It’s been a fall full of visitors here in Ticino. In early October, my parents and our friends Charlie and Deb came over for a visit. Chestnut season upon us, we made the most of Montagnola’s grottos, evenings on the patio, and did some stargazing.
It’s been nearly 20 years since my parents first came to visit in the summer of 2007. Here we are in Gandria on a sunny July day.
They returned to Gandria this trip, taking the boat from downtown for lunch on the water.
Dinner at La Tinera with friends was another Lugano highlight. Ticinese merlot, ossobuco, and polenta were winners all around.
Making use of Swiss transport, we took the train to Bern, Switzerland’s capital city.
Even grey October days couldn’t dim the autumn treats on offer in Bern. Chocolate shops, bookstores, and cozy cafes made me eager to return.
We made a stop in Lucerne on the way home. Lunch at Rathaus Brauerei was a highlight, along with the Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge).
Charlie, Deb, and my dad stayed on in Lucerne for an epic gondola up Mt. Pilatus, breaking through cloud cover at the summit to enjoy gorgeous blue skies.
Mom and I returned to Montagnola for some porch time with Mol and a field trip with my students to the Hermann Hesse Museum just up the mountain.
As the chestnuts fell on Montagnola, the crew headed south to enjoy a few days on Lake Como’s sunny shores…
SwissMissMeg 
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