May 21, 2017 Opening day of the San Gottardo Pass! Visit to Prato, Dalpe & Chironico

The San Gottardo Pass over the Alps has finally opened. Although I've been suffering from allergies and a cold, we took advantage of the last day of our rental car - (our little Smart!) to drive over the pass and also explore some towns in Ticino south of the pass, in the Leventina Valley.

As we approached the San Gottardo pass, we took local roads (as opposed to the highway going through the tunnel). We intended on taking the over the mountain highway, but started out on the old, original road called the Tremola - it is a brick road! As we rattled our way along, we stopped to get a view. 

Looking south from halfway up the pass. 

Almost at the top of the pass, this view gives you an idea of all the roads! The smallest is the Tremola brick road, then there had been a newer road, and now a modern highway road. It wasn't possible to take the Tremola all the way too the top as it was still covered with snow. 

At the top and in the snow! Gosh, my allergies seemed to disappear up here and it felt so good to breath the cool air. 

In some parts it's like driving through a tunnel of snow.

We go as far as Andermatt, in the upper valley - not completely over the Alps, and enjoy lunch outside.

Heading back down, we see a Ferrari enjoying the ride

Looking north from the San Gottardo Pass

Can you see the dam up there?

There is a partial tunnel on this pass.

On our way back we drive up to the town of Dalpe, in the Leventina valley. This area has the largest meadows in this valley, and it was gorgeous.

Dalpe

A motorcycle group enjoying the day.

From Dalpe, looking back down on the town of Prato. Prato is also higher up from the valley floor.

While in Prato, we here cowbells. They are bringing the cows through the town and back to the barn for milking!

From Prato, looking down on the town of Rodi Fiesso

Church in Prato

We stop in another town which sits up the mountainside in the valley Leventina called Chironico.
There is also a gorge and small reservoir here.

The reservoir in Chironico

In Chironico

May 20, 2017 Explore Val Calanca & car free town of Breggio

Today we went to the Calanca valley near Ticino, near Bellinzona, that I have never been too. In fact, I never even heard of it until this year! Well, maybe that is because this valley, although it seems like it should be part of Ticino, is actually part of the Grisons canton. It was only about 30-40 mintues from Lugano.

A typical old, stone bridge in the town of Arvigo. Nearby we took an automatic cable car up to a higher, car-free town called Braggio. The cable runs continuously as needed. We pay in the box for 2 people, and the special door allows to people to enter. We sit in the cabin  and press the start button and up we go! 

We are up in the farming town of Braggio. You can't even see the bottom of the valley below. 

Braggio was beautiful, neat, and clean

Although there are no cars, there is a road for farm equipment.

Views from Braggio

One of the beautiful homes in Braggio

Now we drove to the last town in the Calanca Valley called Rossa. There was a little church up on an outcrop of rock so we took a hike up. Here we are looking back down the valley and at the town of Rossa.

Can you see the little church up on the rock in the center?

The architecture was very different here - definitely the Grisons canton. Here is one of the many beautiful homes. 

As we were leaving the valley and driving along the road, Rick suddenly said "We were just driving along the river, and now we are way high above it!" We turned around to the last road over the river and found a dam and spillway going into a gorge. Beautiful!
But I would be fearful of having children play in that back yard on the right! Yikes!

May 18, 2017 - Over the Lucomagno Pass

My final weekend in Switzerland and we were lucky enough for Rick to have some days off from coaching, so we rented a car for 4 days. We stayed basically in the south, because the weather was not good at all north of the Alps.
So day 1 of our car rental, we drove through Valle di Blenio to the Lucomagno Pass (Lukmanier in German).

A little drizzly at the top of the Lucomagno Pass

Green pastures north of the pass.

We stop in this area north of the pass to find some place to eat our picnic lunch.

Well look here! The farmer mowed a path right to this pretty bench where we ate our lunch.

Whoever thought dandelions could be so beautiful? And they were huge!

Too bad it was a little cloudy. My pictures don't do this valley justice - it's one of the most beautiful - especially in the spring.

This area is called Medels im Oberland

As we were driving down the road, I spot a high ropes course over the river and made Rick turn around and go back to see it.
There are various challenges going back and forth across the river. I know it's hard to see, but each step changes slightly, like wider to narrower.

Another view of the high ropes course. Unfortunately it is too difficult to see the climbing paths along the side to get from one suspended bridge to another.  

So, we are over the pass and at the end of the Medel valley, and now we come into another valley that is perpendicular to the first.  We are only half way over the Alps, as this valley is the high Rhine Valley. We are near the town of Disentis, looking east.

By Disentis, looking back at the Medel valley

Rhine valley looking west. I love Swiss cows!

We drive up to a smaller town just west of Disentis called Segnas, park the car, and just start hiking in a field.
There was barely a path to follow.

Looking back down on the town of Segnas

On the way back to the car we see a section of the mountain that had obviously at one time collapsed. It was very fairy tale like! We were waiting for some Hobbits to come out!

Back near Segnas, we hike up to the typical Swiss, red bench for a snack and a great view!

Looking back down on the main valley floor, you can see the famous Glacier express train go by.

We drove a little east of Disentis where we saw the old, original bridge over this ravine, and the new road bridge and train bridge next to it. On the right is the old roadway along the mountain. The bridge is covered and the sides high so as not to frighten the horses. 

On the old wooden bridge

View through a bridge peephole

The old road, now grass covered.