We weren’t sure how the legs and muscles would feel when we woke this morning after yesterdays hike up to the church but surprisingly we guess they were OK. However, we aren’t going to punish them with two hikes of that nature in two days. Rather today we will take on the more serene river walk which involves an elevation change of 100metres.Gosh we did that in the first couple of hundred metres yesterday.Todays walk will be a ‘pussy’! We will still go prepared though for a change in the weather should it happen. We were certainly glad to have our rain jackets yesterday even for the light rain that came on for 20 minutes or so. The weather is the same as yesterday with low cloud here and there on the mountain tops and blue ... read more

We are travelling further east today and staying within the Tyrol except we are moving from Austria to Italy. The rain from yesterday ahs cleared and although it is not brilliantly fine we can at least see more of the mountains that when we arrived yesterday afternoon. The woman who is running the establishment bought in a huge breakfast for us this morning. So for once I do not have to chop up the fruit and add it to the muesli and yogurt and instead have it all bought to us on two trays. There was just much for us even though we managed to consume the soft boiled eggs, croissant and most of the selection of breads, salami, cheese, proscuito, orange juice and coffee. We won’t have to worry about a stop for lunch today ... read more

The weather gods have smiled on us again today for our one opportunity to visit Lucerne before we move onto an overnighter in Austria on our way back to Italy. There was even a rainbow in the sky as we pulled back the curtains and although that means there is some moisture around somewhere it also means there is sunshine. And we should really get out there and find the pot of gold because visiting Switzerland is expensive in comparison to the rest of Europe we have been in. The €73 per night for our studio apartment is way beyond the usual price we are paying but that is the going rate here and we aren’t even in a city. There is a rail line through Rorhbach but the Swiss Rail Company website doesn’t make it ... read more

The fine weather is holding for us and even if the mountains in the far distance have disappeared from our view because of either a greater haze or lower cloud than yesterday it looks like it should remain dry for Gretchen’s sightseeing tour of the day. Surprisingly our tired muscles from yesterdays walk in the forest have recovered remarkably well which perhaps does prove that our fitness is not too bad at all. Gretchen has promised no long walks today so the muscles won’t be tested for two days in a row. Our view of the lake is expansive and we have looked at various spots within our visibility range and wondered what was actually there. And it was one of these spots that Gretchen has got in mind as our main destination. Because the lake ... read more

We had a feeling that the position of the apartment at Lake Maggiore would give us a special sunrise and we were right. While the sun rising out of the sea, as we have seen at Mt Maunganui back home, is a special occasion, so too was the sun rising over the mountains here at the lake. First the light in the eastern sky slowly went through various shades of pink and with the help of some cloud it meant that colour spread across most of our view. Then we caught the first rays appear and very quickly the sun itself. It was surprising just how quick it rose above the horizon and we put that down to the mountains giving an uneven skyline whereas when we have seen the sun rise from the open sea ... read more