The adventure in Ticino

It was a long journey of  almost 6 hours.So we started early.Long journeys in Switzerland,however,seem shorter than they actually are.The journey itself was so beautiful that we seldom thought of reaching the destination.The beautiful swiss cities,the meadows,the mountains,the little villages with the small churches,the sudden blinding darkness of the tunnels and the change of scenary after that...the panorama keeps your mind so occupied that suddenly you realize that you are there.

The Lugano station seemed to be on a little hill and there was actually a Funiculaire to take us down to the heart of the town.

The town itself was different from any Swiss cities we have visited so far.It had a mediterranean flair,narrow pebbled  and sometimes staircased streets.You have to take these small stairs to reach one lane from another.The shopping street was covered and there was a romantic Italian flavour in everything.Yet it maintained the Swiss standards of clealiness and well groomed beauty.
The lakeside promenades were lined with sub tropical plants,and beautiful flowers.
 We took a cruise on the lake Lugano.
In Ticino,they call the "lake", "lago",Italian being the main language spoken there.

The day was sunny and the lake was sparkling.It was a pretty large steamer and we seated ourselves on the upper deck.We could see the Monte San Salvatore just moments after the steamer started moving...I dont remember the names of all the islands we saw,but some of them seemed unreal...just made for us...
I seem to remember naming one"Lover's Paradise" or was it it's real name?I am confused.

We got down on a place called Morcote.The town (or village) seemed to be peeping out from a steep wooded hill...And what you will notice first is the Santa maria del Sasso Church.But to reach that church you have to climb up a few hundred stairs.but the view from there is really worth it.There are some 16th century frescoes inside the church.But what I remember most is the little town with its quaint narrow streets, arcaded restaurants, pretty boutiques and paved alleyways.
The place was so romantic,so tranquill,I thought what if I suddenly got a chance to live here for the rest of my life?
Oh no! that was the other side of the river and you never know until you get there!!
I dont remember what I thought on that day.Perhaps I died to stay.But what I wrote now is what I think today if I had to answer that question.
True I have grown old.
True I would not take the risks I took on that journey again.
I am so much more responsible now!!Ok...more on that later....
After we came back we had a Doner kebab and went to the hotel to stay the night.
Next day we were going to the Three lake Paradise of val Piora...

What Seas,what shores,what grey rocks and what Islands...what Images return...

                                                  The summer of 2003.

It was like a dream.Every weekend we went out to explore the beauties of nature.This weekend we went to Jungfraujoch(top of europe);on the next we started walking aimlessly on the hills above Montreux and reached Glion;then for the coming weekend we planned to escape into the tranquility of Zermatt;after a weeks rest, we started for the medieval castle above Gruyers to attend a folk festival...

At that time,neither of us had a cellphone.We didnt have internet in our home.There was no question of car;we didnt know the ABC of driving.

I used to collect free Brochures from the Montreux tourist office which were given in abundance...read them,decide where to go,find out train hours from SBB-CFF timetable,decide whether we can return the same day,if not book hotel (again from brochures)through phone.Yes,in switzerland,you can book hotels on phone without giving your credit card number. They will keep the bed ready for you.But if you wont go,you should do the courtsey of cancelling it on phone again.If not done you would be rebuked on phone and reminded of your manners.

Of all these journeys,I will tell you today of the one that is haunting my dreams for the last few days...

A trip to Ticino,the southern part of Switzerland.We aimed to go to Lugano and Bellinzona and explore the virgin beauty of the Blenio valley...

Wait for my next Blog and let me know your thoughts