Road Tripping

Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travellers don’t know where they’re going.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Headed off on our road trip. Picked up the hire car, a Jeep, and Megan was impressed that I had booked such a large car for her to drive, on the wrong side of narrow roads.  

First stop Viamala Gorge, which we only had to drive past three times before finding a parking spot.  The photos do not capture the magnificence or size of the gorge, which was formed by the Rhine. And we took on the challenge of the steps to descend into the Gorge knowing that what is descended also had to be ascended. At least we earned our ice cream. 

Coming down the mountain pass into Lugano there are multiple tunnels through mountains and bridges over lower roads as you circle your way down. We only had to stop for one stress break lol. 

Into Lugano which is very different again, a big city on the shores of a beautiful lake, it’s a holiday destination for many Swiss. Although we are still in Switzerland it feels very Italian, in language and the warmth and demeanour of the people.  

It was a rainy afternoon and we took a ride round the lake on the Touristica Trena, the difference between Swiss German and Swiss Italian evident by two different drivers, one we dubbed Hans and the other Mario. It was Mario who was obviously a man happy in his work. 

Spotted some very large salamis

An unidentified bird

Wet streets

Finished the evening with another huge meal, although the glass of red wine was exactly measured at 100 ml – obviously Swiss not Italian !