trivia question, hike to Pugerna

 View of Lugano from Campione d'Italia

This morning Rick and I took a bus from downtown Lugano to across the lake. Now, here is a great trivia question: What Italian town, which is 100% part of Italy, is found entirely inside the borders of Switzerland? It is Campione d'Italia, right across from Lugano. It's a long story but over hundreds of years of borders, things ended up as they are today. The town is along the lake and the land that is part of Italy extends up the side of the mountain a little. Then, the rest of the face of the mountain belongs to Switzerland, and then at the very top is the regular border of Italy. 

So we began our hike at the lake in Campione d'Italia. We really didn't know where we were going, but saw a "sentiero" (path) sign to somewhere called Pugerna. Through Campione d'Italia the path was a series of steps - up, up, up and up some more! Then a path began in the woods along the mountainside. 

 As we hiked upwards, I found this sign showing the border. We were back in Switzerland! (Svizzera in Italian)

 We finally reached a the town of Pugerna! And what a beautiful view! During the hike we really didn't know what to expect, and if there was even anything in Pugerna. After all, sometimes the name can mean just a farm or meadow. 

 Here is one of the old wash basins in the town. 

 Here is a view from the town looking south down the lake. 

And here is a cute story. In the old center of town we were walking around exploring. There happened to be an elderly man sitting on his porch and we didn't see him at first. When Rick saw him he said "Buon Giorno!" A small conversation began and then his wife came out. She was so sweet and they told us they have lived up there all their lives. I asked her about our plans to get back to Campione d'Italia - we saw a road there that went down to a little town along the lake called Caprino. We were hoping we could walk down there and then walk along the lake back to Campione. 

Well, good think we asked her!!! She said the road ends in Caprino and that there is no path to Campione - the cliffs prevent a path along the lake. And at this time of year there was no boat from Caprino to Lugano. I was a little nervous about going back the way we came, as we had climbed uphill and many areas were rocky. Uphill is one thing, but downhill there is more of a chance of slipping. I said I wished I had brought my hiking poles. 

So this sweet old woman says "I think I have a hiking stick somewhere. You can take it and then just leave it at the first house when you arrive back at Campione." She went to look for it but came back empty handed. Some other visitor must have taken it. But it was so sweet that she even offered it to me! 

 A little restaurant in Pugerna - we had brought sandwiches - if we had only known! It would have been nice to have lunch there. It's called Ristorante Grütli. We did have ice cream though! 

So I had to face the fact that we had to walk back the way we came.  But what if we had walked all the way down to Caprino! We would have had to hike back up and then down to Campione to get home - oh I can't imagine! I asked where the road coming into Pugerna came from - couldn't we take that road back? Yes, but it doesn't go down to Campione - it's a high road in the Swiss territory and goes to the town of Arogno, on the other side of the mountain, where we could get a bus. But this was a far walk so we walked back the way we came. 

This part of the path was easy, but a very sheer cliff! 

This part was steep!

 We actually got all the way down much faster than I expected, and it wasn't so bad.  It had taken us 1 hour to hike up, but only 35 minutes to hike back down. Here is our view as we waited for the bus. I love the reflection of the clouds in the lake! 

On the bus ride home, I snapped this picture to show where we had hiked. Right in the center of the picture, on the mountainside, there is a small group of homes along the lake, Caprino, then another group a bit uphill and to the right. Then there is a 3rd group of homes and meadows uphill and right of the 2nd. That is where we were, although we walked there from Campione, which is not in the picture. It's along the lake off the photo on the right. 
We were really exhausted after this! 

March 27 - A visit to Comano, hike up to San Bernardo, and lunch with Gina

Today we took the bus to Comano, which is the town we lived in for 1 year, 10 years ago. We always enjoy a visit back there, to see what changes have been made, and hike some of our favorite paths. Last year it rained so much that not once did we have a chance to hike there. 

So today we were walking up higher in the town when we saw a helicopter doing some work. This often happens in Switzerland. They will use helicopters for construction of a home or delivery of a large item. Sometimes a truck can't maneuver the narrow roads. This helicopter was working with some lumberjacks - taking the cut wood over to another area to pile it up. It's always fun to watch this, but then our entire hike up the mountain was so loud with this helicopter moving back and forth! 

Back down in Comano, we stopped in our favorite little grocery store called "da Gina", which basically means "Gina's place". Gina is the elderly lady who runs the store, and when we lived here, she was our "go to" person for any kind of info on what was happening in town! 
As usual, she was so happy to see us. Since it was noon, she invited us to a restaurant in Comano called Osteria Ronchetto. She wanted to treat us to lunch. We had a lovely time and ate pasta and polenta. Gina says that she feels so touched that we come to see her every time we are in Switzerland. We love seeing Gina! She is our Ticinese grandmother! 

 This is one of the little streets in the old section of Comano. They are re-doing all the water lines and sewers. As you can see, it is quite a project! The space is so narrow between the buildings, and you can see the black tubing along the buildings so they can have water during this long reconstruction. 

 Helicopter ready to lift up a large log. 

 On the way up to San Bernardo (where there is a little chapel), we saw these new bas relief sculptures of the stations of the cross. In Comano lives a famous Swiss sculptor, Nag Arnoldi. These are his works. There are quite a number of 3 dimensional sculptures by Nag Arnoldi in Comano. 

 Ahhh, finally at the top! Looking down on Lugano and the lake. 

 A view to the east from the top of San Bernardo

 We sat on a bench for a while with this view. Gee, we could have had a bar-b-que! 

 Rick, Gail and our "nonna" Gina at the Osteria Ronchetto. How fun!

 These small towns are great. Everyone knows everybody. On our way out, the cook asks Gina if she had dessert. He had made a plum tart. No? Here! He puts some on one of their plates for her to take home. :-)

Walking back to Gina's store in Comano. We are standing between two parts of La Comanella Hotel. We always buy something at Gina's - my favorite? Someone around town makes homemade gnocchi and she has them in the freezer! 

March 22 - 25 - Weekend in Rome & Observations and frustrations in Italy - how I got scammed

Since there was no game scheduled for the Lakers football team this past weekend, Rick and I decided to take a trip to Rome to visit my girlfriend Patou and her husband Tony. Patou has been my pen pal since 1969 when our correspondence was arranged by my middle school French teacher. 

We arrived on Saturday afternoon. We had taken the Italian high speed train, the Frecciarossa, which we connected to in Milan. The trip from Lugano to Rome used to take 6 hours, but now it's just over 4! 

We unfortunately had quite cold and rainy weather in Rome. Rick and I managed to see some sights while dodging the rain. 

 We visited the basilica of San Giovanni, which is about a 15 minute walk from Patou's house. A Saturday evening mass was just ending. Can you see the priest in this massive structure? He just had said "the mass has ended, go in peace". 

 On Sunday Rick and I started long walk between most of the famous sights. Of course in Rome there are ruins everywhere, and it's quite amazing when they are, well, right there! Here we look down on an old street in Rome. 

 Rick and I have the uncanny ability to show up in a city which is having a marathon - of which we knew nothing about. In the past couple years this has happened to us in Zurich, Zug, Los Angeles, Savannah, Georgia, and now Rome. Here, Rick stands very proud of our name - Benedetto!!

The problem with marathons, though, is that we had to walk much more than planned in order to try to find ways to get across the street! A bit of a pain. 

 The marathon winds through Rome. In the distance we see it must be near the end, as there is quite a crowd! 

 We found the perfect time for lunch, as another wave of rain came through, but we were covered! 

 Here we are inside the Pantheon. Again, we found a place to get out of the rain! In the center of the roof of the Pantheon there is a big hole - so.... when it rains, it rains inside! You can't really see it in the picture, but the rain is coming down in the center. 

 I used my panoramic to go from bottom to top - this way you can also see the hole in the roof. 

 Somewhere along the way between the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona, we came across this Gelateria with 150 flavors! Believe it or not, we didn't have any! We were full from lunch. Maybe next time! 

 The Piazza Navona. The final runner had just come by along the left side. And also a little sun! 

 Parking is at a premium in Rome. When you can't quite fit into a space.... why not?

 We stopped in a department store. No, Rick is not in the women's department. This is the men's accessory department! Italian men love to wear scarves. You wouldn't find this in the US. I keep telling Rick to wear one - he'll look so European! 

 On Monday we headed in a different direction - towards the Colosseum. It was still very cold and rainy, but we caught a peak of sun. It's so amazing that something like this was build so long ago!

 A panoramic of the Colosseum. There are more ruins on the left side. 

 The ruins next to the Colosseum. I just take pictures - I'm not an expert on exactly what it is. :-)

We stopped in a grocery store later on. In the frozen section I found these mushrooms. You see the picture on the package, but look at the actual mushrooms in the package! They are just like the picture, and they are HUGE! I've never seen frozen mushrooms like this! 

My girlfriend Patou (in the middle) and her two beautiful daughters, Anaïs and Chloé

Now, I have been to Rome since I was 14 years old. I always remember the markets and vendors on the street - it's part of the culture. But this time I found it frustrating and annoying. All the market stalls, all the vendors on the street or who had carts, were all  northern African and Arab. Now, that doesn't bother me, it's just the fact that they "attack" you and just don't leave you alone. Those selling umbrellas because of the rain, they keep stepping in front of you to try to sell one. It's exhausting, and I found that I did not want to look at the markets or shop. It's a shame! 

We also observed in the train station the high number of people there who are mingling around to find ways to scam travelers. And here is my story of how I got scammed. I have a pre-paid Swiss cell phone account. I knew there were higher charges if I used my iPhone in a country other than Switzerland. I kept my phone turned off during this trip, but on Monday I needed to send a message to Patou. I turned on my phone and the data was enabled. In a few minutes I got an SMS from my Swiss company saying that I had only 4 francs left on my account. I know I had nearly 50. I turned my phone back off and when we returned to Switzerland, I checked my account online. Those few minutes my phone was on (and I mean a few minutes!) the Italian cell phone company took over 40 francs from me! 

So the bottom line is.... in Italy, if you don't get scammed one way, you will another! :-(

March 21 & the last few days. Funny food again

After that last hike we took from Carona to Vico Morcote, I was wiped out! I spent the last few days catching up on things here at home. 
And here is a funny story: the other evening I was watching on Italian TV station - The Voice of Italy - a show just like in the US. The mother of the girl who was on stage singing in the blind audition,  was waiting in the back watching on the monitor - of course with her rosary! 

 This is down by the lake, just off the Piazza Riforma and next to the Burger King (yes! There is a Burger King - and a McDonald's). The men are playing large size chess! 

 Today, March 21, Rick and I took a hike near the house - the upper loop above the church. There are two loops that you can begin from the Via Fontana Verde. The lower loop begins on the lower part of the road, and the longer, upper loop begins if you climb to the very end of Via Fontana Verde. Both trails can come back behind the church. The lower loop takes about 45 minutes and the upper loop about 1 hour 15 minutes. 

Here's what I found at the grocery store today. Polpo - Octopus. 
Hey! How easy can you get - it's already cooked! 
(no, we didn't try it. yet)

March 17 - Marathon Hike! Carona to Vico Morcote

A panoramic from under the porticos along the lake in Morcote, Switzerland

It was another very clear day with unusually warm temperatures for this time of year. Rick and I got on the 9:18 bus and headed up to Carona - a very quaint, tourist destination down the slope behind Mont San Salvatore. We began our hike high up along this mountain peninsula - where Lake Lugano surrounds 3 sides. The trail was well marked, but took us much longer than the posted time, but of course we have to stop for pictures and just take in the surroundings. 

Our first destination on the hike was a large meadow high up called Alpe Vicania. There was a restaurant there, but I know better by now - it's only March, and it's also a Monday. The likelihood of finding it open was nil. I was right. So we continued down to Vico Morcote. I knew that would be a steep decent - a labor of love for whoever made that trail of stone steps. Oh my knees after that long hike and all these steps down! And then it was the same story in Vico Morcote - restaurants closed because it's either March or Monday! Fortunately there was a bus coming by soon near the church. 

At the exact posted time, a "bus" came by - actually, a small van, with a small "posta" sign (the post office runs some of the bus lines to smaller towns) and also "scuola" (school). The van stopped and we asked - is this the bus? The young driver got out and came around to open the door. Yes! this is the bus! There was one child in the van, and we picked up more kids along the way - they had gone home for lunch and were going back to school - so basically we were on the school bus with the kids! It was really cute - we told them we were from Chicago. Then the kid behind us pops up his head and says in perfect English - I'm from New York! And another kid was from Miami! They just happened to have very international parents who decided to move to Vico Morcote (and who must have some money) 
This was really a highlight to find ourselves riding with the kids! 

The bus dropped us off down in Morcote, which is along the lake - one of our favorite towns - it is SO picturesque and quaint, and there are many very good restaurants under the old porticos along the lake. It was a nice, relaxing end to our 3 hour hike! Phew! I am totally wiped out. 

 Part of the town of Carona

Rick in Carona

 Along our walk in the woods - looking west . The large snowcapped mountain on the left is the second tallest in the Alps - Monte Rosa.

Playing around with the panoramic. Rick walked from left to right while I panned the camera. He is like a ghost in the middle! 

 Rick in the Alpe Vicania. The view is looking south, in the direction of Varese and finally Milan, Italy. 

 A view from Alpe Vicania looking west, to a town high up in the mountains in Italy, (you can see the town of Marzio, Italy) with Monte Rosa in the background (snowcapped, on left).

 As we walked down the east side of the mountain headed down to Vico Morcote, I took this picture of the town of Brusino, Switzerland, along Lake Lugano. The forested mountain above Brusino is Monte San Giorgio, a UNESCO world heritage sight for its abundance of prehistoric marine life.

 Another view of Lake Lugano, with Monte Generoso (with snow) straight ahead. 

 Coming down the side of the mountain looking over Vico Morcote.  It looks like Vico Morcote is along the lake front, but it's really still quite high up! 

 Rick heading down the mountain steps to Vico Morcote

 We are finally reaching Vico Morcote!

 One of the narrow "streets" in Vico Morcote

 Oh Yes! We were thirsty! Enjoying a Panache at the Osteria die Portici in Morcote. 

 The restaurant under the porticos in Morcote

Another restaurant with seating right over the lake. The couple on the patio were waving for our picture! I didn't realize it until afterwards. We ended up making some new friends!