Valentinas Travels

Let me tell you about a wonderful hike I did last weekend with a good friend of mine.  The weather didn't look too good, so we decided to go where the weater often is much better than elsewhere: The wonderful Ticino region! We decided to do the Tamaro-Lema pre-Alpine hike - just between Switzerland and Italy and probably one of the most beautiful hikes in the Swiss pre-Alpine region.  We took the train to Bellinzona and then to  Rivera .  From there, it's only a short walk to the cable cars that brings you up to Alpe Foppa (1530 m).  Up there, we visited the famous chapel  Santa Maria degli Angeli , designed by the famous Swiss architect Mario Botta and made out of concrete and porohyryr. Quite impressive! And I admit, I probably would go to church more often if every church had such a view! ;-)  On top of the Santa Maria degli Angeli chapel. Shouldn't every church have such a view?  The restaurant at Alpe Foppa We then star...

Let me tell you about a wonderful hike I did with my family last week. It was the birthday of my mother, so we had decided to do a weekend trip to the Appenzell region in Switzerland -a region that you probably know because of its liquor,  its cheese or its cows. I guess this region is what many people think is the "real Switzerland", the "cliché-one". Well… They’re propably right! ;-)  We stayed in the hotel “Frohe Aussicht” in Schwende ( -->Link ), just some minutes away from the village of Appenzell – a wonderful hotel in the middle of green hills, cows and traditional houses. Mr. and Mrs. Inauen are very hospitable hosts and we immediately felt welcome there. The food was great, the rooms very clean and nice. Translated, the name of the hotel means “happy view” – no lie I would say, right?   The little village of Schwende Schwende When you're in the Appenzell region, make sure you try a typical beer or an "Appenzeller" liquor...