Two weekends ago, as you may remember, I spent some time in Locarno, which is in Ticino (the Italian speaking region of Switzerland). Kara and I had spent some time here when she visited last spring, and I really loved it. I really have the feeling that Ticino is a vacation land. Everything is slower and sunnier and nicer and warmer and more calm. It doesn't have that rush-rush-rush vibe that Zürich really does, and the Mediterranean feel is really relaxing.
My dear flatmate Stefanie works for the Locarno Film Festival and recently moved back for the season, so we decided that I should visit before I leave for the summer (and before things get super crazy for the festival). Things have been bonkers at work, and I was really happy to have an excuse to get away for a weekend.
I was able to work on my thesis on the train ride down, and then I didn't have to work for the rest of the weekend! Stef met me at the station, and we had time for a nice dinner before heading to the train station to meet her sister (who was arriving from Bern) and her mother (who was driving us back to their house). We stayed with Stef's parents for the weekend, in a small town outside of Locarno called Brissago.
On Saturday, Stef and I drove to the Vallemaggia and walked around a beautiful river. The stones were really cool- they were so smooth that they almost looked soft, and the pattern and ripples of the water were really clear!
From there, we drove a little further up the valley to a town with a pretty church and huge clock tower. Apparently, in the past, Ticino was quite poor, and many people moved to the US for a better life. They would often send money back to their hometown to have a church built, so you'll many small villages in Ticino with disproportionately large churches.
There was also an Osteria in this village, so we sat in the sun under a pergola of blooming roses in the mountain valley and had a very Swiss apero of cheese and dried meat. It was really idyllic- the quiet valley, the sweet smell of roses, the gentle breeze, the warm sun. And this is why I think Ticino is a vacation land.
After our apero, we drove in to Ascona, where there was a street performers festival. We took in a few acts, were not very impressed, and decided to take in some gelato instead. It was a much better choice, I have to admit.
Saturday evening we had a really nice dinner with Stef's family on Saturday night. It was really enjoyable to be with a family, especially since I quite miss mine. I also got to practice my German quite a bit, since this was our common language. I think I'm definitely improving! I also was working on my Italian- since it's so (relatively) close to Spanish, I definitely pick things up. We sat on their patio overlooking the lake and had a 4-hour dinner, watching the sun go down and the lights around the lake turn on. Have I mentioned yet that Ticino really feels like a vacation?
Sunday I had to leave around mid-day, so we had brunch together, and then Stef and I drove in to Locarno and had a coffee by the train station before I had to catch my train. It was really a fantastic weekend! I miss having Stef in Zürich, but it was totally nice to visit her in Locarno!
My dear flatmate Stefanie works for the Locarno Film Festival and recently moved back for the season, so we decided that I should visit before I leave for the summer (and before things get super crazy for the festival). Things have been bonkers at work, and I was really happy to have an excuse to get away for a weekend.
I was able to work on my thesis on the train ride down, and then I didn't have to work for the rest of the weekend! Stef met me at the station, and we had time for a nice dinner before heading to the train station to meet her sister (who was arriving from Bern) and her mother (who was driving us back to their house). We stayed with Stef's parents for the weekend, in a small town outside of Locarno called Brissago.
On Saturday, Stef and I drove to the Vallemaggia and walked around a beautiful river. The stones were really cool- they were so smooth that they almost looked soft, and the pattern and ripples of the water were really clear!
From there, we drove a little further up the valley to a town with a pretty church and huge clock tower. Apparently, in the past, Ticino was quite poor, and many people moved to the US for a better life. They would often send money back to their hometown to have a church built, so you'll many small villages in Ticino with disproportionately large churches.
There was also an Osteria in this village, so we sat in the sun under a pergola of blooming roses in the mountain valley and had a very Swiss apero of cheese and dried meat. It was really idyllic- the quiet valley, the sweet smell of roses, the gentle breeze, the warm sun. And this is why I think Ticino is a vacation land.
After our apero, we drove in to Ascona, where there was a street performers festival. We took in a few acts, were not very impressed, and decided to take in some gelato instead. It was a much better choice, I have to admit.
Saturday evening we had a really nice dinner with Stef's family on Saturday night. It was really enjoyable to be with a family, especially since I quite miss mine. I also got to practice my German quite a bit, since this was our common language. I think I'm definitely improving! I also was working on my Italian- since it's so (relatively) close to Spanish, I definitely pick things up. We sat on their patio overlooking the lake and had a 4-hour dinner, watching the sun go down and the lights around the lake turn on. Have I mentioned yet that Ticino really feels like a vacation?
Sunday I had to leave around mid-day, so we had brunch together, and then Stef and I drove in to Locarno and had a coffee by the train station before I had to catch my train. It was really a fantastic weekend! I miss having Stef in Zürich, but it was totally nice to visit her in Locarno!
