To Bellinzona, Switzerland

Call me an old poop if you must, but people were partying outside our window last night till after 5 am.  Having been awakened many times, I finally yielded by closing the window and inserting the hotel provided ear plugs.  Yes, if a hotel provides ear plugs in the room, you might want to ask, why?

No matter, as soon as we ate breakfast, Vic was ready to roll.  So off to Zurich and on to Bellinzona in the south of Switzerland.  The train passes by two large, beautiful lakes and through many valleys and mountains, as well as the many tunnels.  A gent from Bern told us pridefully that the Swiss had just completed a 40+ mile tunnel on this route and that when open will save an hour.  We told him we were at a point in our lives when the view was more important than the time saved.  He said he understood.

We deboarded the train and walked across the street to our hotel.  The receptionist informed us the stores and shops were closed on Sundays.  The only store open is the convenience store at the train station.  7/11 where are you?  We walked the town and found an open pizzeria.  This part of Switzerland is Italian speaking.  The pizza and wine were good.

Full, we headed off to see one of the three castles here.  I was impressed to learn it was free and had an elevator up.  Hallelujah, hallelujah!  We toured the castle grounds and then visited the city center.  Vic scoped out numerous potential shopping targets for tomorrow.  I was disappointed with the lack of pasterias I was seeing.  Never discount the zeal an excellent eclair can bring to a day.

Then back to the mundane; we needed to do laundry.  As luck would have it, there was one a block from our hotel.  Not to suggest that the laundry was expensive, I am now however an arm and a leg light, but the clothes are clean!  Till tomorrow: