Thursday, August 24, 2006
We did it! We watched the weather reports for the Tessin region almost daily and a couple of days ago we found a patch of good weather. We called the Swiss Diamond Hotel, just outside of Lugano. The Swiss Diamond had made an interesting offer on their website that included an upgrade to a lake view room upon availability. To be sure we would get a nicer room, we called to ask if they had enough vacancies. The answer was yes. We booked our room online and headed for the train station. By 11:30 am we arrived! Only three hours to paradise.
Such a treat! The Tessin, the Italian province of Switzerland, seems worlds away from the German part of Switzerland. The culture and climate are so different it is hard to believe that they are in the same country. In German Switzerland, people are more reserved and the culture is more structured. But in the Italian part of Switzerland, there is a feeling of freedom and relaxation. Everything reflects the differences, including the landscaping and the architecture. The weather, as promised, was perfect and it was the ideal way to wrap up a wonderful summer.
While staying at the Swiss Diamond, we took a walk into the nearby village of Morcote. Isn’t it funny, how the best experiences are almost always accidental? We hadn’t done our homework well, so we did not really realize how beautiful Morcote would be. Naturally we had heard about it, but it was more charming than we expected. The city is old and well preserved with pretty arcades, filled with nice restaurants. It is a short 15 minute walk from the Swiss Diamond hotel. A visit is highly recommended if you are coming to Lugano, as it is only a 15 minute drive.
The Swiss Diamond is a charming, 5 star quality hotel, though not without its flaws. We have described it in detail in our TravelsWise website. To read the review Click Here.
Such a treat! The Tessin, the Italian province of Switzerland, seems worlds away from the German part of Switzerland. The culture and climate are so different it is hard to believe that they are in the same country. In German Switzerland, people are more reserved and the culture is more structured. But in the Italian part of Switzerland, there is a feeling of freedom and relaxation. Everything reflects the differences, including the landscaping and the architecture. The weather, as promised, was perfect and it was the ideal way to wrap up a wonderful summer.
While staying at the Swiss Diamond, we took a walk into the nearby village of Morcote. Isn’t it funny, how the best experiences are almost always accidental? We hadn’t done our homework well, so we did not really realize how beautiful Morcote would be. Naturally we had heard about it, but it was more charming than we expected. The city is old and well preserved with pretty arcades, filled with nice restaurants. It is a short 15 minute walk from the Swiss Diamond hotel. A visit is highly recommended if you are coming to Lugano, as it is only a 15 minute drive.
The Swiss Diamond is a charming, 5 star quality hotel, though not without its flaws. We have described it in detail in our TravelsWise website. To read the review Click Here.
