A Day in Lugano

Not having (or being able) to drive anywhere today we had a lazy start to a grey and wet day.  We enjoyed a typical buffet continental breakfast and then the owner of the hotel contacted the Landrover dealer for us.  Unfortunately they are closed all weekend but will either be able to repair the car or order parts on Monday.  We then contacted the RAC who arranged to have it taken to the garage.  Apart from having to wait until Monday all seems to have gone smoothly and both the hotel and RAC couldn't have been more helpful.  Once all of that was out of the way we caught the bus into Lugano centre and the lake.  It is a lovely, classically Italian old town and the lake is in a spectacular location surrounded by amazing mountains.  After a visit to the tourist information centre we decided to walk around the promenade to the funicular railway up Monte San Salvatore.  This is a towering peak overlooking the lake and Lugano itself.  The ride up was impressive and steep and the views from the summit spectacular.  Huge steep sided mountains all around with the lake and town far below.  The flora was interesting with vetches, violets, hellebores,  primroses and several others whose identification eluded me from the funicular.  The most interesting species in my eyes was a Common Amelanchier or corvine Eidelweiss shrub.  It is also known as Juneberry.  Another notable wildlife observation was the hooded crow I discovered by the lake side.
Once back down in the town we visited an exhibition of the work of Paul Klee and Fausto Melotti.  Next it was time for a pizza and then back to the hotel for a beer.

One poorly Freelander on the way to the garage.

Lake Lugano.

Lake Lugano from Monte San Salvatore.

Juneberry.

Cloud drifts up from the lake.

It's good to see the fresh green of the new beech leaves.

Monte San Salvatore reflected in windows.