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Published: June 14th 2017
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Geo: 46.002, 8.74168
This was our last full day in Switzerland (until we return in 5 weeks or so). Again, fabulous blue skies and sunshine, so we raced down to Porto Ronco to catch the boat to the markets at Luino. The boat cruise was lovely – I'll remember sitting I nthe sun, ordering great cappacinos brought to our deck chairs, whilst watching gorgeous pastel towns and villas pass by. When we arrived at the market (almost 90 minutes later), it was incredibly crowded, and the stalls took up most of the roads in the town. Poor old Matthew, who isn't keen on shopping at the best of times, kept telling us to hurry through so we could get out of this market – we didn't want to break his heart by telling him that the market was the reason we had come!
The markets in Italy are very different to those in Australia, probably reflecting the difference in the shops in towns during non-market days. As there aren't really shopping centres like Indooroopilly around, there might be one one or two shoe shops in town – then the market comes to town, and it has numerous stalls selling shoes – though
I cannot imagine buying my dress shoes in a market! Lots of clothes shops too, but all selling "cheap" clothes – like a hundred shops of Supre clothing! Though I was tempted by some lovely handbags (one in white, with the cutest flower pattern on it), we were generally well behaved, buying a few souvenirs. But my self control didn't last all day – I bought a gorgeous olive wool cape, which was inspired by one I saw at Miranda's wedding – it looked gorgeous and so warm! Of course, the weather is now turning warm, so I guess I'll have to wait until we are back in Brisbane winter! Also, we saw stores selling pet products and pets – cold little budgies and super cute little black bunnies. Does this make this trip a tax deduction?
We also really enjoyed the food section of the market, when we found it. Rows of different types of olives, dried fruits, cheeses and salamis and hams looked so delicious! My little Olive boy (Matt) was particularly impressed! We bought the makings of a picnic, and were the only people making a picnic under the statue of Garibaldi – but I think we ate
Porto Ronco
The yellow apartment block belongs to Martina better than those at the fancy restaurants around our patch of green.
Back to the boat, and a trip back to Porto Ronco – little Matt slept the whole trip home, and I carried him to the car. Rita, Georgia and I dropped the boys in Ronco, so that they could have coffee with Zia Teresa, and we girls headed up the mountain to get dinner ready (for Zia Teresa and Zio Romano and Eurosia and Gian Marc and Raissa). Excitement on the way up (more than just me driving up without Steven) – I saw a deer spring in front of the car! This was the second deer we'd seen on this road – the other night when we drove home (I can't remember which night), there was a baby deer walking on the road, almost stunned by the lights – we followed the fawn for almost a minute before it sprang back into the forest. It was just the start of the wildlife experience – as I drove down the mountain alone to collect our boys, there were about 40 goats on the road, and another hundred on the side of the road.
A lovely night with the zii
followed – Rita did an amazing job with the food (and a great job at cleaning out the fridge and freezer of all our leftover food), and the wine and conversation flowed. We will be sad to leave out little mountain house tomorrow!
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