Our Adventure:Lost in the Wilderness

When we reached Bellinzona,it was already past midday.We were very exhausted.We went straight to the tourist office.The lady there was so helpful.She booked a room for us within our budget at a hotel just opposite the railway station. We walked a little in the beautiful town.The town had a medieval flavour in all its architechture.The skyline of Bellinzona,the capital of Ticino, is defined by the powerful fortifications of the three medieval castles,which are also Unesco World Heritage Sites.The town is the gateway to Italy and seen from the South it acts as a keyhole to the Alps.
The lady at the tourist office had asked us to come to downtown in the evening as there was some local event there...there would be music...some jazz band was going to play...
I felt hungry as I saw the chicken being roasted at the roadside stands.The whole day we have been surviving on snacks as we didnt have time for lunch.
So we decided to first go to the hotel,check in,have a bath and then come downtown to have a good meal and enjoy whatever music and festivities they were arranging.
When we came out of the hotel it was already 6pm.But as it was summer it felt like it was just 4pm or so.It was a five minutes walk from there to the downtown.
We thought we should first have a look at the area surrounding the hotel.Though the hotel was near the station, it was still quite a peaceful place.
There was a bus station just across the street.We thought we should check the bus timings so that we could decide which bus to take next day and when.We had plans of exploring the virgin Biasca valley the next morning.There was really a bus connection to Biasca and as I was just looking at the timetable a bus arrived.

We asked the driver whether this goes to the Biasca and he nodded.

We asked by what time we'll reach there.He showed on a little timetable the time we'll reach there.It was only 30 mins.We thought we could just take a ride on the bus and thus we'll have an idea about the place.So we boarded the bus and sat down.There were only two more passengers.The route was so beautiful that for the next few minutes we lived just in our senses absorbing every sight and smell and sound and forgot our bodies...
When I think of that day I wonder when we were feeling so hungry why did we ride that bus in the first place?Curiosity and the madness in the blood that makes me a traveller are the only answers I can give.

One of the passengers got down.I got up and took one of the timetables that were lying there.I wanted to know when was the last bus to return.And what I found?That it was already too late.The last bus had already left.It was just 6:45pm.I went to the driver and bought the ticket and asked to make it a return one.He said the bus was not going to return today.It was the last bus.
And within 10 minutes we were there.
The last stop.
I requested the driver even if the bus doesnt go all the way to Bellinzona...he could just drop us anywhere in the way back.He denied and left.
There we were... standing in the Biasca or whatever it was with all our romanticism thrown on our face with a nice slap.
There was just his wallet and camera and nothing else with us.The bus stop showed that there was only one bus route and the last bus had left at 6:30.
It was almost in the midst of wilderness.There were a few houses at a distance.
But most of the place was forests beside a highway.There was obviously a direction mark showing Bellinzona was 23km from here but it pointed towards the hiking path through the forest.
Still we didnt cease to hope.
Want to know what hapenned next?
Tell me what do you think we did after that...

The three mountain lakes hike at Val Piora



                                      
We started early from the hotel as we have planned to catch the 7:30 train from Lugano.The hotel we stayed in Lugano was outside the proper town and we had to take a bus to reach the station.

It was in a very tranquil setting and our room in the 2nd floor had a balcony with a really nice view.The hotel was run by a middle aged lady who didnt know a word of English.Yet we shall never forget their hospitality.

We took the train to Biasca and then a post bus to Piotta.The Yellow Swiss Post buses are a matter of pride for the Swiss.They usually run in very remote locations and they dont carry posts but passengers.The journey to Piotta was beautiful as all journeys in winding hilly roads are.

From Piotta we took the funicular to Val Piora.It is said to be Europe's steepest funicular.The ride was wonderful.We stood in the lower portion of the funi and could see the valley residing beneath our feet,the houses turning tiny ,the roads changing into ribbons and the whole vallley adjusting itself to my visual range as if I was zooming out in my camera.

When we reached Piotta,we realised that there was a long walk ahead.
I have read about the easy hiking trail that covers the three mountain lakes:Lago Ritom,Lago Tom and Lago Cadagno.
The first patch of the hike is a on steep road that takes you to Lago Ritom.It starts just where the funi stops.
We walked almost half an hour on that road before we reached the lake. Old people and women pushing prams were walking on that steep hike as if it was the most normal everyday walk.This is something we have seen everywhere in Switzerland.While we are panting for breath, we could see old people,older than our parents walking up steep hilly roads in such confident strides.

Lago Ritom was a small lake with beautiful clear water.The place was wonderfully silent.The blue lake was surrounded by lush greenary and there were such a variety of flowers and some of them are rare and so picking was prohibited.We felt tired and at the same time refreshed as we sat beside the lake soaking the beauty of the place with all our senses.
I took out some biscuits,cake and water from my backpack...
From there there was no more a well made road;but there were signs pointing towards lago Tom.We walked following the signs.At Lago Tom we didnt descend to the lake but took some photos and continued walking towards lago Cadagno.
The Lago cadagno seemed the most beautiful of all.You can really see the sky,the clouds and the surrounding mountains reflected in its crystal clear water.The lake was lying there like a small private mirror for the beauties of nature.The sight was really breathtaking.There was a small cottage beside the lake...we walked around it taking pics...and  time passed by so fast...

Suddenly,we remembered that we will have to return to the funicualr station and it was a long walk...So we had to start...
Even today I can feel the breeze on my skin,smell the subtle fragnance of  alpine flowers,see the dazzling greenary and the sky rippling in the crystal clear water of the lakes...
We walked down fast,slightly dizzy with our senses full to the brim...and our bodies extremely tired...
At the funi station we drank some yoghurt drink I had with me and boarded the funi...
On the same day we had to reach Bellinzona.I had no hotel booked there.So we had to hurry...