Cascade of spring impressions ( 1 )
One day in the cold winter season ....after returning from Finland, we began to think about where to go on a May 2-week vacation. Having not yet decided on my travel plans, I accidentally saw a program on TV about the Barromean Islands on Lake Maggiore. The beauty of what I saw conquered me, and this was the beginning of the end!
Thus the journey was formed: Italy-Stresa, France-Cô te d'Azur and Nice, Switzerland-Lugano.
So, road. The first day, May 18, was spent on the road. Driving on German autobahns is easy, there are no speed limits in many sections, and if there is no road repair anywhere along the way, then it’s generally fine. This time we entered Switzerland through Basel, there are several corridors at the border: for those who have a vignette (Vignette) and for those who do not have it. We had a vignette that we bought in June last year, so we went to the hallway who does not have a vignette.
We clarified with the girl who met us (well, if the border, then the border guards? ), Is our last year's vignette valid? It turned out that no, because the expiration date is until the end of the current year, and it doesn’t matter when it was bought, in June or November. Immediately, they bought a new vignette from her, for 40 euros with something ...she herself pasted it on our windshield and we drove on. Direction to Luzern, then to Locarno. Sunny weather, beautiful lakes, green valleys with countless waterfalls... and a 2-hour traffic jam resulting from the repair of the tunnel. A three-lane autobahn first turns into 2 lanes and just before the tunnel into one, as a result of which the entire flow of cars is rebuilt and such braking is formed.
From Locarno to Stresa, we drove along the lake along its eastern side, through Luino, Laveno, Arona, Meina ...somewhere the road went directly along the shore of the lake, somewhere away from it. Even in the pouring rain it was beautiful.
It was not possible to stop anywhere and take photos, because of the rain, and it was already evening, the lighting was not right.
Italy, Stresa. Stresa is a small pretty resort town on the shores of Lago Maggiore, Region Piemont. On the beautiful embankment there are no less beautiful hotels. And cafes are attached at the very edge of the water under tall palm trees, surrounded by lush vegetation. Roses, camellias, rhododendrons were already in bloom ...Last year we were on Lake Garda, we were delighted with it and expected something similar from Lake Maggiore, and we were not mistaken. It is somewhat different, has more bays and bends, and most importantly, the Barromean Islands, which every year attract thousands of tourists from all over the world.
We have 2 full days in Stresa, on the first we have an excursion: Lago Maggiore Express. It was Sunday, and I specially selected the program of this excursion for Sunday.
The train leaves from Stresa to Domodossola, then transfers to the panoramic train to Locarno, and from Locarno to Stresa on the lake by boat.
The plan was to take the very first train from Stresa at 09:12 am. But waking up in the morning, they saw that it was pouring with rain and decided to sleep on. Then we slowly had breakfast and, oh, a miracle! The rain suddenly stopped and the sun shone. And then it was decided not to abandon the planned excursion and take another train at 10:18. We came to the railway station, bought tickets, they say Lago Maggiore Express, the price is 32.00 euros for 1 person. As it turned out, on this day the trains did not follow the schedule, there was not one yet, neither the one at 09:12, nor the one at 10:18, but the train still came and we went. There is nothing particularly interesting to the town of Domodossola, well, if only a few views of the lake. The transfer to the panoramic train does not take place on the platform, but underground, such as in an underpass, but there are signs everywhere: Centovalli.
We left Domodossola at 11:25 (we did not leave at the S. Maria Maggiore intermediate station, although some tourists get off there and stay there for some time), and therefore at 13:19 we were already in Locarno. In this panoramic train, all cars are the same, with large windows, but the windows do not open. When the train started moving, an announcement was made that for the beautiful panoramic windows you need to make some insignificant surcharge. When the controller approached us, I first showed him our tickets, he looked and said that everything was in order, there was no need to pay extra. Apparently, this surcharge was already included in the total cost of the ticket back in Stresa.
Where is it better to take places: the first part of the path will have beautiful views alternately, then on the left, then on the right, then only on the left, but the second part of the path and at the same time the most breathtaking views are only on the right.
There will be the Centovalli valley itself with numerous waterfalls and mountain streams, rocky gorges and forested peaks, mountain roads, bridges, tunnels and villages ...We were lucky, there were not many tourists in the car, so we had the opportunity to cross from one side to another. But we didn’t manage to take good photos, firstly, the train doesn’t stop anywhere, so all the pictures are in motion, and secondly, rain accompanied us all the way, respectively, drops on the glass, etc. But it’s worth a ride, very beautiful views. And even better, go around this valley by car, there are roads there, then you will have the opportunity to stop where you want and admire the waterfalls as much as you want.
We arrived in Locarno at 13:19 at the railway station, it is not big there. They went outside and looked around. The boat to Stresa leaves at 16:15, we have almost 3 hours of time. It was planned to take the cable car up Mount Cardada.
In Locarno, from the arrival station - Locarno FART, this is the address - the train arrives here, you have to go to the station of a small funicular / tram, not far, Locarno FLMS. Walk along Via della Stazione, about 5 minutes, towards the lake, there are signs everywhere. A small funicular in the form of a tram, goes up the rails, even with stops. We reach the final: Funicolare - Locarno - Madonna del Sasso - Orselina. (FLMS) A ticket costs 7.20 francs, but you can also pay in euros, euros are accepted everywhere in Switzerland, and change is also given in euros, and in some places they even ask what currency you want to have change in. Here, at the terminus in Orselina, you can visit the Madonna del Sasso church, which offers breathtaking views of the city and the lake. And we went a little further, to the cable car in the mountains. This is a cable car lift that takes you up to the Cardada plateau for about 1300 m. The ticket costs 28 francs.
Climbing the mountains, from about the middle of the path, nothing was visible anymore: neither the city, nor the lake, fog, clouds.
When we climbed to the top, we immediately felt the smell of a pine-spruce forest, very strong and very pleasant. Maybe some special varieties of firs smell like that, I don’t know, we haven’t been able to breathe just such air anywhere before, I still remember its aroma. And once again we will smell this smell later, it will already be in Monaco, in the park near the Oceanographic Museum. So, on the plateau: there is a restaurant with a beautiful terrace, I wish everyone to be there only in clear sunny weather. There are 2 viewing platforms, a swing...but we only had enough time to breathe this wonderful air a little and go down to the pier with the next flight.
At 16:15, exactly on schedule, the ship set sail from Locarno and we sailed across the lake. He arrives in Stresa at 19:15, it would seem 3 hours!
But for us it was not tiring, we love to swim, especially since it was sunny for about half the way, you can admire the lake, the shores, the embankments of the towns to which you moored ...you can take pictures, or you can drink coffee ...
By the way, you need to take care of food on the shore, or order some dishes for yourself in advance, because nothing special is sold on the ship: tea, coffee, beer, chips, sandwiches ...I didn’t see anything else. We arrive in Stresa, it is raining lightly, but we are going to the old town, since it is very close. As everywhere, as always: restaurants, shops, cafes...
And tomorrow the Barromean Islands and the cable car in Stresa are scheduled.
Despite the rainy weather, the trip was still a success, we were very pleased.
