Easter in the city of Lugano

Join the festive atmosphere of Easter in the City and explore the numerous intriguing and entertaining activities for young and old.

Every year Easter draws a myriad of vacationers and travelers to Lugano. In order to add some zest to the picturesque city center, the City of Lugano and their tourist center organize an event called "Pasqua in Città" (Easter in the City), which will take place from Friday, April 14th through Monday April 17th, 2017.

THROUGHOUT THE EVENT, THREE CUTE RABBITS WILL HAND OUT CHOCOLATE CANDIES PROVIDED BY MIGROS TICINO.

Here is a peak at the programme:

ENTERTAINMENT
14.04-17.04 / 10:00-18:30 / Piazza Manzoni
Wooden handmade games for all the family, creative workshops with recycled materials and face-painting.

FOLK MUSIC
14.04-17.04 / 13:30-18:00 / Centro Cittadino
Musical animation with Tacalà, Duo Nostranello, Tirabüscion and the Bagiöö.

EASTER MARKET
14.04-17.04 / 11:00-18:00 / Centro Cittadino

Over 100 stands with handicrafts, food and wine.

EGGS CHASE
15.04-17.04 / 10:30 - 16:00 / Piazza Manzoni
Treasure hunt for the whole family in the city centre, leaving from Piazza Manzoni. Those that find all the clues along the way will be given delicious chocolate eggs as a prize.

CONCERTS
14.04 / 14:30 / Piazza San Rocco
JUGENDMUSIK SCHWANDEN

15.04 / 15:00 / Piazza Luini - Piazza Dante
CORO CHIESA DI GESÙ CRISTO DEI SANTI DEGLI ULTIMI GIORNI

15.04 / 17:00 / Patio del Municipio - Piazza Riforma
FILARMONICA DI CASTAGNOLA - CONCERTO DI PASQUA

15.04 / 17:00 / Sala Teatro LAC
CONCERTO SPIRITUALE DEL SABATO SANTO
Con Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana e Coro della Radiotelevisione Svizzera

EASTER CELEBRATIONS
14.04 / 20:00 / Centro Cittadino
Via Crucis (start from S. Nicolao)

15.04 / 21:00 / Basilica del Sacro Cuore
Easter Vigil

16.04 / 09:30 / Chiesa Sant’Antonio
Easter Mass

Magic tour around the lake of Lugano

Apart from Lugano itself, there are other places on the shores of Lake Lugano that are worth seeing. The best way is by ship, visiting one of the attractions of the region or dropping in for lunch in a typical grotto. There’s no better way to relax and enjoy your day.

From 8th April 2017, you can enjoy the new boat tours, for example the Magic Tour with four different stops: Leaving Lugano for the romantic village of Gandria and the Cantine di Gandria with the Museo delle Dogane then to Melide, where you can visit the Swissminiatur, the well-known park of Switzerland in a scale from 1:25 or walk along the lake to Bissone all the way to Morcote. This peaceful lakeshore village was once entirely devoted to fishing and is the winner of the contest for "the most beautiful village in Switzerland".

Check out the other lake tours Lugano has to offer: www.luganoturismo.ch

Happy Sunday

St. Edward’s Easter Party

Lugano's Anglican Church invites you to their Easter celebration. Families are invited to bring small chocolate eggs to hide in the garden. Each child will need a basket for the Easter Egg Hunt.

Come and celebrate the joy of Easter with St.Edward's! The Sunday School team have prepared lots of exciting activities. In case of rain there is plenty of room indoors!

ALL CHILDREN ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF A PARENT OR GUARDIAN WHO MUST BE PRESENT AND ACCOMPANY THEM THROUGHOUT THIS EVENT.

Venue: St. Edward's Easter Party
Where: Ex-Asilo in Magliaso, Via Cantonale 36, Magliaso
When: Monday, April 6th, 2015
Time: 14:00 to 17:00
There are lots of parking spaces adjacent to the playground or in the municipal car park nearby.
Please let Diana know if you are coming: dellacqua@ticino.com

Here are all Easter Events at St. Edward’s:
Thursday 2nd April - Maundy Thursday. Holy Communion Evening Service 19:30
Friday 3rd April - Good Friday Reflections 14:00 - 15:00
Sunday 5th April - Easter Day. Service for All-Ages with Holy Communion 10:30
Monday 6th April - Easter Party. Fun activities for all at Ex-asilo Magliaso, 14:00-17:00

St. Edward’s Church
Via Clemente Maraini 6
6900 Lugano
www.stedwards.ch

Time to hit the road - Excursions for a long weekend around Lugano

Tomorrow evening the weekend starts, yupee! And it's only Wednesday. Four days to relax and enjoy what Ticino and its surroundings have to offer.

Following is a list compiled by the International and American Women's Mums & Tots group a few years ago. It is an extensive list and comes in very handy when you need some inspiration on a Wednesday afternoon or a weekend.

It does not include the most obvious attractions that are well publicized and you can find under my "Out and About" section on the sidebar of this blog.

So, are you ready? Here goes:

In Ticino:

http://www.carona-tourism.ch/en/carona/ - Parco San Grato, has a playground, restaurant and beautiful surroundings to explore

http://www.lugano-tourism.ch/en/95/the-tassino-park - Parco Tassino, large playground and deer! Great park with lots of space, picnic and play areas

http://www.montetamaro.ch - bobsleigh track, flying fox (zip wire) restaurant and great playground

www.tarzaning.ch an adventure park with zip wires, rope bridges and climbing frames between trees in the forest

http://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/Il-Sentierone-della-Val-Verzasca - A walk rated as easy, so possible with kids, in beautiful scenery

http://www.cardada.ch/estate - take a cable car up to Cardada for some lovely family friendly walks.

http://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/Parco-giochi-Parsifal-Monte-Verità-Ascona - one playground in Ascona, however I have been told that there is a really great playground on the lakefront of Ascona. If you go down to the mini roundabout where the start of the pedestrianised promenade is on your right (where all the restaurants are), instead turn left, walk past a large public car park, and you will see this playground - it has electric minicars - need 1CHF coins for them.

http://www.ataf.ch/ - steam miniature railway - strange opening hours though.

http://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/Isole-di-Brissago-Parco-Botanico - a boat trip to the island of Brissago, perhaps combine with a trip to Ascona and the playground on the lakefront!

www.minigolfcaslano.ch - Has electric mini-cars and great trampolines as well as the mini golf. Is next door to a great little lido too, with a very nice beach. (and they sell Ben and Jerry's ice cream)

Near Zurich:

http://www.zoo.ch - Switzerland's largest zoo and definately worth a trek up north

http://www.alpamare.ch - amazing looking waterpark - it is two hours away from Lugano by car but it looks like an excellent day trip nonetheless

http://www.tierpark.ch/english - Goldau wildlfe park, with restaurant and playground, came highly recommended by one of our members

Just across the border in Italy:

www.safaripark.it - brilliant safari park, not far from Malpensa airport, complete with amusement park with rides suitable for toddlers, reptile house, animal shows... a fantastic full day out

http://www.parcodellapreistoria.it/ - a large park with models of dinosaurs, playground, and restaurant

www.minitalia.com - a fantastic day out, an amusement park with lots of rides suitable for the youngest members of the family, reptile house, aquarium, mini farm, and to-scale models of the famous monuments of Italy

http://www.minigolf-adventure.it - has a playground, inflatable slides and trampolines as well as the minigolf

http://www.idropark.mi.it - man made lake in Milan with playground, lido and restaurant

http://www.jungleraiderpark.com - same as www.tarzaning.ch (adventure park with zip wires, rope bridges and climbing frames) but in Italy

http://www.latorbiera.it - large natural park to explore, with a large lake, restaurant and what seems to be a zoo too

http://www.lecornelle.it - a zoo with a wide variety of animals, white tigers, elephants

http://www.castellodivezio.it Castle of Vezio on the shores of Lake Como, complete with a display of falconry if you are lucky

Ever wondered where that stunning backdrop to Daniel Craig's rest & recuperation in the film 'Casino Royale' was? Well, the name's Como, Lake Como! So, go see for yourself and explore the villas on Lake Como (http://www.lakecomovillas.net/villas.php) - the kids may enjoy running around the gardens while you excape into James Bond's or George Clooney's arms (in your dreams). Perhaps best combined with eating ice cream somewhere, and feeding the ducks on the lakefront, or a boat trip on the lake.

Villa Carlotta - the most well known, parking is easy, you can have access to the villa as well as the grounds. There is a fountain that is full of fish and toads which can kept little explorers amused for at ages while they watch 'toad arguments'. Also a nice cafe there, picnic areas and beautiful scenery.

Villa Del Balbianello (Lenno) - only the gardens are open to the public

Villa Melzi (Bellagio) - only the gardens are open to the public

Villa Monestero (Varenna) - The House Museum, the historical and noble residence, where its fourteen rooms can be visited following a charming itinerary.

Punta Balbianello - Villa Balbianello is the romantic spot featured in the second episode of the Star Wars saga.

Now isn't this is a smashing list? 

Thank you so much for sharing. 

This should keep your little explorers busy for a while. 

The question is can we keep up with them???

The Scherrer Park

A Greek temple on the shores of Lake Lugano, next to a Siamese teahouse, or an Egyptian temple?

Parco Scherrer in Morcote offers you the unique opportunity of taking an extraordinary trip through time and space, where past and present, history and nature co-exist in perfect harmony.

In 1930 a little old house with a stable overlooked by vineyards and a chestnut grove stood on the shore of Lake Lugano, at the foot of Mount Arbostora. Arthur Scherrer bought the house at that time, and also the land above it, hillside after hillside. First of all, he oversaw the renovation of the house, transforming it into a magnificent residence with great architectural taste. He was a passionate gardener and a romantic, and thus over the years he created his “Garden of Wonders”. During his travels Arthur had admired a great number of exotic plants and, captivated by their charm, did not hesitate to reproduce the vegetation in the park.

Many plants today are still labelled with their scientific name. The park is made up of two areas, each with a predominant style: one Mediterranean and one Asian. The path first winds its way through Mediterranean-style gardens in Renaissance and Baroque style, with a wide array of statues. It then continues through an oriental landscape of bamboo forests, surprising the visitor with its Siamese, Arab and Indian buildings, surrounded by the typical flora of these regions.

Weather permitting, this could be a great Wednesday afternoon outing with your kids.

OPENING
15th March - 31th October
Opening hours: from 10 am to 5 pm. / July and August from 10 am to 6 pm.

PRICES
Adults: CHF. 7.-
Children to the age of 16: CHF. 2.-

NOTES
Lenght of visit: 1 - 1 1/2 h
Dogs: On the lead
Accessibility to bikes: No
Playground: No
Pic-nic area: Yes
Restaurant/Bar: "La Casa Ticinese", at the entrance of the park

Weekend Plans for May 1st

Are you up for some exploring but don't really know where to start? Following is a short list of fun activities you can enjoy with your kids. Beware to check the traffic situation before you leave though. The long weekend of May 1st can be tricky.

Monte Tamaro - From Rivera, which is easily accessible by car and public transport, a convenient cableway whisks you up to Alpe Foppa at 1,530 metres above sea-level. With its big restaurant, and the Church of S. Maria degli Angeli (designed by architect Mario Botta), Alpe Foppa is also the starting point for walks with panoramic views as well as being home to an innovative play park for kids, a Alpine- Coaster bobs, Flying Fox and a new track for Downhill fans.
http://www.montetamaro.ch

The Lugano Lido - The Lugano Lido offers the visitor numerous opportunities: a wonderful fine sandy beach on the shores of Lake Ceresio, heated Olympic swimming pool, a medium size swimming pool, a diving pool with trampolines up to 10 m high, a pool suitable for children with water games, a beach volley court and a five-a-side football pitch. Make sure you don't miss the traditional ice cream treat on May 1st.
http://www.lugano-tourism.ch/en

The Olive Tree Trail - Park the car on Via Cortivo in Castagnola and just follow the green olive signs to reach the Sentiero dell’Olivo. As much an historic path as olive trail, the Sentiero dell’Olivo at times meanders underneath houses, through a private terrace, and along cobbled lanes. You’ll pass San Rocco, a 17th century church with a ornate baroque interior topped with a late-medieval style belfry. You can take a pram and kids bikes most of the way and then lock them up with a bike lock when you get to the stairs as you near Gandria. Make sure to plan time for a scenic lunch along the lakeside.
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en

Cannobio Sunday market (in Italy, 50mins from Lugano) - The largest market in this area is the Sunday morning market on the Promenade in Cannobio, east of Stresa and only a few kilometres from the border with Switzerland. One side of the market has the usual assortment of leather goods, jewellery, and linens. The other side is a tremendous food market, featuring local vendors of meats, wines, cheeses, sweets, and so much more. Many offer free samples of their food.
http://www.ticino.ch/en

Pombia Safari Zoo (in Italy, 1hr15mins away) - is a Safari park, zoo and amusement park in Pombia, Piedmont, northern Italy, created by Angelo Lombardi in 1976 extending over an area of 400.000 square metres. You can take a trip around by train or with your own car. An ideal outing for families with children.
http://www.safaripark.it

Enjoy and let me know how it went!

Easter in Lugano

No matter if you are in town as a visitor or have decided to have a staycation in Lugano, don't miss all the action going on down town this coming Easter weekend.

Join the festive atmosphere of "Pasqua in Città" (Easter in the City) and explore the numerous intriguing and entertaining activities for young and old.

Every day from Friday, April 18th to Monday, April 21st starting at 11 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. each of the main city squares will be hosting a different entertainment programme. The public will have the opportunity of purchasing many local products in the over 100 stalls that will be set up in Piazza Riforma, Via Nassa, Piazza Dante, Via Pessina and Via Soave.

Pasqua in Città will transform the city centre into a fun and amusing stage with the help of Street Animations.

You'll even find a “Rabbit’s Den” in Piazza della Riforma dedicated to children which will feature children’s make-up artists, egg painting activities, Henne tatoos and a ludobus. During the whole event, three funny rabbits will be distributing sweet little chocolate eggs.

Sounds like an event that is not to be missed. Let's just hope the weather keeps up!

Programme Pasqua in cittá 2014

Curious facts about Women

Happy International Women’s Day! Ideally I would send each and every one of my reader's a bunch of yellow mimosas but in this virtual world I will instead share some amazing facts about women:

- Researchers have claimed that women speak about 20,000 words a day on average. It’s just 7,000 for men.
- According to Care.org, women produce half the world’s food but own only one percent of its farmland.
- Mary Queen of Scots has been attributed to creating the world’s first golf course.
- There are currently 17 countries with women as heads of government, heads of state, or both; this, according to the UN, is more than double what it was in 2005.
- Of the 161 million women currently living in the US, nearly 85.4 million (54 percent) are mothers.
- Generally considered to be the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji was written in Japan around AD 1000 by Murasaki Shikibu—a woman.
- The average woman owns more than 25 pairs of shoes.
- Research has shown that the probability of a woman giving birth to a baby girl instead of a baby boy increases significantly the nearer she lives to the equator.
- The two highest IQs ever recorded on a standard test both belong to women.
- According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 39 million girls worldwide are not enrolled in school and are denied a secondary education.

To learn more about the struggle for girls’ education around the world, please watch the film *Girl Rising", presented by 10X10. The documentary, directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins, tells the stories of nine extraordinary girls from nine countries, written by nine celebrated writers and narrated by nine renowned actresses including Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.

Swimming in the lake

Spring, blue skies, sun, luxurious plants in bloom. The green with its fragrances enchants us all and demands a stop. From Caslano to Castagnola and Melide to Bissone, you need only pause a moment to calmly select which beach to visit. It is a tradition in Switzerland to swim in the lakes. A fact my Italian hubby who grew up along the seaside cannot get his mind around.

What about the 80'000 m2 of lakefront on Lake Maggiore, shaded by centuries-old trees and 600 meters of sandy beach? The Ceresio shores welcome you with their fine sand beach leading directly to the lake. And don't forget the sandy banks of many rivers that in places offer astounding pools of water with micro-beaches.

Ticino is generous but above all organized and well-equipped, and it offers so much for adults and children, who can play and cool off in pools dedicated to them. And what's more, between a dive and a swim, there is room for a beach volley match and for healthy laughter watching the children on the playground and the young boys showing off on the springboard.

And when the sun fades, lights and good music come on: shores and beaches don evening wear to enjoy a good aperitif and meet friendly new people. In brief: in Ticino shores and beaches are worth a visit, while your "thoughts"... stay offshore!

One last little tip: Laghetto di Astano

Let's meet at the Lido di Lugano

Today, May 1st, is when the Lido of Lugano officially inaugurates its season. It is a Lugano tradition to head down to the lake - no matter what the weather is like - to have the first ice cream of season!

So go ahead, dip your toes in the water and have a drink on their lovely terrasse while the kids have a run along the sandy beach.

A rainy day in Lugano

IWCL Int`l. Spring Party

The International Womens' Club of Lugano is honoured to invite you to their INTERNATIONAL SPRING PARTY on May 26th from 19:30 on at Lugano's hippest spot "Al Lido".

Every year the IWCL hosts their traditional and always excellent IWCL Spring Party and trust me, it is not to be missed. This year there will be an exclusive concert by ORPHELINE along with a live DJ set. Wondering who Orpheline is? I will give you a little treat. Click here and get into the groove!

Talented, Lugano-based, photographer Marian Bader will be taking your pictures which you'll be able to buy online after the party at http://marianbader.com/.

The door-price is CHF 50.- and includes finger food buffet, 2 drinks (wine or soft), concert, party and wonderful conversation.

Please RESERVE your spot by e-mailing the IWCL at iwcleveninggroup@gmail.com asap.

Feel free to share this invitation with your friends.

Have a great evening!

Venue: International Spring Party
Where: Al Lido, Viale Castagnola 6, 6900 Lugano
When: Saturday, may 26th, 2012
Time: 7:30pm
Price: CHF 50.- (dinner, drinks and dance)

Expat with kids is on vacation!

"A good holiday is one spent among people whose notions of time are vaguer than yours."
John B. Priestly

The kids' Easter holidays begin today and we are off on a holiday of a lifetime! We are actually flying out of Lugano airport. Now, that is a first: usually we need to trek down to Milano Malpensa to catch an International flight because the local airport only serves 4 International destinations!!!

But not to worry, I would never desert my readers. So stay tuned and enjoy the daily entertainment I have lined up for you while I'm suntanning on South Miami Beach.

Wishing you a Happy Easter!

Easter in Lugano's center (Pasqua in città)

"For I remember it is Easter morn, and life and love and peace are all new born."
Alice Freeman Palmer

Join the festive atmosphere of Easter in the City and explore the numerous intriguing and entertaining activities for young and old.

Every year Easter draws a myriad of vacationers and travelers to Lugano. In order to add some zest to the picturesque city center, Lugano Turismo has organized an event called "Pasqua in Città" (Easter in the City), which will take place from Friday, April 22nd through Monday, April 25th, 2011.

Every day form 11 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. “Easter in Town” will transform the city centre into a fun and amusing stage: each of the main city squares will be hosting a different entertainment programme. The public will have the opportunity of purchasing numerous objects and many products of the local tradition, which will be exhibited on more than 100 stalls that will be set up in Piazza Riforma, Via Nassa, Piazza Dante, Via Pessina and Via Soave.

As for the musical events of this initiative, the pedestrian centre will be animated by traditional and folk groups.

There will also be three concerts held in Piazza Riforma. Besides the expected and traditional Easter Concert by the Lugano Civic Philharmonic programmed for Sunday morning, April 24th at 10.30 a.m., on Friday evening, at 8.30 p.m., the concert by the Castagnola Philharmonic will be held, while on Saturday, April 3rd at the same time of the evening the Pregassona Philharmonic will steal the show.

Where: Lugano-City Center
When: April 22nd to 25th, 2011
Time: 11:00 to 18:00

So if you're planning to stay in town over Easter get ready to discover your own back yard!

Follow me to Lugano

Come sit with me for a while...

....and enjoy the view!

Picture perfect Lugano

Soon I'll be able to swim in the lake!

Sunny 27°C today - Ice Cream time

Getting ready for the tourist season

Waiting for the tourists

Your incognito Expat reporter

Vintage feeling

"Bottegone del Vino" preparing for Happy hour

My local supermarket

A sunny afternoon in Lugano

Anybody want a ride?

Old fashioned pedalos

View on to Castagnola and Italy

Imagine that....

Along the riviera

Welcome Spring!