Reception at Garni
Rondinella in Locarno is on the third floor.
The receptionist spoke no English at all.
Another staff member spoke enough English to get me checked in, my room
was ready when I arrived before 11am.
14:34 Switzerland time 06:34 California time
14:35 Switzerland time 06:35 California time
14:36 Switzerland time 06:36 California time
View from my balcony
Dusty: Garni Rondinella room description online said "mountain view",
none of the rooms at the hotel said "lake view"
Dusty: I gambled that I'd get a decent view and it paid off, very
very pleased
Dusty: Location couldn't be more central, across the street from
funicular
The receptionist showed me the hotel's so called bike storage - outside
behind a locked gate, lock your bike to the fence.
Problem is, anyone could jump the fence from the dry riverbed to mess
with your bike.
The three crappy street bikes locked up there now?
They're probably fine...
Am I going to leave a several thousand franc bike outside like that?
Of course not, but I didn't tell her that...
I got settled in, then started the 40 minute / 3.3km walk to Bike Cicli Chiandussi.
It was warm, and it took a while...
12:08 Switzerland time 04:08 California time
12:37 Switzerland time 04:37 California time
Sign in the bike shop...
I somehow neglected to realize that this bike shop is closed Sunday,
and I wanted to return the bike Sunday.
They said to just lock it up outside, they come by every few hours to
bring bikes inside once people drop them off.
Sounds sketchy, me no like this plan.
I really wanted to return the bike Saturday afternoon once I heard this.
I did accept a heavy duty bike lock from them since I was afraid of my
storage situation at the hotel.
I felt better that the heavy duty lock would also secure the bike if I
had to leave it outside their shop Sunday as well..
14:33 Switzerland time 06:33 California time
Bike smuggled into my room.
When I got back to the hotel, I locked the bike up outside as
instructed.
Since reception is on the third floor, all I had to do was get the bike
in the elevator up to the fifth floor and into my room undetected.
I scouted the route, found noone.
Went downstairs, smuggled the bike into my room no problemo.
The bike won't leave my room until before 6am tomorrow, I probably
won't run into anyone then..
If I'm successful tomorrow, I'll drop the bike off back at the bike
shop on the way back to the hotel.
It was now approaching 3pm.
I have a bike safe in my room, mission accomplished.
Tripadvisor said one of the top attractions in Locarno is Madonna del
Sasso.
I was eventually able to follow google the long way up, I didn't know
there was a short way until I was looking at it from the top...
I was a sweat bomb, it was hot and sunny and it took over an hour to
drag my sweaty bum up that hill.
I ended up spending a full 9 minutes at Madonna del Sasso before
heading back down the easy way...
16:23 Switzerland time 08:23 California time
Madonna del Sasso
16:27 Switzerland time 08:27 California time
Madonna del Sasso
18:04 Europe time 09:04 California time
Dusty: Mass was in session, I think..
Dusty: didn't see anyone leading it but most of the 5 people in
attendance spoke along ...
16:28 Switzerland time 08:28 California time
Madonna del Sasso
16:29 Switzerland time 08:29 California time
Locarno from Madonna del Sasso
16:29 Switzerland time 08:29 California time
Madonna del Sasso
16:30 Switzerland time 08:30 California time
Madonna del Sasso with Funivia Cardada in the background
16:30 Switzerland time 08:30 California time
Via Cruces closes at 5pm
16:32 Switzerland time 08:32 California time
Via Cruces
16:37 Switzerland time 08:37 California time
16:37 Switzerland time 08:37 California time
16:43 Switzerland time 08:43 California time
Via Cruces and Madonna del Sasso from the Hotel Belvedere
17:22 Switzerland time 09:22 California time
It look me alot longer than it should have to find Chiesa Sant’ Antonio
Caprese di Bufala con Pomodorini Cherry
Cherry tomatoes with mozzarella cheese
22:25 Europe time 13:25 California time
Ray: That's a fine looking caprese salad.
22:28 Europe time 13:28 California time
Dusty: Dont think I've ever ordered one for myself before, I've shared
some w Kathy or the family plenty of times
Dusty: Hit the spot on a warm day.
19:10 Switzerland time 11:10 California time
Coniglio alla Cacciatora con Polenta
Rabbit with vegetables and mushroom sauce with polenta
19:12 Europe time 10:12 California time
Paul: Never have had good rabbit
Paul: Tried it maybe three times
19:28 Europe time 10:28 California time
Dusty: About 4 times for me too, it has been good for me each time
Dusty: I've had it so infrequently I couldn't describe the
others, but tonights was similar to chicken but more tender, it had
almost no flavor on its own which is fine, that's what vegatable sauce
and polenta is for...
19:29 Europe time 10:29 California time
Dusty: Lotsa meat on that rabbitsicle, almost nothing left when i was
done
19:46 Switzerland time 11:46 California time
15:57 Europe time 06:57 California time
Paul: How's Locarno
Paul: Looks a bit like Lake Como, but maybe smaller mountains and
bigger town?
15:58 Europe time 06:58 California time
Dusty: 5th floor balcony of the Hotel Garni Rondonella in Locarno, the
nearly 100% Italian part of Switzerland ...
Dusty: zero signs in Ticino in German or French, all Italian
Dusty: Also warm and muggy like Italy
Dusty: Supposed to rain and maybe thunderstorm in the mountains all
weekend, Saturday looks to be the worst..
Dusty: i came into Locarno prepared to ride today, but it's already
overcast in the mountains, it would be foolish to start so late (at
least noon best case)..
Dusty: plan to catch the 620am bus to Bignasco with my bike, then head
up to Lago de Naret early tomorrow to try to beat the rain
Dusty: I could start from here, but that's 64km 1 way which is
nuts, I don't need to cycle up the entire valley..
16:58 Europe time 07:58 California time
Paul: Looks like a small city rather than a lake town?
17:09 Europe time 08:09 California time
Dusty: Very much so
17:10 Europe time 08:10 California time
Ray: Gorgeous view!
17:14 Europe time 08:14 California time
Paul: Lago de Naret appears to be approx
Paul: 6 miles from Obergoms but with a pesky Alp in the way
17:15 Europe time 08:15 California time
Paul: And a quick Google of Bignasco would suggest there's a pretty
cool waterfall there to check out
20:16 Europe time 11:16 California time
Dusty: Live band just started playing outside next door..
Dusty: 1st song Eric Clapton Cocaine, 2nd song Born to be Wild...
Dusty: it may be an awesome (late!) night!
21:29 Europe time 12:29 California time
Dusty: Band did Stones, Doors, long version of Shine on you Crazy
Diamond, then long medley from The Wall, then Bowie's Heroes, now
Kashmir..
Dusty: Probably best cover band I've ever heard but granted that's a
short list.
21:58 Europe time 12:58 California time
Kent: I like this cover
Kent: Surprise
Kent: :)
22:20 Europe time 13:20 California time
Dusty: End of Stairway...
Dusty: end of Hey Jude, with dozens singing along...
Dusty: Come Together, Highway to Hell, Purple Rain...
Dusty: I couldn't possibly come up with a better set list, its amazing.
22:26 Europe time 13:26 California time
Paul: You should yell at that hackneyed hippie band
Paul: Nobody wants to hear that crusty garbage
22:27 Europe time 13:27 California time
Paul: Just kidding - only a couple of eye-rollers in that set
There are lots of drunks singing along to the end of Purple Rain
Dusty: I do kinda need to get to sleep eventually though, early
long day tomorrow
22:30 Europe time 13:30 California time
Ray: Are you in your room are you watching the band
Ray: Last night I had an incredibly good night hike on Piestewa
Ray: Made it to summit in 28 minutes and up and down without a
flashlight
22:30 Europe time 13:30 California time
Dusty: Queen Love of my Life...
Dusty: guy has the voice to pull it off!
22:31 Europe time 13:31 California time
Dusty: Sitting in my room with the window open, I'm hearing it plenty
loud
22:32 Europe time 13:32 California time
Dusty: We are the Champions..
Dusty: the drunks are howlin and singing!
