A very special place, the Italian part of Switzerland – June 11 through 16, 2014
ARRIVING IN LUGANO
We arrived by bus with a number of fellow reunion attendees from Milan. As Mt. San Salvatore and Lake Lugano come into view, the reality of actually returning after 38 years began to sink in.
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Although it looks like we’re standing in front of a fake background, we’re not. We climbed up the tower at Casa Fleming after the dinner held there for some fresh air and The View.
IN TOWN
Lugano, like the rest of Switzerland is virtually trash free. Even the graffiti in the underground walkway to the train station is well dressed!
CERTENAGO
Certenago is the small village that TASIS is a part of. Cobblestones and murals are a big part of the ambiance.
ANGELO’S STORE – NOW & THEN
Angelo’s store was in the village, just meters from the school’s property. He and “mama” made the best sandwiches, and had in stock all the sundries a student teen might need – cigarettes, beer and cookies. On the left, Angelo’s store is now his son’s architecture business studio, on the right, Angelo’s store as it stood in November 1973.
SANT’ ABBONDIO CHURCH
Mediterranean Cyprus line the entrance to the church in Gentilino, just down hill from the TASIS campus. The associated graveyard was a natural draw for students at night.
TINY LITTLE CUBICLES WAITING TO BE FILLED AND MRS. FLEMING’S GRAVE
Bob remembers spending a few wayward nights around the mausoleum, in the dark with friends. This church is a couple of minute walk from campus. Mrs. Fleming is buried here, in a very tasteful grave – naturally.
HERMAN HESSE’S GRAVE
Hesse spent the last 40 years of his life just up the hill in Montagnola. It was here where Siddhartha and Steppenwolf were written. His house and grounds is now a museum, back in the day it was a place that TASIS students used to hang out off campus.
THE SWISS GET A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT
Developed and marked walking trails, what a concept! On the right is the Swiss version of the ubiquitous dumpster. Opened via a foot pedal, separated by waste type, and emptied by a truck lifting the container via the metal fitting on top. Clean and ergonomically correct.
ARRIVEDERCI LUGANO!
All good things must end, and on our fifth day in Lugano we headed to the train station to catch a fast train to Florence.
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[Troutsfarm] * [June, 2014] * [Camille’s Birthday Party] * [TASIS Reunion] * [Lugano] * [Gastronomy] * [Hike Up to the Collina d’Oro] * [Valle Verzasca] * [Monte Bre and Morcote] * [Florence] * [Art Museums in Florence] * [Rome] * [The Vatican] * [Sicily] * [Touring Taormina] * [A Drive to Mt. Etna]
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