Photographic Diary
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1st May 2009:
Switzerland

	For the May bank holiday weekend we jumped in the car and headed up to Lake Lugano - Switzerland, but only just. Italian speaking, Italian food (but Swiss prices!)
	The sun shone and the Lake looked splendid.
	We camped on the shore of the Lake. The flood waters were still receeding after a heavy downpour, so we kept our distance slightly!
	The highlight was the top of San Salvatore, reached by funicular railway.
		Which commands incredible views over the entire lake...
		...and on such a clear day, of the entire mountain range around.
	We headed round the lake to the picturesque village of Morcote.
	Which had suffered from mudslides during the bad weather, and was still partly inacessible.
	But on the hill above the town, you couldn't have felt more distant from mudslides and heavy rain.
	Archetypal Italian lakes (in Switzerland, but there's a bit of Italy on the other side of the lake!)
	Cooling off via ice cream and paddling.
	The following day we got in the car and hopped over the alps (well it took 3 hours) to German speaking Switzerland. We stayed in the Staubbach Falls Hotel (on the right) in Lauterbrunnen.
	Where Chris and Joy met us! They had been visiting Bern and hopped in the other direction to meet up.
	The Trummelbach falls - glacier melt water pummeling through a crevasse in the valley wall. Impressive and intimidating!
	We travelled up to Wengen, a small town where Al had spent a summer holiday 20 years previously (which made him feel rather old).
	Top priority. Cheese fondue! Mmmmm, Gruyere....
	The following day brought more beautiful weather.
	And we took the cable car up to Muerren...
	...for a walk...
	...with amazing views of the moutains on the other side of the valley.
		The snow was only just retreating but, wherever it had, the ground was carpeted with crocuses. Amazing!
	In the shady areas, the snow hadn't retreated quite so much!
	More Gruyere! This time up a mountain, for lunch. Yum.
	Enjoying a refreshing beer.
	The view back across to the town of Muerren.
	Heading back on the train.
	We left Chris and Joy enjoying the Lauterbrunnen valley and headed back to our tent by Lake Lugano for a relaxing final evening.
	With frisbee...
	and red wine!