Back to the travel theme today. During our driving trip around Italy, Switzerland, and France in April, 2000, my husband and I spent a couple of days in Lugano, Switzerland.
It was quiet and peaceful, flowers blooming everywhere, and I can’t remember ever being so calm and relaxed on a vacation.
We took a funicular up the mountain for this view:
The trip was not completely stress-free. We had tried to be adventurous and find hotels or motels along the way without making advance reservations. We did not take into account Easter vacation. By the time we reached the French Riviera where we planned to stay a couple more nights before flying home from Nice, every hotel and motel from the best to the worst had been booked ahead.
We drove the autoroute for hours to get away from the tourist areas and finally found a motel about 4:30 in the morning with one unoccupied room. So much for my spirit of adventure. I’d rather have a good night’s sleep anytime.
Hi Patricia .. great photos .. gosh I can imagine that must have been a bit of pain looking for a room for the night .. nearly happened in Ireland to me .. but most definitely not that late – so pleased you found something eventually! Cheers .. Hilary
Beautiful photos! I’ve never been to Europe. Switzerland would be among the top places I’d like to visit. I’ll make my hotel reservations ahead of time I think.
Lee
Tossing It Out
How funny, my husband & I had a similar hotel hunt in Lucerne Switzerland. It was awful. There was convention and the city was sold out. Love the country though. Gorgeous.
I’ve always wanted to do the free spirit travel around Europe thing! Maybe when I go, I’ll book hotels! 🙂
Sounds wonderful and the photos are beautiful. I haven’t been to Switzerland yet, but it is on my list. Two friends live in Zurich and are always on at me to visit. I just might have to move it up on my list.
What lovely pictures! I applaud your adventurous spirit in not pre-booking, but it can be haphazard. Thanks for sharing these pictures, now I want to get on a plane.
Gorgeous pictures! I’ve been to Switzerland, but only to Geneva, and it is quite different from this. Though I’ve seen the Alps from air (doesn’t really count, though…) 😉
Wow, it’s very beautiful. Wonderful images!
It’s beautiful!
Gorgeous photos. Yeah, hubs and I had times like that as well. We always book ahead now.
Karen
Sounds like an adventure! The photos are lovely. Thanks for sharing them. Suddenly I’m in the mood to take a vacation…:)
How could you pull yourself away? Beautiful.
Oh, been there with no reservations — not fun and VERY tense. ;(
Having never gone to Switzerland these photo’s showed me what I have missed. Thanks for sharing Patiricia.
Yvonne.
Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos. I can see why it was so peaceful, even with the hotel problem.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Pat – Oh, these are so lovely!! I am sorry to hear you had trouble finding a room during your trip, but wow! What a lovely place!