Travel Re-start or Just a Dream?

Covid has restricted our foreign travel since early 2020 but with the world starting to open up again, and both of us double vaccinated, it was time to load up the backpack to search out new surroundings.

Our latest adventure actually started out with a flight to a favourite destination, Basel, Switzerland, home for our oldest daughter and her partner. As an added bonus we were able to meet up with my brother and sister-in-law, who were finishing up their European trip, which included cycling around beautiful Lake Constance. It was wonderful to catch up with everyone in person, capped off with a private dinner reservation on a tiny Rhine River ferry.

Down to the four of us, we utilized the efficient high speed train system to make day trips to various parts of the country. Our first destination was St. Gallen in the NE corner of Switzerland, home of the Abbey of St. Gall which had an impressive library containing medieval monastic books dating back to the 8th century. The following day we travelled to Einsiedeln, south of Zurich, that included walking almost 10 km's along a Camino de Santiago countryside route to reach another Abbey, established in the 10th century. The monastery was also next to a large, exquisitely decorated Cathedral. Another excursion took us south of Basel to the village of Dornach where we walked about 5 km along a path next to a river. Our final daytrip was to the city of Lugano, close to the Italian border in the south, Our train ride included travelling through a 57 km tunnel (the world's longest train tunnel). Lugano is a city surrounded by mountains and beside a glacial lake. Our first activity was to take the funicular up to the top of Monte Bre (933m) where we had 360 degree views of Lake Lugano, the city, and the surrounding mountains. The views were so good we sat down for a drink on a terrace and later found a restaurant terrace where we had lunch. After descending, we walked through a lovely waterside park (Civico Ciani) and then along the waterfront promenade. It was a long day but well worth the visit to a city that would be a treat to live in, if you could afford the Swiss-plus prices.

We had a good week long visit but it was time to leave our Basel hosts in the rear view mirror, or was it to allow them to get some meaningful work done? In any event we promised to return again before the end of this trip. We have now just arrived on the Italian island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean, where our next posting will come from. 

Auf Wiedersehen.

Meeting up with my brother and sister-in-law in Basel and enjoying drinks on an outdoor patio overlooking the Rhine.

Our private dinner on the ferry taxi that shuttles pedestrians back and forth across the Rhine during the daytime. We not only finished off all the cheese fondue but made it necessary for the Captain to go ashore for some additional bottles of wine.

Walking through the pretty town of St. Gallen. Standard living here with shops at ground level and accommodations above.

The famous Abbey of St. Gall. The lavishly decorated library contains ancient medieval books dating back to the 8th century, and collected from around the world. Cameras were not allowed inside so you will have to search google to see the library itself.

A panoramic shot of the countryside that we walked through while on the Camino trail forged by Pilgrims. It brought back good memories of our week long Camino trek while in Spain.

The Cathedral and Monastery came in sight as we approached Einsiedeln at the end of our Camino walk.  

At the summit of Monte Bre in Lugano there were great views in every direction, including a small village in Italy. We had lunch on the terrace while facing Lake Laguno, with the city on the right and Monte San Salvatore in the background.

The view of Laguno from the terrace. Being close to the border it had a distinct Italian flavour to it, unlike the German influence in the north and French on the west side of Switzerland.

While walking through Lugano we found sausage heaven. This gentleman was hanging massive Salami casings above his store. It would have been nice to take one home but I'm not sure it would have fit in my backpack.