Month: December 2024

Posted on

So long & farewell to 2024!

We’ve actually had an interesting time saying goodbye to 2024 and “bringing in” 2025.

For one thing, we’ve been so busy as our time in Lugano draws to a close that we didn’t get much of a headstart on packing.

Today’s plan was to have lunch at Silvio’s, followed by a quick coffee/tea with the Lo Menzo’s, then home to get everything ready to leave first thing tomorrow morning.

Except “lunch” lasted from noon until a little after 3:00 and coffee/tea went from 3:30 until almost 5:00. By the time we got home I was pooped!

Little by little I managed to get it done, but as I sat down to write I realized I haven’t given a single thought to the year that’s ending or spent a single moment pondering my goals and intentions for the year ahead. Oops! Maybe there’ll be an opportunity on the train to Assisi tomorrow.

Regardless — I wish you all a Happy New Year and a 2025 filled with blessings!

Posted on

Then there’s the lake

Our view from Figino

We have a small view of Lake Lugano from the little house where we’re staying. It’s outside of Lugano, in an area called Figino; the most direct route into the city or to visit Ramesha’s family is to drive past the shopping center in Grancia then take the autostrada.

But this morning we went the long way around, following the lakeside from Figino to Morcote and on into centro Lugano.

Lakeside in Morcote

You can see it on the map below. The light red square with the red dot in the middle is the approximate location of our house; the green line is our usual route into Lugano; and the yellow line is what we did today.

Lago di Lugano

Lago di Lugano has quite a funny shape, being rather long and skinny. But that just means there’s a lot of lakeside property for people to enjoy.

Posted on

Mountains, mountains everywhere

Today a group of family and friends celebrated the birthday of Manu (my sister-in-law) by gathering for lunch in Malcantone, a particularly beautiful region of Switzerland.

As we drove up to the Alpe di Pazz (a group house rented out for events by the Swiss organization that’s the equivalent of the Boy Scouts) I was struck by the view of this mountain. Lucky for me, we were at a spot in the road where I could ask Ramesha to slow down so I could take a photo.

But that’s the thing about Switzerland — views of amazing mountains are so common they’re like a dime a dozen. However, I can’t help trying to get pictures of them all. 🤷‍♀️

Posted on

A (mostly) catching up day

Finally a morning at “home” — to catch up on things, do laundry, take photos of the lake view, and cook broccoli for lunch (I’ve been craving vegetables).

We did spend time with friends in the afternoon but the evening has once again been a blessedly quiet time at “home” — finishing laundry and having more broccoli for dinner.

Now to go watch a show.

Posted on

Family excursion to Cardada

We went up into the mountains above Locarno today, taking the funivia (cable car) up to Cardada — an elevation of 5,482 feet.

There were eight of us, plus a baby and three dogs. We strolled the various pathways, enjoyed lunch in a beautiful restaurant, and I realized once again that there’s nothing quite like really fresh mountain air.

What a lovely day.

Posted on

Moving into week two

We arrived a week ago yesterday, so this was day two of our second week in Lugano. And, my goodness, but two weeks is way too short of a visit!

However, it’s all we can do at this time of year, so we’re trying not to feel pressured about it.

Posted on

When in Switzerland…

We had a very traditional Swiss-Italian Christmas.

First we attended 10:00 mass at the Catholic church in Canobbio (Ramesha’s home village).

Then we picked up Silvio and drove to Bellinzona for Christmas with extended family — Nani’s (Ramesha’s father, brother, sister, and us of course), Mazzola’s (brother-in-law and his mother), Schneider-Clissa’s (niece and her husband, plus baby Aron), and Antonio’s parents from Rome.

We were there for approximately five hours of appetizers, pasta with salmon, tiramisu and marscapone, coffee, digestivo, gifts, dogs, and lots of laughter.

Quite a day!

Posted on

The Grinch to the rescue

I’ve been feeling a little discombobulated this Christmas. Not entirely sure why, although some part of it is probably the tiredness of traveling then hitting the ground running once we arrived.

But I think it also might be that we’re so “out of our element” — no choir, no ensemble, no making and sharing music with others. In short, no spiritual community.

Whatever the reason, feeling a little “off” was the result. But tonight we watched the original 1966 version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and — as always — it brought me completely into the right spirit. I especially love the ending lines…

Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer.
Cheer to all Whos far and near.
Christmas Day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp.
Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we.
Welcome, Christmas. While we stand.
Heart to heart… and hand in hand.

May we always have we, and may we always stand, heart to heart and hand in hand.

Posted on

A free day in Lugano centro

This was our first completely unscheduled day since we arrived last Wednesday.

We enjoyed a slow morning, then spent a good part of the afternoon walking around downtown Lugano admiring the Christmas decorations.

The late afternoon and late into the evening were spent with our dear friends, the Lo Menzo’s, where a quick coffee turned into a spontaneous dinner.

I’ll hopefully have time to sort through my photos tomorrow. Now it’s time for bed.

Posted on

Blessed with meditation and satsang

We spent the day at a retreat center called La Perfetta, which is in Arzo, near the border with Italy.

Something like forty or fifty devotees from Switzerland and Italy gathered there for Ananda’s traditional 8-hour Christmas meditation. It happens every year at all Ananda communities, but since we knew we would miss the one at Ananda Village, we reached out to see if one was scheduled for here in Ticino.

Of course, the powerhouse leaders of the Ticino meditation group (Triveni, Amrita, and Monica) quickly organized and magnetized this wonderful event.

What a blessing it was.