Feeling at home

Once again we are back in Lugano and although it has been six years since we left - what was suppose to be our home for ever and ever - we remain attached to this magical place.

A town embedded by green hills with snowy peaks cascading into a crystal clear lake dotted with villages clinging close to the steep slopes. The stone buildings tightly aligned - dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries - embellished with frescoes and stucco decorations.

An area where - when the sun sets - the bird twitter is still more present than the traffic and the air quality is measured in terms of pollen not pollution.

A community that still greets you with a "Bun Dì" even though they don't know you. Cars stop for pedestrians with a smile and a hand gesture, the odd old boy cheers you on when you jog past and the postman leaves packages on your doorstep not worrying about them being stolen.

A town where you can still spot cows when you look out of the window and hear the church bells chime every hour.

It is a peaceful world where the stress of Paris dissolves in an instant. Where aggressiveness is replaced by courtesy and arrogance by discipline.

It is easy to slither into this comfortable lifestyle but ... then again ... I would miss the vibes of a bustling metropole.

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

Castagne locali del Ticino and my favourite muffin recipe

A typical Ticino product is the chestnut. The local custom has the children collecting chestnuts in the woods this time of year to roast or to create decorations. Chestnuts are used as flour, bread, cakes, pasta, jam, oatmeal and even schnapps. It is also used in recipes for marron glacé or to accompany a delicious platter of game. Throughout the streets of Lugano the flavour of roasted chestnuts accompanies these autumn days.

Every year I share my Chestnut muffin recipe. It is my absolute favourite and easy enough even for little hands to make:

Ingredients:
250gr melted butter
250gr sugar
200gr ground almonds
300gr of chestnut purée
4 eggs

Preparation:
1.) Mix egg yolks with sugar
2.) Add melted butter, ground almonds and the chestnut purée
3.) Mix well
4.) Whisk egg whites until peaked
5.) Add egg whites delicately to the chestnut mixture
6.) Pour into muffin mold filled with muffin cases
7.) Bake in preheated oven at 200°C for about 30 minutes.

Bon Appetito!

A truly magical corner of Switzerland

A magnificent view from half-way up the San Salvatore mountain

Stepping back into my childhood... hiking with the family!

Autumn in Ticino is really Summer’s last goodbye, but with lots of added flavour!

The sweet chestnut tree, a common sight in the southern Alps, was once known as the "bread tree", since chestnuts were one of the staple foods of Canton Ticino until the early Middle Ages.

Stocking up on some good weather and good food before the winter arrives.

Ricetta della nonna: Take some yellow pumpkin, cut it to pieces and boil in salted water. Once it is soft enough, blend it with the mixer. Prepare a good broth, and when it is boiling, add to the pumpkin mash. Let cook for a moment, and add some milk and a slice of butter.

Serve with croutons and grated cheese.

The perfect lunch spot

 Ever seen Umberto Eco's movie: Name of the Rose?

 A truly magical corner of Switzerland

A beautiful day in Lugano

Looking onto the Lake of Lugano

Tiger Lily is in town

Lugano's symbol: Monte Bré

BSI is about to be integrated into a bank called EFG International, a global private banking group. Another tradition lost.

An intriguing private courtyard in the city center

Only in Lugano: Tea Room Vanini and Ristorante Federale

 A glorious day in Ticino

Six years of blogging: Expat with Kids blogiversary

Back in 1998, three days after our wedding I had followed my hubby to the other side of the world convinced I would never again return to good old Switzerland. As my mother tends to say: "You never know what comes around the corner." Nine years later I was back on my home turf!

On January 6th, 2007 the kids started public school in Lugano. A big change from the English speaking International school in Madrid from where we had moved. Switzerland was to become our home and I set my mind towards a long-term commitment, happy to have returned to my roots.

Although Lugano is the Italian speaking part of the country, the system, the rules and regulations, the transport system, the food, the people and the way of living were very familiar. It did not take me long to slip into Ticino lifestyle, nevertheless keeping a low profile and trying to fit in with the locals... no easy feat!

The day started early, by 8:00 the kids were out of the house, however, they would come back for a two hour lunch break at 11:45. At 15:30 it was time to pick up little Expat girl. I loved spending time with my kids but this schedule did not leave much time for other projects.

Lugano at the time was booming , many Expat were arriving especially from Italy and Russia. The housing market was at an all-time high. What was missing was an English guide on how to find your way around the area.

I had come across blogging thanks to a table neighbour during a dinner party. Little did I know it was to become a passion. With time on my hands and a determination to share all the advantages this lovely spot has to offer I launched into my blog Expat with Kids and never looked back. The first post was published on six years ago today.

In the meantime Lugano tourist office has launched an English blog, the English speaking community has an excellent Facebook page and there is even a new International school just across the border.

So, I might not be the only kid on the block anymore but my passion for blogging has remained as has my love for the Ticino... and that is more than enough reason for me to continue to blog!

Halloween parties around Lugano

Halloween Party in Bissone:
The parents' association of Bissone is organizing a Halloween party at the Lido di Bissone on Saturday, October 29th starting at 17:30. It is free and is for children as well as adults. All that is asked of you is to bring something for the buffet table (aperitivo or dolce). There will be a DJ and he seems to be very good.

Date: Saturday, October 29th, 2016
Time: 5:30 pm
Where: Lido di Bissone, Piazza Francesco Borromini 1, 6816 Bissone
Cost: free, bring a dish
Contact: Associazione genitori di Bissone

Come celebrate Halloween at All For Kids in S. Antonino:
On Sunday, October 30th find activities for the kids, and refreshments for all at All for Kids Showroom in S. Antonino. Parents can mingle and shop while children play games or make crafts in the new expanded Showroom space. Stop by for a short time or stay all afternoon. Open to the public so feel free to spread the word. Every child in a costume will receive a FREE gift!

Date: Sunday, 30th October 2016
Time: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: All For Kids Showroom, Via Cimitero 21, 6592 Sant'Antonino
Cost: Free
Contact: Robin Bognuda at 091 580 30 82

Halloween on the lake of Lugano:
How about spending a fun afternoon cruising the lake of Lugano? On Monday, October 31st leaving at 14:30 you can enjoy a two hour scary tour with your kids: Make-up and games are included. Make sure to reserve beforehand at sales@lakelugano.ch or call 091/ 971 52 23.

Date: Monday, 31st October 2016
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Where: Crociera Halloween, Lago di Lugano
Cost: CHF 22.- (adults), CHF 10.- (kids)
Contact: Società navigazione del Lago di Lugano at 091/ 971 52 23

SaveSave

Halloween Party for families

Looking for a Halloween celebration for the whole family? Come celebrate Halloween at All For Kids!

There will be games and crafts for the kids, and Halloween inspired snacks for all. The fun starts at 14:00, and every child in a costume will receive a free gift. Stop by for a short time or stay all afternoon. Parents can mingle or shop while the kids play in our new expanded space. Registration isn't required, but if you know you're coming please tell us so we have enough supplies and snacks.

Contact Robin at 076 580 30 82 if you have any questions. Parking is available. For more information, please visit www.allforkids.ch.

Venue: Halloween Party for families
Where: All For Kids Showroom, Via Cimitero 21, 6592 S. Antonino
Date: Sunday, October 30, 2016
Time: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM

The autumn flavours of Ticino

Ticinese cuisine, which is closely related to that of Lombardy, is, like in all regional gastronomies, the result of a continuous process that lies somewhere between evolution and preservation.

The poor and monotonous food of the last centuries, when the majority of the Ticinese people lived off chestnuts, polenta and potatoes, slowly became richer. New food, flavours and recipes came into the picture with the changing of the times, also thanks to Ticinese immigrants that brought back different culinary ideas from the countries they visited.

At the same time, however, Ticinese cuisine preserved several of its characteristics: the use of genuine products, the simplicity of dishes tied to the rural world and the fondness for tasty flavours. Today it proposes dishes prepared according to the recipes that have been handed down from one generation to another but also the modern re-visitation of traditional recipes.

The following are among some of the most renowned and appreciated Ticinese dishes: minestrone, pumpkin soup and “busecca”, risotto, roasted meats (rabbit, kid), and polenta with Luganighetta sausage or brasato (braised meat), baked, sautéd or marinated fish from the river or lake.

Among drinks, besides local red and white wines, there is fresh and thirst quenching lemonade called gazzosa but also grappa and ratafià (also called nocino), a liqueur made from walnuts of which, they say, only friars know the original recipe.

Sunday lunch at Grotto al Mulino

Served with heart: Vellutata di zuccha

Brasato con polenta and a boccalino of Merlot ticinese

Click here for a list of grotto: http://ticinoatavola.ch

The Ultimate Swiss Adventure in Ticino

World-renowned adventure photographer Chris Burkard has been discovering the Ticino and turned it into his playground to promote Switzerland abroad together with Swiss Tourism board and Swiss Airlines.

Chris picked out some of his favorite activities which many of us living in Ticino might have been enjoying with our kids. Even if you are a local the video is fun to watch. See how many places you recognize.



Be sure to share it with your friends living in the United States (this drawing is offered only in the US) so they can win the Ultimate Swiss Adventure here in Ticino: register to win a trip!

Switzerland's most beautiful village is in Ticino

More than 31,000 Swiss took part in the competition organized by the country’s four public television stations and the magazines Schweizer Illustrierte, l’Illustré and il caffè.

Out of 12 finalists, Morcote won hands-down. The runners up were Ardez in Lower Engadine, Binn in Lower Valais and St Ursanne in the canton of Jura with its medieval centre.

Situated a few kilometres from Lugano, the village of 770 inhabitants actually belongs to the Paradiso administrative district. Who knew?

The most beautiful village competition has been going since 2011, last year’s winner was Soglio in the canton of Graubünden, and in 2014 the canton Fribourg village of Gruyères scooped the prize.

Take a minute to enjoy the pictures of Switzerland's four most beautiful villages and click here: http://www.leplusbeauvillage.ch/it#accueil

Explore the land of chestnut trees

The chestnut tree trail winds through the woods and explores the land of chestnut trees! Besides revealing woods, crops, chestnut trees, the trail accompanies you through pleasant surroundings and a harmonious landscape where nature stands out in all its splendour.

The itinerary offers you several panoramic spots and the possibility of admiring the architectural details of certain picturesque villages that this very special excursion joins together. Several didactic points, simply marked on the ground and amply illustrated in a separate brochure, may be found along the way. You can even cover just short legs of this trail.

Join the local tradition and pick some chestnuts along the way for arts and crafts. Have fun!

Details
Difficulty: easy
Km: 11
Elevation difference: 215 m
Duration: 4-5 h
Itinerary: Arosio-Mugena-Vezio-Fescoggia-Breno-Caroggio-Arosio
Important: All of the locations along this path may be reached by using public transportation.
For more info click here: http://www.luganoturismo.ch/

A date with the mycological society of Lugano

It is a Swiss tradition to go mushroom picking in the woods. But how to tell the good ones from the bad ones?

Well, one way is to bring them to your local pharmacy. Yes, mushroom selecting is just one of the many services a pharmacist is trained to do in Switzerland. Click here for the list: http://www.vapko.ch

You could also attend a lecture at the local school of Montagnola where a mushroom specialist will explain and show you the good ones from the bad ones for adult and kids!

Adriano Sassi who speaks Italian, French and English is a VAPKO expert and president of the Scientific Society Commission. He will lecture on the following themes:

• What are mushrooms?
• Observe to determine
• Main species and their habitats
• Mushrooms: their shape, habitat and growth.

Adriano Sassi will answer questions from the audience. You can bring your mushroom collection and have them checked by an expert.

Venue: Ticino's mushrooms
Where: Centro Scolastico Montagnola, Aula Magna,  6926 Montagnola
Date: Thursday, September 29th, 2016
Time: 20:00
The event is free!

Join the first Ticino Instameet

Lugano Turismo and other local tourism boards, have the pleasure to invite you to join them for an Instameet in Ticino, Switzerland on September. 4th with world-renowned adventure photographer Chris Burked who will be hosting the meet. This is a great opportunity to encounter the legendary American outdoor photographer and explorer and capture amazing photographs in the sunniest canton of Switzerland.

In a nutshell, an Instameet is where people meet in pre-determined place at a set time, to take photos (sometimes doing a photo walk) then upload them to Instagram.

This instameet will last the whole day: after having assembled in Lugano, you’ll do a photo walk along the lake, visiting the church Santa Maria degli Angioli and the Parco Ciani.

You’ll then take the train to Bellinzona, where you will visit the city centre and the castles, starting from the city hall.

You will then travel by train to Locarno and take the funicular up to the beautiful church Madonna del Sasso, in Orselina. From there you will walk back towards Piazza Grande in Locarno, ending the day with a drink at Kursaal Locarno.

At the end of the day, Chris Burkard will choose 10 winning photos among the ones uploaded during the day.

Everyone is Welcome! If you haven’t pre-registered here, simply come to the meeting points and register on-site (ask for Laura!)

Venue: Instameet Ticino
Date: Sunday, September 4th, 2016
Time: 8.45 AM, in front of LAC Lugano, Piazza Bernardino Luini 6, 6900 Lugano.
Other meeting points:
Bellinzona: FFS train station Bellinzona 11:55 am;
Locarno: FFS train station Locarno 14:45 pm

In the meantime, follow the action on Instagram:
Team #TicinoInstameet:
@ticinoturismo @luganoturismo @ascona_locarno @otrbellinzonesealtoticino @MySwitzerland @FlySwiss @chrisburkard

A sunny Sunday in Caslano

Lugano's LongLake Festival 2016

Summer has hit Lugano...finally... and with the beating heart of a Lugano summer, once again we welcome the LongLake Festival. Over 250 events and outstanding guests will enliven the city, its squares, streets and parks each and every day for almost a month.

The 6th edition of the Festival, one of the biggest urban open-air festivals in Switzerland is ready to kick off! It will bring the city of Lugano to life for an entire month offering good music, shows, theatre, performances, encounters, street art, concerts as well as a lot of activities for kids. To better acquaint yourself with the ongoing events, the LongLake Festival has been split in six different Festivals:

LongLake Rock’n’More Festival Lugano 
The Festival, entirely dedicated to live music, offers a rich international programme ranging from rock to pop, folk, indie, reggae and punk music.

LongLake Classica Festival Lugano
The world class line-up goes beyond the traditional classical music boundaries with original cabaret and crossover proposals. As a complement to the Festival, the appreciated Sunday matinées in the outstanding scenery of the Ciani Park and the great performers of the Cello Love review.

LongLake Buskers Festival Lugano
The street artists’ Festival which is an apparent delirium of freaks, artists, egos and musicians assembling and disassembling in an artistic harmony of beauty and fullness.

LongLake Urban Art Festival Lugano
A variety of arts initiatives aimed at connecting the residents to the urban background.

LongLake Family Festival Lugano
With a wide choice of events for families and children, the Festival proposes fairy tales reading, movies, magic and illusion shows.

LongLake Words Festival Lugano
This Festival gives voice to writers, actors, artists and other speakers who will interact with the audience. Within the Festival, words take on different shades and expressions when used in music, theatre, movies and images.

Not to be missed is the Mojito Tropical Lounge, a venue for anyone who wants to sip delicious aperitif or cocktail, listen to music and admire the spectacular view of Lake Lugano.

Venue: Long Lake Festival, Lugano
Where: Lake of Lugano
Date: From 23.06.2016 to 23.07.2016
For more info click here: http://longlake.ch.
Click here for the detailed programme: http://longlake.ch/en/events

One day escape in Lugano

Lugano Tourism is offering some “all-inclusive” programmes at the tourist information offices to help you get the most out of the Ticino region.

The itineraries can be modified to best suit your needs. Starting and finishing points are only suggestive, so you’ll be able to organise your trips depending on your preferences.

Why not adventure on a fascinating excursion from Lugano to Casino? The trip includes a visit to the Fishing Museum as well as to the Chocolate Museum.

You could also take the cableway from Miglieglia to the top of Monte Lema and 10 minutes later, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view which will accompany you on your hike to Monte Tamaro. From Monte Tamaro, a cableway will take you to Rivera.

Or take a boat trip to Gandria, a romantic fishermen’s village, to visit the small hamlet and have lunch in a typical grotto. You may go back to Lugano either by boat or by taking the Olive Path, a pleasant walk back to town where you can stop for a swim and bask in the sun at Lido S. Domenico.

You don't have to be a tourist to enjoy these outings. Why not plan a fun afternoon with your kids when there are off school?

Download the brochure here: http://luganotourism.ch/file

Celebrating the opening of the world’s longest railway tunnel: the Gotthard!

Tomorrow, on 1st June 2016, 17 years after the first blast in the main shaft, the world’s longest railway tunnel will officially open.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, Switzerland will invite guests of honour from Switzerland and abroad to the opening event and welcome the entire population for an unforgettable public festival.

An opening ceremony befitting the grand scale of the project will present Swiss values such as innovation, precision and reliability to the world. During the following weekend on 4 and 5 June 2016, the anticipated 50,000 to 100,000 visitors will be offered a unique programme at the festival sites on either end of the 57-kilometre tunnel.

The highlights of the festival: tunnel rides with the Gotthard shuttle train at up to 200 km/h, presentations by Swiss artists and an interactive multimedia exhibition on the Gotthard.

On 4 and 5 June, the Swiss will be celebrating the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel – the world’s longest railway tunnel measuring 57 kilometres – at four different festival sites around the tunnel entrances.

The celebrations will be held at Erstfeld and Rynächt in the north and Pollegio and Biasca in the south. Admission to the festival sites is free, but you will need a ticket for the journeys through the tunnel on the Gottardo shuttle trains.

Be a part of this historic event and secure tickets for the Gottardo shuttle trains at www.sbb.ch/ticketshop or from the usual SBB sales points.

The special ticket, which includes the Gottardo shuttle train, is available as a round trip ticket and is valid from your home town. Before buying your tickets, you need to choose one of the routes. If you want to visit the festival sites in the south first and then travel north on the Gottardo shuttle train, choose the ticket option “Public transport ticket including south–north Gottardo shuttle train”, but if you want to start your round trip in the north and travel south on the Gottardo shuttle train, choose the option “Public transport ticket north–south”. It is only possible to travel through the Gotthard Base Tunnel in one direction; you must continue your journey via the Gotthard mountain route. Tickets are valid for one day.

Click here for the detailed programme with all the information about the festival and accompanying attractions, the Gottardo shuttles and how to get there and back.

Cantine Aperte: an open wine cellar weekend

Do you like a glass of wine with your meal? I do! Well, we are in for a passionate weekend...

Ticinowine, the Foundation for the promotion of Viticulture in Ticino, is organizing "Cantine Aperte" (Open Wineries), now at its 18th edition, with the aim of bringing the general public's attention to a sector that, thanks to its vitality, is gaining great interest. Well over 65 wineries will be participating in Cantine Aperte 2016.

For two days visitors will get the chance of crossing the threshold of important wineries that, in many cases, are true architectural gems. Here tradition and technology, combined with the skills and professionalism of the winemakers, allows the Ticino area to obtain a level of excellence in both the Swiss and international scenes.

Become familiar with the makers and their secrets, succumb to the passion that they put into producing quality wines, wines with labels that have raised Canton Ticino to land of oenological excellence.

The highly anticipated event should be the perfect mix of fun, thrills and exploration. My personal favourite would be la Tenuta Bally (http://www.tenutabally.ch). Tell me yours! ;)

Venue: "Cantine Aperte" (Open Wineries)
Where: Find a winery near you here: http://www.ticinowine.ch/uploads/PDF/Locandina
Date: Saturday 28th and Sunday, May 29, 2016
Time: 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
www.ticinowine.ch

Here you will find the complete and detailed schedule of the participating wineries, days and opening hours, side events and the opportunity to participate in the evening entertainment.

A new Research Library on Swiss Studies at FUS

Two weeks ago Prof Steinberg visited Franklin University in Lugano to lecture on Ticino and why the Canton has always chosen to remain Swiss whenever it has been tempted by events around it.

Thanks to the generosity of this renowned historian, former Chair of the Department of History at the University of Pennsylvania and formerly also at Cambridge University, Franklin University Switzerland now hosts a new collection of 2300 books about Switzerland and Swiss studies at the disposal of the Franklin community and the general public.

The new book collection, previously hosted at the University of Pennsylvania, includes periodicals, journal articles and books focusing on Switzerland and its history, politics, and culture. The generous donation was officially acknowledged at a ceremony held on Tuesday, 2 Feb 2016.

In acknowledging the gift, FUS President Greg Warden said: "Universities are repositories of knowledge, and Franklin is honored to have been offered the opportunity to house a comprehensive compendium of publications on Switzerland and Swiss studies as part of its library."

On his part, Professor Steinberg said: "Giving up your library is like sending your infant child to school – you turn around, and it’s not there anymore. But I am very happy that my Swiss collection is going to Franklin, as I know it will be in good hands. I hope you will read and enjoy these books."

So, if you feeling inspired, why not pop by Franklin University Switzerland and find out more about your home/host country?