Watercolor 560

On Cotton Hot Pressed Paper

More suited to tight studies…..

Watercolor 559

Quick Sketch 

Based on someone else’s that I saw. 

I am home again, recovering. The sun is shining, and a big trip is coming up, just at harvest season….

Today’s Update

All Is Well

Today’s dental surgery is over and successfully. Glory and thanks be to God.

Thank you for prayers. Much appreciated. 

Now I am in recovery in an apartment attached to the clinic. Better Half is with me ( otherwise I would have had to have a nurse for Fr. 1000/day, and he decided his time would be better with me. 😁) Recovery procedures, involving magnets, magnesium foot baths, cold face machine, and other odd stuff will continue through Friday. Food is from the Soul Food vegan Cafe downstairs. Better Half went to Aldi up the street for his groceries. 

And I am on a social media sabbatical, so am supposed to stay away from WiFi. My bed has a full shielding canopy.

So, all for now. Back to FULL REST. 

Note:

Sarah Y., I did get your message. Hectic-ness happening. I will reply. Thanks for writing. I have been praying for you. 

Tessin, Part Three

Bellinzona 

We, in the last installment, went up to the castle ruin on the hill over the city. Two distinctive towers are left, with some fortifications, and a large hall, which has been turned into a trendy restaurant.

And…. How to lose two children in a castle…..

Free-range sometimes is OK, but this might be risky. 

Then we headed down to the city level, for supper at an Italian restaurant - just what no one needed, but it was on the schedule and the wine was good. And the office manager needed to be recognized for his fifteen years of service. 

This view is looking toward the middle-size castle on the other side of the city.

The city church. We did not go in this time, but I have pictures from earlier in the year, when Better Half and I went, which pictures never got finished being posted here. I intend to get back to them - sometime. 

City Hall

City alley 

Our restaurant, at the base of the middle castle, which we saw from the big castle. (I will show you pictures of that, when I get back to that trip. But this week has a focus on dental work. We’ll see after that.)

Then homeward bound, by train. 

A few of the above photos were not taken by me, but shared from a company employee. 

Thank you, Vanessa. 

The End of this excursion. 

Tessin, Part Two

Continuation of Summer Excursion

In the last installment, we ascended to the summit of Mount Generoso, to view the border lands with Italy.

On our descent, we saw the once-an-hour mountain train had just left, so we all agreed we would hike down to the next station, to meet the train after it returned to the top and began to descend. The views were worth the hike and heat. 

The path followed the general route of the tracks.





So we got to the next station, and ride down the mountain, to get a regular train to Bellinzona. 

Where we made a brief visit up to the castle ruins. These, and two others nearby, were built by Milanese Dukes, but taken over by the Swiss shortly thereafter. 

This is Bellinzona and the two smaller castles on nearby hills as viewed from the ramparts of the main castle. 

To be continued….

Other

More to Come

Several picture tours have been truncated, but I intend to get back at them, sometime. Presently major dental work is a priority. 

Here is what a snippet of Zurich looked like yesterday. Hot and blue.

So many blues!

Watercolor 558

Northern Norway 

Sundry family members and friends went to Norway recently, honeymoon camping, visiting sights and sites, getting cold and wet, and trying to navigate a transportation system in meltdown.  But they are back, they got great photos of gorgeous scenery, and they made happy memories. 

Here is a small watercolor inspired by one photo. 

Switchbacks all the way up. 

Watercolor 557

Imaginary Landscape 

Summer Excursion to Tessin

Annual Excursion for the Company Employees

Better Half’s company goes to some lovely place each summer for employee appreciation day. This time it was to the south of Switzerland along the Italian border. A long train ride took us to a little mountain cog-wheel train, which took us up to the top of Monte Generoso (the middle of the map below).

Winding the way up the mountain.

Up and up and above 

To the end station, where sits a Mario Botta-designed hotel/restaurant (because Swiss mountains need such at their tops; incentives, you know). 

Botta’s original sketch

It replaced the original hotel, that had to be removed, because it was sliding down the mountain. 

They had the grace to save five of the exterior etchings.

The hotel was and is built right on the edge of the mountain.

Goat terrain

Cows, too. But Swiss cows are probably part goat. At least they don’t mind the mountains. There are farms at that altitude. 

The restaurant views are quite spectacular. 

So was the food - here, my mountain salmon from Graubunden. 

A three-meat Antipasti, including a tartar.

Lava cake dessert 

Or seasonal fruit and parfait 

After which sumptuousness one treks to the summmit.

Via the terrace 

Past the bear

And multitudes of these little fellows sunning themselves on the warm rocks.

Past the local farm

Past the Gemsbok tracks in the concrete 

Right along the Italian border. In fact, we did invade Italian territory. No shots were fired. 

A border stone. To the right is Italy (note the I on the rock)…

….and to the left is Switzerland ( note the CS, for Swiss confederation)

Part of the path to the summit 

More path - indeed, it is a path

So is this. Some hardworking fellows laid those rocks. Summit in view.

Summit achieved. Elevation 1700+meters. 

To be continued….