It is hard to believe that just a two hour train ride, and while I still pay with my Swiss Francs, you would think you were in Italy. I think of loading up my Subaru and heading two hours in any direction and still find myself speaking English... Although I have a new appreciation for that fact. What an interesting and unique place Switzerland is...
Samantha and I loaded up our backpacks and took off in a rain storm to explore our Swiss cousins--- the Italians!
As we neared the St. Gotthard Road Tunnel- the rain turned to snow-- We looked up from our books to snap photos that were so blurry but I wanted to somehow capture them! Nothing like the first glimpse of winter to remind me of change and even appreciate the cooler weather of fall.
Our first stop was Bellinzona.... There are three castles in Bellinzona and the first one was not too far from the train station. The wind had really picked up but we decided to check it out-- I think it added to the experience to wonder all that had taken place in this mystical world and in a storm made it that much more dramatic!
We dried off and made a plan as I savored every bite of my Lasagna! Our waiter joked with us-- we knew this wasn't the land of Swiss Germans! That night we stayed in a hostel. I think we just added to the mystery of the day with the castles as we were convinced that our hostel used to be a insane asylum. Wide staircases with rod iron railings, green linoleum hallways, white walled rooms with tall ceilings. We decided to put in place the buddy system when going to the bathroom. We even thought we had identified where a nurses station could have been placed-- cool but creepy! The view from our window was the castle lit up!
The next morning we awoke to sun! We were happy not to be staying another night at the "Institute" and got in a bit of shopping, explored another castle, laughed at signs, at more pasta, and caught the train to Lugano.
Lugano was enchanting as we got off the train to a view of the Lake and the Alps surrounding it! On our list today was to conquer one of those mountains! We took a funicular to the top and then a four hour hike down.. At the top overlooking Lake Lugano was a church and I again wondered how they would build such a structure here-- a miracle! I'm not sure I will get nearer to heaven to worship.. I was holding on to both sides of the handrail coming down from the top with Samantha laughing--- We only got lost a couple of times on our way and a sigh of relief every time I saw one of the Swiss hiking markers. At one point we came to a sign that was in Italian but obviously a warning sign.. To go back would be 2 and 1/2 hours and forward would be an hour and we would be at the bottom. We chose to go ahead and not to long after came upon a tree covering the trail... We climbed around it and headed on our way, glad we wouldn't be spending the night out here! We got to the bottom and as we were in a restaurant looking over Italian menu and watching the sun set we decided to check which bus to take back to Lugano and our hotel. We realized that the last bus was in 15 minutes-- I was so hungry and the smells about made me cry that we had to leave. We made it back and dinner was a pizza we picked up after we left the train station and I fell asleep in my clothes! Who said traveling wasn't work! Add to my list of lessons learned-- can get lost and find my way back, maneuver around large fallen trees, and when people use emotion in a language I don't speak helps me understand-- could be good or bad!
I'm starting to feel kind of homeless-- we packed up and headed to another city-- Lucarno! We explored cobblestone streets, views from a Gondola, churches, and shopping. This, our last hostel room came with a TV. We were exhausted from the day and had a good laugh as they had English channels!! We watched The Big Bang Theory, and enjoyed the British commercials just as much as the show!
Time to go home! We stopped on the train ride home in a charming village, Ascona and Lake Maggiore. Lunch overlooking the lake-- time to take it all in! One of my favorite things is that we both brought books to read and we would stop in a cafe along our way to just read.. I took along a Lois Lowry book, Son. It wasn't a historical piece whose plot took place here, but yet the rugged country was perfect background as I read. A background music as I traveled with quiet moments to connect ideas and thinking...
Then a bit of gelato for the train ride home! Cheers...
I wrote a passage from my book down-- I wanted to remember it. I stopped after I read it and was deeply grateful for Light and Knowledge that I continue to receive on my way. The character in the book was climbing out-- trying to move on and someone who had been down the road before her and had memorized the trail was guiding her -- I was struck by how detailed it was...
"Here you must stop and look carefully ahead and slightly up, for the next hold.
At this place there is loose rock. It deceives. Do not place your foot on the ledge here. It won't hold.
A gull has nested here. Feel under the nest, through the twigs there's a place to grasp.
Use the rope here. Feel with your toes now. Don't look down. Think only on the climb. Think on what you control."
Made me think of words by Elder Scott that I had also written down, "God has a specific plan for your life. He will reveal parts of that plan to you as you look for it with faith and consistent obedience." -- Those thoughts together gave me a powerful image that continues to teach me!
Living out of a backpack for a few days makes me appreciate even the fact that I "get" to do my laundry-- Travel moves me to love all things HOME!
No comments:
Post a Comment