Wissifluh; a perfect Sunday getaway

I have been living in Lucerne, the main city in the heart of Switzerland, for over a year now and I cannot stop being amazed by the natural beauty that surrounds it! Your eyes will be constantly spoilt by an incredibly idyllic nature of mountains in their varied shapes and sizes, historical villages around the lake marked by the heroic legend of Wilhelm Tell , lavish hilly fields dotted with imposing wooden farm houses and the snow-capped Alps visible in the distance. The irregularly shaped Lake Lucerne (or its real name Lake of The Four Cantons, in German Vierwaldstättersee) unifies this idyll in a unique and compacted geographical area belonging to the Cantons of Lucerne, Schwyz, Uri and Unterwald (today split into the Canton of Nidwalden and Obwalden).

Apart of the world's most known mountains such as Rigi Kulm, Pilatus, Stanserhorn and Engelberg, the area offers an infinite number of unique hidden spots to be discovered. One of my favourite ones is Wissifluh which offers a thrilling cable-car journey to the top of the mountain and a mind-blowing view over Lake Lucerne. 

View over Lake Lucerne from Wissifluh

Visit the Malcantone region and overnight by B&B Atelier Beatrice

Malcantone is part of the Lugano-region in the Italian speaking part of Switzerland on the border with Italy. It is a stunning place to visit during the period from spring until autumn offering a variety of characteristics from middle size mountains to rivers and the lake Lugano, old stone villages as well as various outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, rock-climbing, paragliding, sailing and more. You can have a look at the Malcantone site which offers all kind of information and descriptions about the region. Italy is reachable within few minutes by train, car or the FLP orange regional train. If you want to stay for a couple of nights or for a longer sojourn I would suggest you the B&B Atelier Beatrice laying on the top of a hill overlooking the Vedeggio valley and the Lugano lake in the little village of Bioggio. The ecological house made mostly of wood has a very particular looking design attracting the eyes of every passersby. Look at the pictures below and you will receive a better idea of it. The owner is a local family composed of three young girls, the mother and the grand-dad. They are all very friendly and warm-welcomed people who will deliver coziness to your Swiss Italian journey in the South part of Switzerland. With the precious knowledge of the grand-dad you receive any kind of information you want about the history and the legends of Ticino. For more information click www.malcantone.ch and click on Atelier Beatrice. ENJOY YOUR STAY!

The challenge to climb a GLACIER!

Last August I climbed the highest mountain (3'402.2 meter above sea level) in Ticino, the only speaking-italian region in southern Switzerland. The mountain posses two names: Adula in Italian and Rheinwaldhorn in German. The mountain Adula stands on the border with the Grison canton (the eastern German-speaking region of the country) and it is surrounded from three different glaciers one of which is called Adula like the mountain. The Adula glacier has shrank the most in the last 50 years compared to other glaciers in the region, retrieving about 900 meters in the last 60 years which correspond to 1/3 of its initial length. It is an amazing excursion that you should try to plan during the months of Summer (June, July, August) where the temperature on the top of the mountain is still comfortable. The walking track starts from either Olivone or Dangio (in Bellinzona region) and it takes maximum 3 hours to reach the first hut, CAS (Club Alpino Svizzero - The Swiss Alpine Club, which website offers a list of all the huts in Switzerland).The first part of the walk it is easy and very relaxing. It starts to be arduous and tiring from the CAS hut to the UTOE one climbing for about 2 hours on a steep rocky mountain with an altitude difference of 381 m. From the UTOE hut you can enjoy an amazing view over the Swiss alps and relish the comforting sounds of the nature. The hut offers the essential facilities such as a large dormitory, showers and kitchen to spend one or more nights (about 25.-- Swiss francs per night with breakfast included). From spring until autumn there is always a guardian who looks after the accommodation and usually a menu of basic dishes is provided as well. Once you have reached the spot and decided to overnight, you can't miss to climb the Adula glacier the next day! You need to get up quite early, about 6 am, to be able to walk on the glacier before noon when the glacier start melting. Bring with you the necessary equipments, which you could also rent in the hut, such as cramps, pickax and rope (we were fine also without rope)... and even if it is August remember to take gloves, a scarf and a warm hat since it is quite windy and chilly on the summit. The whole way up is a gorgeous varied landscape from minimal greenery, to rocky until you will be surrounded from a flat, white surface. It was quite scary to walk up the glacier; a steep, slippery expanse which could hide a few cracks and therefore you have to watch out not! Walking on the ice with the cramps is an amazing adventure... all around you is flat and white with the majestic alps dominating far away the wide, enormous area. It is a feast for the eyes! To climb up to the peak took about four hours and only two to walk back... it was absolutely exhausting but incredibly satisfying!