When my train chugged out of the Dolomites (see previous blog) heading for Switzerland, I had no idea what awaited me. I would be speaking at several places, but beyond that, I knew only the name of my host, Giulia.
She put me up in her home and arranged my speaking gigs as well as my climbing expeditions into the valleys of the Alps of Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. She and her family live in Bignasco, a tiny village in a narrow, deep valley. For the next 10 days, I’d get to know the people, the valleys, the rocks (for climbing)…and the goats.
I spoke several times, to big groups and small, and got to be ‘godmother’ at a regional youth climbing competition (I handed out the awards).
Most of the high Alpine valleys have dams (for electricity, which doesn’t exist in all of the valleys), like this one, the Verzasca Dam.
The day we went there, they were setting up for an international climbing competition, and climbers were testing the routes. I just happened to be there when Sasha DiGiulian, renowned American climber, popped up over the top!
Once is not going to be enough; I’ll be back someday, to both the Dolomites and to Ticino. I owe it to myself. And I hope you get to experience them someday, too.
Dear Dierdre, I am very pleased to read your post about Switzerland. It was really special to meet you, we spent some good times together. We are waiting for you, there are other adventures to live together… See you soon. Giulia and family
Dear Dierdre,
I am very pleased to read your post about Switzerland. It was really special to meet you, we spent some good times together. We are waiting for you, there are other other adventures to live together… See you soon. Julia and family
Ten days in a tiny village…what a luxury! By the tenth day you probably knew all the people, as well as the goats. Not counting Nancy, the most time I ever spent in one city, while traveling, was in 2021, when Gene & I spent 8 days each in Milan, Florence and Venice.
Wow, so they actually set routes on the walls of the dam? That’s so cool!
The cheeses must have been delicious. Matt originally had plans to open a creamery here with a partner’s goat herd to make goat cheese, unfortunately it fell through.