Wine Making
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Chocolate, Cowbells & Cable Cars July 2005 Switzerland & the Itailian Lakes
   
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America's Cup In Valencia
Firstly - A Piece of Valencian History
Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, and has a rich history dating back well
before .....
Firstly - A Piece of Valencian History
Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, and has a rich history dating back well
before .....
Planes, trains, motorcoaches, boats, cable cars, gondolas, lake
steamer, funicular, cog wheel train and ferry were our modes of
transport. We were 62 singles with 124 bags with Adventures For
Singles (www.adventuresforsingles.com) who came, who saw, who
conquered Switzerland & Italy. Aside from the traffic delays of
high holiday season, it went without a hitch. No lost passports
and no one lost. It was a whirlwind vacation but my theory has
always been "carpe diem per dollar", that is to squeeze in all
experiences possible enroute of any journey. After all, travel
is intensified living as we attempt to absorb the maximum
thrills per minute. (When I compare this to my Suzys Taste of
Europe trip 11 years ago, this was easy. We then did 6
countries in 7 days, like The Amazing Race.)
In charming Lucerne, we were led on a walking tour of Old Town
followed by a welcome dinner of Swiss fondue. There was a
folklore show which provided us the opportunity to blow an
alpine horn. At the end of the evening was a yodeling contest
where the bold wailed out like dying cows into the mic. We
enjoyed a real alpine adventure up to and over the 7000 Mt.
Pilatus which legend says is infested with dragons. From here we
boarded a paddle steamer and sailed across a crystal lake to
meet our motorcoach in Fluelen. TOP Our driver, Peter was
super-human as he transported us 7 days over narrow mountain
roads in our Super-Size-It double-decker bus with a luggage
trailer hitched in tow! At times local farmers would peer out
chalet windows in awe of such a feat. We stopped to visit the
Merlot Del Ticino Winery set in cliffside vineyards. So simple,
so pure. The family owners stated we were their largest group
ever. As we imbibed on 3 fine vintages, Peter spends a half hour
trying to turn the coach around with help from dozen locals.
Finally we arrive in Lugano. Is it Switzerland or Italy? You
Google it. We unpack for 3 glorious nights at Hotel De La Paix.
If its Tuesday, must be Italy. We set out to tour the lush lake
district which sprawls dreamlike as a watercolor painting. This
is the Rio of the Old Continent. In Tremezzo we view the
famous Villa Carlotta Gardens and water taxi over to elegant
Bellagio. The town has fallen asleep for its 3 hour siesta.
Nothing to do but manga so I amble up the cobbled streets for
my third pistachio gelato of the day. A shopping stop is
scheduled in Como. Some women dont even glance at the mirrored
lake lined with palm trees. As if on steroids, they march
forward armed with Euros, Swiss francs and a MasterCard. Their
motto on this 2 hour marathon is if the shoe fits, charge it.
Our day ends with a visit to Alprose Chocolate Factory. The tour
is disappointing, but offers good buys on sweets. TOP Our
evenings are totally free and we disperse in mini-groups to
discover the best local cafes. Seafood is ultra fresh here but
on my budget in this land of a weak dollar, I settle each night
for Pizza Margarita, paper thin with slabs of buffalo
mozzarella. On Wednesday, half the group defects to explore the
region on their own. Some do nature trails, boating, Mt. Bre,
the fishing villages and even Milan in a day. A few others
lounge poolside at our hotel sunning like lizards . We are
graced with perfect weather up to departure. The other half of
the group join me with our wonderful guide Isabelle. (She has an
obsession with George Clooney whose villa faces Lake Como.) We
begin at the Ponte Tressa market where Europeans flock for
bargains, but depart early as it resembles a giant garage sale.
We ferry from Lavino along with our monster bus across Lake
Home Made Wine Making
The Many Rewards Of Home Made Wine Making
With the consumption of wine in the United States growing steadily over the past 11 years, it is no surprise that the interest in home made wine .....
Maggiore to Intra and then drive to Stressa. Now heres a placeThe Many Rewards Of Home Made Wine Making
With the consumption of wine in the United States growing steadily over the past 11 years, it is no surprise that the interest in home made wine .....
Id like to linger for its Mediterranean feel. From here, some
visit the Borromean Islands.
Time to check out and head to Switzerland on one of the worlds
most diverse rail journeys. The Bernina Express corkscrews its
way up and over the Alps with a Kodak moment at every turn. We
pass 3 glaciers and Lake Bianco named for its "glacial milk. In
3 hours we arrive on top of the world to glitzy St. Moritz.
Our hotel was upgraded to the 5* Hotel Kempenski Grand,
according to our driver the finest hotel in Switzerland. We
quietly enter the chandeliered lobby in T-shirts and denim
shorts as if we too are part of the rich and famous. This is as
elegant as it gets. I dont want to leave my suite with its
marbled tub and feathered duvet. The designer boutiques in town
are closed now. We scatter on nature trails towards the lake.
For dinner, some splurge at the hotels world class restaurant on
fresh lamb enveloped in herbed crepes and deserts of spun sugar.
Twenty of us enjoy an outdoor BBQ of organic local products.
Later I take advantage of the complimentary spa with a swim and
4 treatment rooms. TOP Ive always said that if I was forced to
trade my passport with another country, Id choose Switzerland.
Even the cows with their bells are happy here. Its the purest
air and purest food. Its the efficiency. Like the Boy Scouts,
Swiss count neatness, punctuality, cleanliness and hard work as
virtues. Its the serenity in the verdant hills where one feels
safe. And its the beauty in the rugged geography of rocks,
bubbling brooks, clean lakes and snow capped mountains.
The highlight for me was our morning excursion by 2 gondolas
ascending to a lone restaurant 9000 high. Here we are greeted
with a private champagne toast on a sun drenched terrace. Some
of us hiked down through the Ice Palace, a grotto-like cave in
sheer ice. The majesty of this mountain humbled me. (See "On
top of the world" photo.) TOP Peter must drive us to Zurich over
a seemingly insurmountable mountain pass before reaching the
highway. In 27 years, hes driven tour buses over 3 million
kilometers and tells me he hates driving this road. We pass cows
mating and villages with populations of 12. After a lunch stop
in Heidiland, we arrive safely in Zurich. Its raining now as if
Mother Nature mimics the sadness of our departure. I overnight
here with a solid 9 hours sleep and reminisce another journey
well done. Perhaps Ill repeat it again in a future September
during the festival of cows in costume which come down from the
mountains to make cheese.
Every AFS trip is vastly different. I concern myself with my
groups over the destination and extremely impressed with the
politeness and the fortitude of this one. They were clueless to
the daily movements that had to be precision timed to the
accuracy of a Swiss Swatch. Through the hills and valleys of
this particular journey, they kept up like true travel pros and
win the AFS award of my most on time group ever. For some, it
was their first trip abroad. I learn most from them as I look at
the sights through their passionate and inquisitive eyes.
Through the years Ive been so blessed with good clients who can
appreciate different cultures as they follow me around the
world. I hope we will make an effort to stay in touch.
Friendship is the most prized souvenir any trip can provide.
About the author:
Suzy Davis has traveled the world for nearly 30 years as a
flight attendant and now with her company Adventures For Singles
(www.adventuresforsingles.com) She has visited well over 150
countries.