![\"20140613FridayBus\"](\"https:\/\/troutsfarmtoo.com\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/20140613FridayBus.jpg\")
<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0![\"20140613BusDriver\"](\"https:\/\/troutsfarmtoo.com\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/20140613BusDriver.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOur gang of about 65 attendees got on two buses hired for the trip. Our bus driver had a bit more hair than the rest of us these days.<\/p>\n
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SONOGNO – POSTCARD PERFECT<\/h3>\n
The village of Sonogno (pop. 97) is the end of the road in the Verzasca Valley. Historically, the high alpine pastures surrounding the village\u00a0have been used for summer grazing of livestock.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sonogno’s church, St. Maria Loreto, first documented in 1519 was rebuilt in 1854. The houses in the valley are made of stone, including their roofs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The weather that day was spectacular! After getting off the bus and collecting a picninc lunch, most of us hiked up the paved trail to the nearby waterfall. On the left, Bob & Camille get their photo snapped with the Alps in the background. On the right, Chris & Cindy enjoying the day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stone is a fabulous building material. Strong, enduring, low-maintenance and beautiful. On the left, Camille and Denise are headed toward the waterfall. On the right, a photo of one of Sonogno’s stone barns taken on the school trip in September 1975. Note the TASIS blue VW minibus!<\/p>\n We were taken by this shed built onto a massive boulder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Camille & Jen on the walk to the falls. Lunch for the trip was provided by Angelo, his famous ham and cheese sandwiches, paprika chips, and a drink. On the right, the falls as seen in September 1975.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Camille admires the stream below the waterfall where we stopped to eat our lunch. On the right, Charles, Dave, and Tod in the same area in 1975.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not roman but fairly old, the bridge at\u00a0Lavertezzo was built in the 17th century. The name, Ponte dei Salti translates as “jump bridge”, and for good reason.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0 The rocks beside the river make a natural viewing area to watch the few brave souls daring enough to brave the plunge into icy cold water. There is a sign at the top warning of the danger of cardiac arrest due to the thermal shock. On the right, Bridget (the 18 year old daughter of a reunion attendee) makes the leap of faith.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Determining that discretion is the better part of valor, Bob chose to jump off a rock into the river rather than off the top of the bridge. Ruining a 16-day trip to Europe seemed to be not quite worth the risk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a> \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nVILLAGE CHURCH<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nCOUPLES STROLLING WEATHER<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nNOW & THEN – BUILT TO LAST<\/h3>\n
<\/a> \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nNOW & THEN<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nNOW & THEN<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nPONTE DEI SALTI (AKA OLD ROMAN BRIDGE)<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nTHERE SHE GOES!<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nAND THERE GOES BOB<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nAND HERE”S THE VIDEO<\/h3>\n