A much needed breath of fresh air

Never the one to stay in Paris when the opportunity of "a pont" presents itself... Ascension allows our family to make the most of a long weekend. This time the Weather Gods were with us. After passing through torrential rain in Zurich airport last night, this morning the thermometer in Lugano claims 26°C and the sun is out. What a brilliant wake-up call!

The skies are as blue as the lake, the rolling hills covered in deep green foliage, birds are chirping and the air is fresh...but where has everyone gone? My hubby had to pop into Italy for a work commitment, Expat boy also skipped across the border with his friend for some Italian food, Expat girl has a lunch appointment with her bestie ... which leaves me all by myself?!?

The day is spectacular and just too beautiful to spend at home, so I take myself off to the nearest mountain, park the car and head for the woods. Breathtaking views, overgrown trails, an invigorating pace and a need to clear my lungs as well as my head has me charging up, up and further into the thick of Ticino's nature paths.

Until all of a sudden I find myself on top of the world and I am at peace again!

View from Cademario carpark

Cademario village church

An enchanted path...

... leading to a secret spot...

... with a breathtaking view

Reaching Monte Cervello after a 90-minute hike

At peace with nature

THIS is what I miss when I'm in Paris!

Happy Mother's Day

Rebuild THIS Cathedral!

It has been months now that the "gilets jaunes" have been protesting every Saturday afternoon. The entire city is tired of the weekly disruption.

There is another quieter and less violent movement going on in Paris, however, the demand by the younger generation for tougher action against global warming.

Yesterday, roughly 15,000 demonstrators, many of them too young to vote, rallied in front of the Opera waving home-made posters with slogans such as “There is no planet B” or “Plant trees, save the bees, clean the seas.”

Most of them had skipped their afternoon classes to participate. Even though the mood seemed cheerful, the clear and determined message by high school and universtity students needs to be taken very seriously.

In the middle of it all is my 15-year old daughter, whom having finished her end-of-term exams asked to me on Thursday night if she could participate. Although not thrilled about the idea, Expat Girl does strongly believe in the cause and had no school on Friday afternoon so I found it hard to say no!

So, off she went with her hand painted banner joined by some like-minded girlfriends to do what the French do best.... demonstrate!

This morning I am reading the French newspaper "Le Monde" and my daughter's face is smiling back at me from the screen. I cannot hide how cool I think this is, seeing your kid in the news demanding for action in a cause she lives and preaches by. Her voice has been heard but will the industry and politicians react adequately?

You go girl! Follow your dreams. I am soooo proud of you!

Girl, get your head back in it...

It has been a while that my feet have started twitching... our lives have been shaken up, changed and rearranged so many times that staying put in one place for eight years is starting to take its toll. 8 years?!? This is the longest we've ever stayed in one place as a family.

It took us a long while to fully accept living in Paris with the French bureaucracy and tough attitude that came with it. For a while we were good with it all but the cycle seems to continue with us stuck in the middle and it feels like time to step out.

Expat boy has moved out to study abroad and I am thrilled he has chosen Switzerland. Expat Girl will be done with school in two years and spreading her wings as well. But of course THE job is here in Paris.

THEREFORE, it does not look like we will be moving anywhere soon. So girl, get your head back in it. In the meantime I'll be waiting for us to relocate to the place we are meant to be.

Eiffel Tower celebrates 130 years

So when your daughter is having a melt down over mathematics it becomes a family problem. As usual hubby is travelling and big brother is studying abroad... that leaves momster mummy, yes that would be the one that becomes a monster after she counts to 3!

Nowadays I don't need to count to three any longer, they are both taller than I so I start any discussion with "....son/daughter, have a seat we need to talk".

As we know Paris offers endless opportunities, therefore - thankfully - I had a meltdown cure up my sleeve. Last night was the Eiffel Towers' birthday... 130 years! The mayor decided this needed to be celebrated in style...naturellement... with an elaborate nighttime laser show retracing the monument’s 130-year history.

The Eiffel Tower opened to the public for the first time on May 15, 1889, several days after its inauguration at the World’s Fair. It was the world’s tallest monument at the time, and thanks to strict urban planning rules, it still looms large above the Paris skyline.

It also happens to be right around the corner from our apartment, so come on Expat Girl, let's go get some fresh evening air and have some fun! It worked wonders.

I'll be back soon...

Time has come to say "Arrivederci" once again. Expat daughter and I have indulged in Swiss food and enjoyed the exceptional companionship of our local friends for the past ten days. We might not live in Lugano any longer but it still feels very much like home... even after eight years that we have been living in Paris.

Our adventure in Lugano was a life changer for each family member. Every one of us has a special link to this city and the time we called it home. I had come back to my home country. Expat hubby fulfilled his dream destination. Expat boy received a good dose of Swiss discipline thanks to the local school system and Expat Girl never really let go of her first memories of home.

“The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.”

A touch of Modern art à la Luganese

A touch of Swiss tradition: pedalos

Lugano's meeting point: Manor department store

As Swiss as it gets: a lake lunch cruise

A welcoming spot for food

Delicatessen Ticino style

Just can't get enough...

Romantic teatime invitation

Happy Hour with a view 

A morning jog to keep fit

Smile... you're in Lugano!

How long could I survive off chocolate?

If I had to choose one aliment to survive on it would defiantly be chocolate. Preferably Swiss chocolate! Ok, Lady Godiva assorted chocolates are high on my favourite list as well!

However, there is no place like home when it comes to chocolate. No need to step into one of those fancy chocolatiers to feel pampered, the local supermarket (i.e. Coop or Migros) will have me drooling and raving over their counters.

Many modern historians estimate that chocolate has been around for about 2000 years. For most of that time, chocolate was a beverage.

Etymologists trace the origin of the word "chocolate" to the Aztec word "xocoatl" which referred to a bitter drink brewed from cacao beans. The Latin name for the cacao tree "Theobroma cacao" means "food of the gods". Now I will not argue with that!

Sweetened chocolate didn't appear until Europeans discovered the Americas. Chocolate didn't suit the foreigners' taste buds, but once it was mixed with honey or cane sugar, it quickly became popular. By the 17th century, chocolate was a fashionable drink throughout Europe.

Back to my point... according to science I could survive about a year by eating just chocolate!

Loving Toblerone's latest special edition

When it's wrapped in pink who can resist?

Just your regular milk chocolate

The tourist selection

How many of those can I fit into my suitcase?

Kid's favourite... häsch Dini Ovi hüt schoo kaa?

Ragusa is a well kept Swiss secret

New discovery at Manor supermarket!

Treasures of the Gottfried Keller foundation

How can I resist an invitation to lunch by my girlfriends followed by a guided tour through the local art museum? It just goes to show, Paris might have the most impressive amount of exhibitions but there are little jewels offering a rich cultural programme in every city no matter what size.

After a delicious homemade pesto accompanied by a glass of prosecco we set off to Lugano's LAC cultural center. Inaugurated in September 2015 LAC (Lugano Arte e Cultura) is devoted to visual arts, to music and the performing arts.

The Gottfried Keller Foundation is one of the important collections of Swiss art. The foundation was established in 1890 by Lydia Welti-Escher and was later entrusted to the Confederation for the purpose of procuring important works of visual art for Switzerland.

The LAC exhibition focused primarily on nineteenth- and twentieth-century paintings, with significant incursions into the previous centuries, documenting the production of some of Switzerland's greatest artists such as Hodler, Segantini and Giacometti.

Situated in a breathtaking position overlooking the lake, LAC expresses its mission as a comprehensive cultural venue open to residents and visitors alike, providing a showcase for artists and serving as a place where the public can enjoy and learn about the arts.

The view from inside the LAC looking onto Monte Bré

Die Teufelsbrücke, a classic by Caspar Wolf

Death by Giovanni Segantini

The Chosen One by Ferdinand Hodler

La Luronne by Francois Barraud

Portrait of daughter Hedwig by Max Buri

My favourite: Equestrian fantasy with pink lady by Alice Bailly

The spectacular view from the LAC

Opening of the Lido di Lugano

One of Lugano's most popular places in summer is the Lido di Lugano. This bathing establishment has maintained its charm since 1928.

On May 1st the Lido of Lugano holds its traditional opening to kick off the summer season. At 11am sharp, in the presence of the city authorities, the City of Lugano offered the usual "aperitivo" to all visitors. Bathing was allowed both in the pools and in the lake for those who dare faced the 11ºC. The good news is that not only was the entrance free but the sun was out! Traditionally it pours on May 1st in Lugano! What a treat it was this year!

The local tradition wants that you enjoy an ice cream along the lake on May 1st, no matter what the weather!

Hanging out at the Lido

Ready for the crowds to hit the bathing establishment

Pristine morning on May 1st

As Swiss as it gets...