Ticino – Travel Diary 2019

Same procedure as every year – also this year we were off to the Italian part of Switzerland, the Locarno and Ascona area to be precise. 

We left in a Tuesday in the afternoon and arrived right on time for dinner in Locarno. We hit a bit of traffic jam, but were lucky with the parking, so we went to our favourite restaurant called Sensi. The waiters know us by now, so it’s always a lot of fun to return. After dinner we drove to our apartment, unpacked, I did my nails and then we went to bed early. 

On Wednesday we got up early, because we wanted to take the boat to Luino. The ship left at 10 and we arrived in Luino an hour later. It’s always so beautiful on Lago Maggiore, definitely worth a trip, if you are ever close by. In Luio we went tot he market first, where I found a great bag, of course we also looked at the normal shops and then had a late lunch by the lake. We then took the slow boat back, which allowed us to see more. In Locarno we strolled through the city a bit and then went grocery shopping. The rest of the day was spent at the apartment. We stayed on the balcony, cooked dinner and read a lot. 

Thursday started dull and grey. It was not that cold, so we decided to go running. Then we cooked lunch and the weather got a bit better, so it was time to get ready and go shopping in Locarno first and then in Ascona as well. We found some great things and I still can’t believe that I found a Furla bag (I wanted one for so long), it was for sale (50%). In Ascona we spent a lot of time in a shop called Ewa, the owner is dutch and so much fun. The boardwalk in Ascona is beautiful, the perfect place for people watching. They also have colourful animal statues spread around the city, great photo opportunities for sure. Weh ad dinner at Osteria Nostrana right on the boardwalk. In the evening we were able to hear the concert on the Piazza Grande from the balcony. 

On Friday we slept in and then weh ad lunch at the gold course. I then spent the afternoon in the „badi“ of Ascona, enjoyed the sunshine and swam in the lake. I also managed to get a funny sunburn on my back. Then I drove back tot he golf course and we had dinner. The rest of the evening was spent at our friends’ apartment in Minusio, with a great view of the lake. 

Saturday was similar to Friday, I spent the day at the badi and then we had dinner at the Acona golf club, the food was delicious. 

On Sunday we headed tot he Bavona valley, it goes off from the Maggia valley. It was so beautiful. The Bavona river with it’s blue and turquoise water, all the rocks and the little villages, all made out of stone houses. We also saw a very impressive waterfall in Foroglio, it really reminded me of Yosemite National Park. Weh ad lunch right there, I had a yummy polenta with typical meat from the area. We drove back to Ascona and had a little drink by the lake at the Seven lounge. Roger Federer was playing the Wimbledon final, so we ordered pimms and always glanced at the live ticker. Before dinner we headed back to the apartment, freshend up, got changed and then went to our beloved Sensi restaurant. Of course, we still had Federer on in the background, sadly he lost. After dinner, we headed tot he food street oft he Moon and Stars festival and then into the little alley, where we listened to the concert for a while, until it started raining. 

Monday started bad weather wise, so we drove to Como, only to find out that most shops are closed in the morning and only open at around 3 pm. We enjoyed an Italian cappucciono and then checked some shops, luckily, some opened earlier, so we spend some time in those, before having a great lunch at Gesumin, one of my fave restaurants in this city. We then drove out oft he city, to a grocery store, there are certain thngs I always like getting in Italian, so I did. We drove back early, because in the evening it was time for our Moon and Stars concert. We took the funicular down to Locarno and went tot he entrace. We always reserve in a restaurant on the Piazza Grande and enjoy the concert from there. We were a bit late, so we called the restaurant to let them know. Anyway, one oft he waitresses almost gave our table away, we just arrived in time. Aloe Blacc szarted playing first, which was great, he played some cover songs, some of his new ones and also the ones everybody knows, he really has a great voice and interacted well with the audience. Then came Christina Aguilera, she started late, but put on a fab show. She played all her famous songs and talked tot he audience as well, but not as much. The thing that annoyed me most, was her gettiong changed every two or three songs. In total she was wearing nine outfis within 1 ½ hours. That might be fine in an arena show, but not for a festival like that. I still really enjoyed it though and fell into bed happily. 

Tuesday was our last day already, we packed and cleaned and then had a late lunch at Sensi, before driving home. 

Ticino is always worth a visist and it’s great to explore new places down there as well. Late me know, if you’re ever going!!!

Holiday Choices

I’m writing this post in the middle of my summer holidays. A lot of people are summer in this world, away from home during this time oft he year, somewhere by the sea. I’m sat at home. This of course has a reason ;).

As a teacher in Switzerland and the advantages of working at a private school I get 16 weeks off per year, which is great of course. I’m obviously not away for 16 weeks, because teachers also need to work during their holidays, see these two posts about this:

- The Truth about Teacher Holidays

- A Year in the Life of a Teacher

Most people go away on summer, because that’s when they get time off and with children it’s the easiest thing. Places like Italy or the South of France (or anywhere pretty much) are crowded in the summer and it’s just so hot. I personally don’t understand people, who go to Florida, California, Dubai etc. in the middle of summer, it’s just way too hot. I understand however that some people can only go in summer. Anyway, because of that I try to away the busy times, when going on a holiday and choose other times of the year. I get three weeks in spring and that’s when I usually do my “big holidays”. Two years ago I spent three weeks in Florida. Last year I did New York, Dallas and Chicago in April and this year I went to Dallas for a week, got home and the day after I flew to Tenerife for ten days. It has turned out so well every single time that I think I will continue this. I’m actually thinking California for next April. Anyway for all the other weeks I get off, I also plan things, but smaller things.

In summer I get eight weeks off, the first and the last week is always connected to school, because we clean up and then get everything ready again. In between I plan smaller trips, like city trips, a few days in the Italian part of Switzerland or even day trips to places I haven’t been to in Switzerland or close to the boarder. Two years ago, for example I went to Berlin with my bestie Mary for a few days, then went to the Ticino with my family, enjoyed summer at home and we had family over from Italy, so we showed them the area. Last year I went to the Ticino, had my mom-daughter trip to London and spent three days in Munich. This year I basically spent July at home, with some little day trips in between, then went to Lisbon with my mum, spent my birthday and two more days in Füssen (Germany) and that’s it. It’s also nice at home, so yu don’t always have to go away. Some people don’t understand that and I’m always a little confused by that. There are other, who go away once a year and always to the same place that’s also fine.

In October I get a week off. Usually I stay at home and do some things in the area. If a London event comes up, I go to London, but other than that I just try to relax. I week is not that long, seems more like a long weekend actually. For Christmas and over New Years I get three weeks off, which is fab. The week before Christmas is usually spent with some preparations and getting all the presents. Then it’s Christmas for a few days ;), followed by New Year’s and then I actually spend some time preparing lessons. Sometimes there is a little trip in between, over NY, like London three years ago.

Well, in February I get another week off, but as I said a week is not that long. This year I went to Gstaad for a few days to enjoy some snow, but usually I stay home. Then comes spring and I already talked about that.

As a child my parents took me to Florida when I was two and then when my brother was born we spent every year in Castiglione della Pescaia (Tuscany), right by the sea. We loved it there and it still feels like home. We never went in summer though, because it’s full of Italians. You can see where I’m coming from now ;). In summer we did things like Germany, England etc.

When it comes to choosing places, it’s pretty much always cities or the beach, my two loves. I prefer America to Asia, even though I really want to go to Singapore and Bai. Never really thought about South America really. California is high up, as well as the Caribbean and lots of places in Europe. Australia, New Zealand and some pacific islands have always fascinated me, but it’s just so far away. I’d also like to go back to Vancouver and Castiglione, my second homes.

When is your usual holiday time and where do you go? What’s your next trip?

The truth about teacher holidays

„Oh, you’re a teacher, you must have so much free time and how many weeks off do you have per year?“

All teachers will exactly know what I’m talking about. People just assume teachers have lots of holidays and next to teaching they don’t have anything else to do. Well, guess what, teaching is actually the smallest part of the job.

I don’t know about teachers and other jobs in other countries really, I assume it’s similar, but what I’m writing here, is totally based on my experience in Switzerland.

Teachers work very hard. We prepare lessons, units and we have to plan the whole school year, must of us do it for several subjects and also try to link them in various ways. Then there are different school events to be organised, tests to be graded and corrected and getting the classroom ready. Next to correcting test, we also correct worksheets and other things the students have worked on. In order for the kids to have something to work on, we have to print and copy lots of things. We write midterm reports and reports at the end of a semester and let’s not forget all the meetings, emails and talks we have with the parents. That requires a lot of energy and patience. Must people have no idea how many emails per day I get just school related, whether it’s from parents, other teachers, the principal or someone else related to school. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, so I don’t see all this as a waste of time. What I’d like to say, is that when the lesson is over, work for teachers is not over yet. I either come earlier or stay longer, to correct things and get material ready. Other people don’t have to do anything when they get home from work. I try to do all my school related work at school, so that when I get home I can relax and focus on other things. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t really ;).

So there is the time every day after school, but then there are also the holidays and yes we get a lot of them, but actually most of us, spend around half of our holidays planning and preparing the school year. What I do is always have a max time per day to work on school stuff, not more than 3 hours, so that I can enjoy the rest of the day. I might work more when it’s raining outside and on warm and sunny days I don’t do anything at all. Actually I stay home (meaning staying in Switzerland) a lot during my holidays, I don’t go anywhere for every holiday I get. I might do some day trips or long weekends and then I probably have one big holiday during the year and the occasional city trip.

So as you can see, a lot of the “free” time teachers are believed to have, is actually work related. I would say that I’m very good at organizing my time, because I still have time to blog, sing, meet friends, read etc. And yes, we might get more holidays than other jobs (at least in Switzerland, I don’t know about other countries), but we also work during our free days from time to time.