Geo: 46.1445, 8.72654We didn't wake too early, after Midnight Mass, but had a lovely morning opening gifts and eating the best pandoro (it's even lighter and more delicious in Italy/Switzerland). The kids have repeatedly said how good their early presents of an android tablet are - certainly, it was better than carrying dozens of kilos of books!Then off to 10.30am Mass at Ronco. Again, we were surprised at the low numbers attending - 20 people at Midnight Mass and 45 at this Mass, of which we were 5 and related to another 10. Again, the choir was outstanding, and a lovely Mass. After a few family photos, we followed Martina (well, actually, Andrea, who had his driving license for 2 whole days!) to a lovely restaurant at Ponte Brolla, at the entrance to the Valle Maggia. ... read more

Geo: 46.1445, 8.72654Breakfast then boys walked up the stairs from Porto Ronco to Ronco (over 700 stairs!) whilst Georgia, Steven & I met Marcello who was on the way to his orto - he no longer has the garden under the town hall offices, but still goes there for herbs. A minor drama as the boys and I missed each other at the top of the stairs at the church, meaning I was waiting for them (worrying) and they were safely at Zia Teresa's waiting for us. After a coffee with Zia and Zio, we ducked out to take a few photos of the view, then had a lovely pizza lunch on the lungolago (esplanade) at Ascona, in perfect sunshine. We all had an afternoon sleep before a visit from Raissa and her boyfriend Matteo, who ... read more

Geo: 46.3163, 8.49331We were able to make contact with Marguerite Vetterli, a dear old friend in Losone, and made time to have a coffee at her house before we headed to Bosco Gurin, where the webcam assured us there would be snow. It was lovely to see Marguerite- she has been a frequent visitor to Australia in the past and it was so good to see her. Then, to Bosco Gurin - the town at the end of the Valle Maggia. We had seen that, unfortunately, the ski lift wasn't not working until Boxing Day, but there was some/enough snow in the village for the Australians to entertain themselves! We had a wonderful time walking around the snow, throwing snow, exploring snow - then eating rosti or lasagna, before more snow play!!Friday night we had a ... read more

Geo: 46.1445, 8.72654After a coffee with Teresa and Romano, (the kids went for a walk around the town for some of that time!) we headed to Davide & Eva's for lunch (Linda was also home from uni - she is studying English in Geneva with a view to being a translator). A lovely lunch with this beautiful family. The kids enjoyed playing upstairs with Alice and Linda. After lunch, Martina and Zia Natalina met us and we went to the east side of the lake, to Vira to see the nativity scenes that the town is famous for - they were lovely, but it was so cold on that side of the lake, where the sun doesn't shine for most of winter!Afterwards, we ducked off to Sant'Antonino to the shoe market to buy Tom some shoes ... read more

Geo: 46.1445, 8.72654Another slow start - when we got up and going, we met Martina, who came for a coffee and then offered to come with us to Valle Versazca - and even better, to do the driving! Win-win! Time with Steven's lovely cousin and one of my favourite places in Ticino! We drove up the Valle, stopping at the Selvetica (James Bond) dam - 220m high and built in the 1960s, it featured in "Goldeneye" when James Bond abseiled from it. After that, we drove to the Ponte Romantica - the stunning stone bridge at Laverezza. Many photos again - I love this gorgeous view. Ice on the rocks was very exciting for the kids too. Then to Sonogno, the gorgeous stone village at the end of the valley. There was a sprinkling of snow ... read more