Day 245 - Window

Thought of the day: We are leaving Lugano today. I will miss the place, and I will miss the people even more. They are warm, open and outgoing. They talk in a beautiful Italian. The sunshine and soft air in this region seem to have effected a sunny disposition in its people. A beaming smile for no reason, a gesture that's as kind as it's spontaneous, a generous compliment...they can brighten up your day in ways that you wouldn't have thought possible. In the German speaking part of Switzerland, sometimes I have this odd feeling that I need to stay within certain boundaries and demonstrate proper behaviors. If I do something beyond what's customary, I feel that I will always be reminded in a subtle way. I don't feel that at all in Ticino. It's a bit strange. Perhaps it has more to do with my own mindset than the environment, or perhaps it has something to do with both.

Photo of the day:

Last look from the hotel window.  It was drizzling when we left - so it does rain here too! Maybe it's not too surprising because everything is so green here.

Day 243 - Lugano

Thought of the day: We are once again in Ticino, one of my favorite places in Switzerland. When it's rainy and gloomy in the northern part of Switzerland, you can hop on the train, head south and cross the Gotthard tunnel, you will often find yourself under a blue sky. We all need a cure for rainy day blues, be it a pot of tea, a favorite book, or an escape to a place with abundant sunshine. That's where the Swiss people get their sunshine remedy in the south, short of crossing the border all the way to Italy. For me, Ticino has the magic power of drawing me over regardless of the weather in the north. I'm up for a leisurely walk along the Lake of Lugano any time, any day.

Photo of the day:

A biker coming up a steep, narrow street in the charming Lugano old town in the early evening.  We're staying here for two nights.