Day 3.
1st September.
Pinch punch first day of the month.
Morning came quickly, we traversed the staircase admiring all the art on the way down, even an old original photo of the Dreyfus’s was hanging in full view, as if they were still keeping an eye on everyone.
Jean’s Mother & Father & Jean were busy in the kitchen which could be seen from the dining area, it’s their home too, full of the most beautiful personal items, pictures & furniture. They had been living there for over 20 years, Mother & Father Interior Designer’s, Jean an Architect. Jeans Father also a most talented artist. The breakfast was all homemade, jams, marmalades, yoghurt, croissants, brioches, ginger bread, fruit salad and so much more. The French really do put us to shame when it comes to home cooking. Ed & I slowly helped ourselves to the delights, whilst the other guests already at the same table chatted away in French. Our only exchange with them being bon jour! I really didn’t want to try again after my last effort. The other guests had finished soon after we arrived and Jean came to ask if we needed anything, this lovely young lad spoke not only French his native tongue, but also Italian, English & German all fluently. How impressive we thought. We had a quick tour of the house and of his father’s pictures before saying our goodbyes and thanked him for his family’s hospitality. His sweet Mother told us to send her greetings to Cyprus as she had visited many years back and had loved it.
Back in the car and off to Switzerland:
Lugano – Melide
Approx 3.5 hours’ drive.
We were feeling happy to be heading on through Switzerland, we knew we needed to purchase a Vignette – 40 Swiss Francs – un-like France and Italy, Switzerland does not have tolls roads, instead everyone passing through needs a Vignette pass which is stuck to your front windscreen, hefty fines are given if you drive through without one. We arrived at the border sooner than expected and was waved through to the correct lane so that we could make our purchase. 50 Euros handed over and change given back in Swiss francs we were through the border. The journey went smoothly, the roads clean and the views stunning. Crossing through the Swiss Alps the fastest way involves tunnels, lots of them. The Gotthard Tunnel 17 Kilometres long running south of Basel through to Chiasso on the border of Italy was part of our route, unfortunately we had to wait for an hour in a queue as the traffic was all bottle necking into one lane. Once through we were half way to Lugano, a quick pit stop was needed and as we were at the side of lake Lucerne it couldn’t have been more perfect, Buoch a pretty little village on the shore of the lake.
My new picnic blanket on the back seat would finally be used. A nice lush green grass area
called for us to sit down. Our cool box still full of goodies and some of last night’s left over Lahmacun would be on the menu. Ed kicked off his trainers to give his weary feet a rest. Our lunch began and we admired the beautiful views directly in front and chatted how clean the air felt. At this point a large flock of Swiss ducks clocked us and before we knew it, we were surrounded. I appeased them with a few of my mini cheddars, but one in particular had taken a liking to what Ed had, he’s last piece of Lahmacun almost touching his lips, when it brazenly grabbed it. Shocked by this Swiss duck’s theft Ed instinctually shushed it away, however that didn’t go down to well and it came for more, only this time Ed’s bare toe was the target…. I packed away the last of our lunch and within seconds the flock waddled off to have a nap under the trees behind us. No doubt awaiting their next victims with a picnic.
Our journey continued; we arrived at Melide on lake Lugano.
Pensione Al Boccalino
A small little B & B
The owners welcoming, the room clean. We grabbed what we needed from the car for our overnight stay. The local hotel at the end of the road had been recommended by our B & B for our evening meal. We settled for a while in our room, windows open with a nice breeze blowing through the sheer curtains. Ed resting his eyes and body on the bed, I undertook my normal routine of filling the bathroom with all our essentials, when we heard louder & louder voices bellowing through our open window, I immediately thought oh no what area have we come to, are we going to be safe here. It turned out to be a couple in the opposite apartment just having a row, the lady clearly wanted him to leave, even we understood that part of the Italian conversation. All settled down again hopefully they made up. So, at 7.30 we took at stroll and without a reservation was shown to our table.
The view out over lake Lugano, even the thunder storm in the distance looked some what mesmerising. The food was nice, but the view definitely stole the show.
