[CR Switzerland] Day 07-2

September 23, 2006
Zermatt - Isola Bella Optional - Lugano

In due course, Elmar brought us back around to the foyer of the palace, and there was a dash for the washrooms while waiting for Arno, the house guide. It was a great pity that photography inside the manor/castle wasn’t allowed…more’s the pity I couldn’t get an official photobook, but those are the breaks. I managed to collect enough notes from the spiel, which Arno delivered with authority and good humor.

The Borromeo family produced San Carlos Borromeo, the patron of our San Carlos Seminary in Guadalupe, Makati City (home to those with late vocations). The house was full of art masterpieces, and the vista from the foot of Napoleon’s bed is quite impressive. Interesting to note that the family still keeps a set of apartments in the manor/castle, and often comes down to stay. About halfway through the tour, Arno said we were going to have lots of stairs to negotiate, to reach The Grotto Suite of rooms; but he offered an option for people to sit down on the couches in the reception room we were standing in. Not a bad place to rest, it looked like a micro version of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles.

The Grotto Suite was on the lower levels of the island, closer to the waterline, and every wall and ceiling was encrusted with coral, shells, undersea rocks, in an effort to simulate a series of underwater caves, I suppose. Then we were led through one of the oldest parts of the house, a tower with a spiral staircase cast out of (or was it carved out of?) blocks of granite and set into the wall.

Back up, through the reception room where we'd left some of the tour members, then through the art gallery with its magnificent tapestries from Gobelins. Of note was the one nearest the exit. It depicted a stream of running water, and if you kept your eyes fixed on it as you walked down in front of the tapestry, you could actually see the perspective shifting to follow you. Many oohs and aaahs, and applause for Arno as he handed us back to Elmar and the Sara's group were directed back to her. We'd had to merge for this optional in order to be accommodated, but that wasn't so bad.

Got back down to the docks without too much trouble, and we were back on our coach at 2.30 PM sharp. Checked with the parents that they had had a nice time at Stresa, and then as we made our way through traffic, Elmar started to whet our appetites by describing the delights to be found at the Alprose chocolate factory. This was a bonus side trip, and he hadn't wanted to guarantee that it would happen, just in case circumstances went against us. However, even with the traffic, it appeared that we would get to the factory on time, so Elmar felt justified in telling us how Alprose was among the best chocolatiers in Switzerland, along with Lindt, Suchard, and Nestle.

By the time we pulled into the chocolate factory, it was exactly 4.30 PM, just 30 minutes shy of closing time! There was a bit of a dash for the washrooms, then into the factory we went. First thing that hits you is the smell of chocolate from the chocolate fountain where you get your first taste of the Alprose product. Two of the staff dip small wafer rolls (we call them barquillos at home) into the flowing chocolate and hand them out. Ma and I saw a little of the informational video before we were reminded that we had barely 15 minutes left before closing time.

So...off into the little shop we crowded. Free samples, yum! Browsing through the shelves, trying to choose what to grab, was a difficult thing. We must have bought at least four kilograms worth of chocolate bars and candy. I know this, because the first package of assorted chocolates I seized upon was clearly marked at two kilograms - and Ma added a few more things after that! So funny - we managed to lose Dad in the crowd, and imagine the hilarity when we met at the bus to see him carrying a sensibly sized bag of chocolates, and Ma and I with what amounted to a miniature sack of the sweetness. :)

By the time we pulled into Lugano, I was feeling in need of a hot shower and a change of clothes. The sky was still somewhat overcast, and there was a general air of hopeful expectation as we drove down past the main shopping area towards our hotel. I saw a fountain in the lake as Monte Bre was pointed out to us; and then finally, we were let out at our hotel.

Discovered early the technique of opening the elevator door quickly the moment it arrived, or risk losing our chance of riding it! We were given a nice room at the end of the hall, where the sofa converted into a huge full bed, which was perfect after the long day. Room to stretch! The bathroom could have used a light in the bathtub area, though - when the shower curtain was closed, you were shut out of all the available light in the room. Otherwise, that was one *big* bathroom, with a bidet and a heated towel rack.

We had dinner at the hotel, as Ma was wary of walking to the commercial area at night. By this time, I was starving - the lunch from Isola Bella was less than a memory, and it was with great interest that I perused the menu. Ma and Dad, having had a glorious lunch of spaghetti con vongole in Stresa, wanted nothing more than the vegetable soup. I went for something more substantial, and had consomme with egg to warm myself up, and a steak. Both were excellent - especially the steak, which came out just the way I liked it, seared on the outside, tender on the inside. I won a smile from the maitre d' by asking him to tell the kitchen that the meal was very much to my liking.

Tomorrow is the outing to the Italian Market. Wonder if I'll be able to get anything. Certainly hope it doesn't rain!