Our Big Adventure

CROSSING the ALPS – Sion – Lugano

We cross the Pennine Alps via the Simplon Pass, a 2007m high pass with spectacular views and some of the most treacherous and narrow winding roads we have ever seen. Tunnels, some 8km long take us through mountains still capped in snow. Narrow single lane bridges span deep, seemingly bottomless gorges. The engineering achievements of this road with it’s many tunnels and bridges is amazing enough until we read that the Romans have used this route centuries ago and Napoleon built the first road along this route, to transport artillery from the Rhŏne to Italy Needing a coffee we stop at the small Italian town of Re. We are lucky enough to find our host speaks a little English, when we comment on the beautiful church and she tells us of it’s origin. In the 1600’s during a fight between local boys, a stone was thrown and hits a fresco of The Madonna, a cut opened on her forehead and for 20 days blood flowed from the wound. Many notable people witnessed this, and the miracle verified. Since then many, including the Pope have made the pilgrimage here. We could have chosen the freeway to get to our destination in Lugano, been here a little faster, not had the scary drive through the alps, but we would have missed all the scenery, and the little towns we passed through, including Re. Sometimes it pays not to follow the GPS, look at the map and you discover all sorts of wonderful places out there.

posted by Brian and Julie @ 11:48:00 PM