What does a rose have that a ranunculus does not have. Perhaps they are a little more graceful, but this ranunculus is doing its best.
Daily Archives: 21/06/2018
Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Any Animal
Three animals together, a horse, human and dog
Two dogs together, one black and the other white
And a goat, at least I think it is
RDP #21: Italian
This is Bellaggio in 1995, a little village on the shores of the Lake of Como. Switzerland is sandwiched between a few countries and many tourists do not know they have been there until they have crossed Switzerland and arrived in another country. Living in Switzerland has the advantage that in a few hours, the motorways not being one big traffic jam, you are already in he land of spaghetti and wine.
There were not many opportunities for Mrs. Angloswiss and Mr. Swiss to escape when the kids were younger, but they were now at the age when you could leave them alone for a few days, and relive the good old days when we were young and lovely. We had heard of Bellaggio as one of those places where the Hollywood stars like to go and so we made our way via Lugano. We had not reserved anything, it was just on the chance that we find a hotel On the week-end we arrived there had been a Bernasconi political conference in Bellagio and as we arrived at a very good hotel, the various business men in suits were leaving. We were lucky we had the choice of the rooms. Bellagio is a land tongue on the lake of Como, so we had a view of water on both sides of the room.
Bellaggio is a wonderful place and also goes up and down like most Italian villages. One restaurant remains in our minds, the food was good and the service. It was situated at the side of these steps. We were in Northern Italy. The first thing I noticed in the restaurant was a shelf with various wine bottles, for show. One of the bottles showed Mussolini on the label. The boss of the restaurant would sit at a table in the evening, and when customers arrived he disappeared into the kitchen to cook, but his favourite pastime seemed to be sitting at this table and being the capo di tutti capi.
He had a son who would also be hovering around in the restaurant, but mainly saying hello to the guests, especially the female ones.
I remember one afternoon Mr. Swiss and I took a walk around the area. There were some lovely gardens, and old villas and we saw the son of the restaurant owner. He had an American lady on his arm and was showing her all the sights. She only had eyes for him it seemed. He was really the rooster in the basket in Bellaggio and two days later we saw him again with another lady on his arm, this time an english lady. Was this pure Italian?
I also made my acquaintances in Bellaggio, but it did not bother Mr. Swiss so much. I was then 49 years old and having my last fling in Italian.
We left Bellaggio for home and stopped at Lugano on the way in a restaurant with an outside terrace. The sun was shining, we felt good, looked at each other and realized we had the same thought. We then booked in for two nights at another hotel on the lake of Lugano. The kids did not need us, they were on holiday as well getting a break from mum and dad. This was the Italian way to do it.
Good Morning
Let’s start the day with the visitor of the day, a katydid. Mr. Swiss told me he was hovering outside on the wall so I naturally took his photo. We call them “hay horse” direct translated from the German. He was high up and far away, so I had to take the photo with my normal camera and not the mobile phone. I was also in a hurry, just stopped hugging the bed, but I managed to get his hairy legs. This year they seem to be in season, we usually only get grasshoppers, but I have not seen a grass hopper yet.
Otherwise nothing special happening at the moment. Yesterday they began to dismantle the scaffolding on the building opposite. I took a few photos on the way, but it was not such a big job as the one on our building last year in summer. We had the full works with new insulation and removal of the old. This building was just brightened up with a new coat of paint and cleaned. They seemed to be busy on the roof, but no big deal.
It was the monthly newspaper and cardboard collection day yesterday on our estate. You get a notice to inform when they are coming and everyone deposits the unwanted material outside. We also had a few boxes to deposit. The paper guys had already collected their stuff when I took the picture. It all has to be done separately and nicely grouped together, only organised mess on the swiss streets with the garbage.
We now have the special magnetic plate on our car which is proof that we are now allowed to park on the special places for the handicapped, although I am getting a little annoyed. There are four special parking spaces, extra large as you need room when leaving the car. They are nicely situated next to the entrance of the supermarket, so what could be better? And all four places were occupied yesterday when we arrive, but sorry, I think some people are just to lazy to find something else and there were enough other places free. Two of the cars occupying the space had licence plates from Kanton Bern. I live in Kanton Solothurn and do not think I would go the distance to another Kanton to do my daily shopping. Mr. Swiss finds I am making too much fuss about this, but I would prefer to be able to use a normal place if I could. Luckily we found another spot also quite near. I think I am becoming a grumpy golden oldie.
Otherwise I took a photographic walk around my front garden yesterday and found that the yellow hollyhocks and campanula are also now flowering. Summer is such wonderful time of the year. This morning I saw my daily earwig taking a walk around my kitchen, but Mr. Swiss says to leave them, they do no harm. I am not so sure about that, I think you can take this insect protection thing a little too far.
Today I will be taking it easy. It might begin to rain this afternoon, although at the moment it still looks like a sunny day.
Chronicles of an Anglo Swiss 