Switzerland to Italy

We started off for our adventure up the Schattdorf local cable car to Haldi. It’s a very small car taking 8 people - and 1 car comes down when the other goes up - every half an hour.

The views were great from the top across the valley.

We walked up the hill checking the area with lots of wooden houses all over the hill.

There was a crystal stone stall with an honesty box beside a memorial stone of a naturalist.

We had a map and we’re looking for a walk that would take us the easy way down the hill. We walked for quite a way uphill and eventually found a woman who was working on gathering up the cut grass on her field. We were a long way from where we thought we were. She directed us to a walking path that took us back down to the top of the cable car. We saw goats with little kids that came running towards us hoping to be fed. Also the standard cows with bells - very Sound of Music!

We then headed down the path at the front of the hill. It was quite steep going down a narrow path initially. We came across streams and water troughs - one with a small shrine to a monk - maybe a hermit in the hills?

There were lots of immaculately stacked wood piles. A lot would be required to get through their snowy winters!

We eventually were not far above the town.

We had been walking down for nearly 2 hours and it was a relief to get to flat ground to give the leg muscles a break.

We then got back to the van, had a quick lunch and then drove off towards the Gotthard Tunnel to get to Italy. We had paid 40 Swiss Francs for a Swiss vignette before entering Switzerland which covers all the roads and tunnels - so you don’t have to pay a toll anywhere - and the Gotthard tunnel is included. The views of the pass showed the mountains on either side are very steep - and the pass is very narrow.

We got to the traffic jam before the tunnel - which is standard as the traffic is reduced to 1 lane each way in the tunnel. We were in the queue for around 50 minutes before arriving at 2 sets of traffic lights that control the number of vehicles that are allowed to enter at a time. At last we entered for the 17km trip through the tunnel.

Glenn said he got tunnel vision - a monotonous view - and it was good to have a podcast to listen to to distract him.

Eventually we got through the other side to more amazing views - still Switzerland here but the signs were all in Italian.

We then were beside Lake Maggiore with lovely views across it.

The Italian border was 20km down Lake Maggiore with a border post where you have to stop. We were ignored - so fine by us.

We travelled on down to Baveno on the south west of the lake. The first campsite we tried was full however we got into the second - which was much cheaper anyway with the ACSI discount card.

It is a little up the hill - but with a lovely swimming pool.

After getting settled in we went to the snack bar where we were able to have a wine and the lovely girl there ordered pizza for us from the local delivery service.

They came a short 20 minutes later - and they were really delicious - one with pork and porcini mushrooms and the other a quattro staggioni. We really enjoyed them after our big day!

We then went back to the van with a bottle of local Barbera wine and watched the US Open women’s final - a good match that Belarusian Sabalenka won over American Pegula.

We went to bed - with wine left over in the bottle!