Locarno

Today we left Lago Maggiore to head slightly west to Lago Lugano. As we worked our way around the top of Lago Maggiore we passed into Switzerland and stopped off at Locarno.

Today it is not just cloudy, the clouds descend spectacularly down the sides of the mountains, we also had rain. When we arrived in Locarno and found somewhere to park the rain was tipping down. Great weather for ducks, not so great for me as I had to buy an umbrella, still at only ?5 I cannot complain too much.

Locarno is an attractive town and seemed quite large after the places we have been in the last few days. We did not get to the lake, but had a wander round and a coffee, passed by the castle and returned to the car to continue the journey.

By the time we got to Lugano the weather had cleared and the sunshine reappeared. Our hotel is in the city, and this certainly has the feel of a city, but it is up a steep hill, near the main rail station. We walked down to the city centre, and returned by bus. Luckily the hotel is on a bus route, with a stop just outside the door.

Excellent dinner, but the prices are a bit of a shock after Italy, wine especially is extremely expensive. Still what is the alternative?