March 29, 2017 - Morning in Vitznau and driving back to Lugano with Matt

This morning in Vitznau, Rick and I got up and went for a walk after breakfast. We were waiting for Matthew. His class went to the Zurich airport very early in the morning. Matt had to accompany them, but he stayed on and rented a car at the airport and drove to Vitznau to pick us up.

The morning train up to Rigi leaving Vitznau.

The train beginning its steep climb!

And away it goes....

We find an odd type of "artwork?" on our hike. Lots of pieces of wood with little holes drilled in them. It was an insect hotel! Really - that's what it said!

Morning views looking back to town. A funny thing happened on our walk. I was following some smaller, shortcut paths to go up higher in town. We take a marked path, but it ends at someone's yard. Often in Switzerland paths will cross people's property. We see a man on his terrace in the backyard and he motions us to continue, but soon I see where are just in the middle of his garden and I don't know where to go! He comes to help us, and we find out he is Australian and has been living in Switzerland for many years. He spends May-October high in the mountains, tending the cows for local farmers. Once the cows are brought down in October, he is on "vacation" until the following May. He was so nice and invited us for coffee, but we needed to get back to meet Matt. I'm sure he would have SO many fun stories to tell! 

So here is what we found at the spot of the town map that had a symbol of a T-shirt on it. There is a waterfall here (when there's water) and a small swimming hole - just out of the picture on the left. But I notice odd vent pipes coming out of the ground, and a door in the rock in the background. I know that there must be a large army barrack underground here! 

Hiking more nearby, we find the army barrack. I was right! This is a tented entrance. I'm sure there is a huge operation inside the mountain here. 

Here is an old pully system to bring goods up to high pastures. 

View from above Vitznau

We are driving back to Lugano, and Matt, Rick and I stop for lunch in Brunnen. We buy some sandwiches and sit on a bench to enjoy this view! 

Matt and Rick

Boats also stop in Brunnen. Can't get more beautiful! 

March 28, 2017 - Train trip to Mt Rigi in central Switzerland & meeting our son Matt there!

On Tuesday Rick and I bought day passes with the Swiss train system and we went to Mt Rigi in central Switzerland. Day passes allow you to travel anywhere in Switzerland on buses, trains and boats all day!

On the train to Arth Goldau

Waiting for the Rigi cogwheel train in Goldau. Mt. Rigi is with the snow in the background. 

Some views from the Rigibahn cogwheel train going up. 

Still going up! 

So our son Matthew was chaparoning is high school students from Pacifica Christian High School in Santa Monica on a European trip. They were in Switzerland this day and they also went up to Rigi. The class was waiting for their train down when our train arrived on top. Rick wore his Pacifica Christian T-shirt, which really surprised some kids who were not expecting it! 

Matt and Gail on Mt Rigi

Panoramic view above the Rigi train station. 

It's amazing how the trains come up so high! 

A view of Mt Pilatus in the background. 

Me in the Alps!

We are really Swiss now! 

It really was warm up there! 

There are two trains that go up to Rigi - one on each side of the mountain. We went back down on the other side to the town of Vitznau. Unfortunately I didn't have a seat right by the window. It was a very steep descent - glad those cogwheels held! We also made the trip probably no faster than 10 mph. 

Still coming down

From Vitznau we walked just a few steps to the lake where we borded a boat to Luzern. Transportation connections are so easy! Here is the view as the boat pulled away from Vitznau. 

A little further from Vitznau.

Enjoying a couple of hours in Luzern. We ran into some of Matt's students there too. The class did the same boat trip after Rigi that we did! 

At our hotel in Vitznau after a long day. We fortunately bought something to eat at the train station grocery store in Luzern before taking the train/bus back to Vitznau. The weather was perfect - absolutely no wind, and we enjoyed our dinner on our terrace. 

Another view from our hotel that evening. 

Later in the evening Rick and I took a walk. I saw this town map, and couldn't help but wonder what the T-shirt symbol was in the upper middle of the picture! The next day we will take a walk to find out! 

March 26, 2017 Hike to the Grotto Monte Creda

 This afternoon we took one of the bus lines that stop in Pregassona (where we live) to the end point in Villa Luganese. From there we hiked up the mountain to the Grotto Monte Creda. A grotto is usually a stone mountain building, very rustic, and serving traditional, local food and drink.

It was a beautiful springtime day and the crocuses and mountain flowers were blooming in the meadows.

A big mountain dog at the Grotto!

Rick and the mountain dog, Nikko

Sweet dog, but boy he really slobbered on us!

Rick enjoying a cappucino at the Grotto Monte Creda

Our view from the grotto overlooking their meadow

Gail enjoying her "panaché - a drink of 1/2 beer and 1/2 lemonade. Very good!

This little door going into the mountain is not an elf's home. (I know it's hard to see the door.) They are called  "Neveras" because at one time they were used to store milk and cheese. The inside would be packed with snow, then milk and cheese put inside where they could be kept cold throughout the summer.


March 25, 2017 Sunny day in Ponte Tresa

We saw the sun today! As it was Saturday, we took the "trenino" (little train) from Lugano to Ponte Tresa - the last town on the border with Italy. They have a market every Saturday. There are a few things I find there which I find nowhere else, like:
my favorite light scarf in another color
a leather purse (that I like)
favorite non-slip slipper socks
delicious sausage sandwich with veggies cooked to order
olives
cheese - well, olives and cheese can be found elsewhere, but these are super delicious!

There are also food trucks and one was selling already cooked roasted chickens, ribs, and other roasts. We chose one that was a turkey roast wrapped in bacon - only about 8 euros. We had it for dinner. It was like turkey wrapped around probably a ground turkey interior with spices, and then of course the bacon on the outside. It was heavenly! We will definitely have to pick up a few more on another Saturday. Yum Yum!

Watching the sandwiches being made at the market in Ponte Tresa, while we were eating ours! 

After the market we walked down to this tip of Lake Lugano where there is a nice bar and gelateria (ice cream shop). It's one of our favorites for ice cream, and it's called Johnny's. We enjoyed a gelato before walking back across the border to the trenino train station for the ride back to Lugano.

panoramic of Swiss ship leaving Ponte Tresa port on left. It will have to go around to the narrow straight on the right to return to Lugano. 

As you can see, there are lines of buoy markers in the water - I think from a rowing event. The ship goes in between the markers, but on the last row the boat gets snagged. We watched the drama as they tried to free the boat, eventually cutting the rope!
That very highest peak in the middle of the photo - we live right near the base of that mountain - Monte Boglia. 

In Ponte Tresa. Everything in the background is Switzerland, but I am standing in Italy. 

March 24, 2017 Still raining. Couple of funny Swiss things

I'm sorry I have no pictures yet. It has been raining and foggy since we arrived on Monday, so we have used this time to get our groceries stocked up and plan future trips in Switzerland.

A couple of funny things I'd like to share: The best baguette I have found in Switzerland (closest to a true, authentic French baguette) is from a totally Swiss company called Migros. They have department stores (with grocery store included) in all the big cities, plus stand alone food stores everywhere. They have the best baguettes!
      The dilemma: Our apartment is right above a bakery. Every morning at 4am the bread is in the ovens and the aroma wafts up through our open window. Wakes me up almost every time. Now this bakery sells baguettes too, but don't compare to those of Migros. My dilemma is that I feel like I have to sneak my Migros baguette into the house when I get off the bus - which is right outside the door to the bakery! I don't want the baker to feel bad!

The next little quirky thing about a small country like Switzerland: I love to watch the Ticino TV game shows. Here, because there just isn't a population large enough to continually bring in new contestants, the contestants instead play for the entire week - even if they keep losing!

Tomorrow morning - it's off to the Italian market in Ponte Tresa, Italy. :-)

March 21, 2017 Back in Lugano!!!

We have made is safely to Lugano! We arrived yesterday, and instead of the usual connection flight from Zurich to Lugano, we decided to take the train connection. This is very convenient in Switzerland, since there is a train station right at the airport.

Everything went smooth... after picking up our luggage, we first went to the shopping mall at the airport (an all public area and just a few steps from check-in, baggage, etc.) At the Sunrise store (cell phone service), we each got new sim cards for our iPhones. I was lucky enough to get the same Swiss phone number I've had for years (I let is lapse last year and almost lost it) and Rick got almost his same number except for one digit. I really wish it were this easy in the US. For $20 each we get a Swiss phone number with $20 worth of data or calling. It's very inexpensive and worth changing to a new number while here.

After the Sunrise store we went to the train station where we renewed our one year 1/2 price subscriptions. For the time we are staying, it's worth it to buy the entire year subscription. Then, just a few steps to the next departing train for Zurich. This trip takes only 10 minutes, where we had to change to a direct to Lugano train. This was the only negative about taking the train with heavy luggage for our 2-3 month stay, but all worked out well. Oh, and as we left the ticket counter, the agent handed us a chocolate bar. Do we LOVE Switzerland or what???!!

Our Swiss train chocolate bar!

We have taken this trip between Zurich and Lugano many times, but this was our first time through the new San Gottardo Base Tunnel, a tunnel that runs much deeper under the Alps and cuts off 30 minutes of the trip. Timewise this is nice, but unfortunately the most beautiful view of Switzerland is turned into pitch blackness. It was a very eery feeling, knowing we were so, so far deep under the earth! Everything was very smooth with no ear pressure or weird sensation.

Today, our first full day after a good night's rest, we walked down to Lugano. It was a very foggy day. I know how beautiful the area is, but I feel sorry for the tour buses that stop for just one day and those tourists miss just how spectacular this magical place on earth is.

We noticed some changes after our 2 year absence. A smaller Manor grocery store that wasn't too far from us has closed. Luckily the main store downtown is open and thriving. A few other stores have changed also - I look forward to seeing the new ones! Also, one thing I always struggle with is trying to be right with the fashion styles here. I'm always "off".  Sometimes it's hard to tell if the fashion begins in Europe and moves to the USA or vice versa. I've seen it both ways. A few years ago I wanted to buy short tan boots in the US. I had to search like crazy for what I wanted. Then we came to Lugano and they were everywhere. Later I saw them everywhere in the US. Two and three years ago, I was wearing leggings with longer tops here. No one else was. :-(  Now, I'm seeing that everywhere here. Unfortunately I left all of mine but one home this time! At least I only brought tight, straight-leg jeans, which will work also. Phew!

Rick and I feel so fortunate to be back at our "second home".

Can't wait to get back up in the mountains!!!