Lovely Lugano

I don't have much to write here - enjoy the pictures of this beautiful lakeside town, not far from Italy's Lake Como (which is the next lake along).  This was the best hotel I stayed in for the whole holiday. Great service, a lovely room, generous breakfast and good central location (even if I couldn't find the Funicular to get there - hint: it was INSIDE the railway station, not opposite, as all the maps seemed to indicate - and ended up walking down the mountain with all my luggage...). They also managed with delicacy my only public, embarrassing breakdown (while checking in). Not your average day at work, I expect...

Anyway, the weather was kind - although it rained all the evening and night of his burial which suited my mood. (I got soaked trying to find the recommended smoking lounge on the edge of town, it was asking about this earlier that triggered the tears, so I could have a memorial merlot and cigar - only to find it was closed. A closer restaurant, which didn't mind me dripping all over their floor, was able to oblige.)

And the rain gave way to blue skies the next day with a little mist in the distance as I walked around the lake as far as Paradiso. It was a lovely promenade, but made me sad as our only roleplay together involved our characters taking a walk, arm in arm. The lake has a jet - not as big as the one in Geneva, but something to walk towards. I also stopped to see a church with frescos painted by a student of Da Vinci, as well as some interesting public art in the little squares that make up the higgledy-piggledy jigsaw of roads for the town. Oh - and I stopped for gelati - because even though it was winter, gelati makes all things better!

For now. Aveline. xxx