Making the most of it. I hope.

I'm trying to leave Chicago, but the weather is not cooperating. Lots of delays and planes aren't landing. Instead of stressing, I'm going to reminisce about nice, fun vacations that doesn't involve sitting on the airport floor watching an enormous thunderstorm roll by.

While we were hiking around Locarno, we came across these people:

From Ticino, Switzerland

This was pure class. We heard these people coming down the mountain singing at the top of their lungs well before we could see them. The one woman lost her shoe and couldn't get up, and they were laughing too hard to help. Good times.

We went to Ascona. It's a small village on the lake right next to Locarno.

From Ticino, Switzerland

From Ticino, Switzerland

More picture-perfection, lots of stairs to climb and alleys to explore. Safe, clean, non-threatening Swiss alleys.

From Ticino, Switzerland

From Ticino, Switzerland

The scenery was so amazing, it made me almost forget that you can buy nice fat Cuban cigars there.

From Ticino, Switzerland

From Ticino, Switzerland

While meandering around, I found this:

From Ticino, Switzerland

It was an abandoned church and tower (filled with generations of pigeons)with a vineyard and a garden. It was on a steep hill that overlooked the lake. I was about to pay cash for it right then and there.

From Ticino, Switzerland

What a great little fixer-upper.

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Well, the sun just came out, which nicely illuminated the oncoming thunderstorms. Miles of them. Simply fabulous. I feel better now.