Summer in the Alps (with kids)

27 July – Somma Lombardo (near Milan)

Holly, Matt and their kids Caleb (12) and Lily (10), still a bit jet-lagged, met up with us on the 18th at Castello San Giuseppe, a former 17th-century convent on a hill near the lakes in the Canavese area of Italy, west of Milan.  A wonderful place to rest after the long flight and a stint in the hot and crowded city.

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During our 9 days together, we tried to provide the family with a sampling of different types of places (mostly Alpine and cool!) in northeastern Italy, with side trips to France and Switzerland.  After the Castello, we moved on to a basic bed and breakfast in Salza di Pinerolo, a tiny hamlet in the hills where we enjoyed the proprietor’s simple but incredibly good local fare and  visited the talc mine.

Pressed on into the Alps and some serious switch-back driving, with snow-capped mountains as a backdrop.  Stayed in the family ski resort of Tignes, France, and sampled the local specialty of tartiflette, a sinful combination of cheese, potatoes and bacon (with maybe a soupçon of cream).

After that, our special experience was to be a stay in the Whitepods overlooking Monthey, Switzerland.  (These are ecologically-friendly luxury tents, accessible only by foot.). The view was spectacular the afternoon of our arrival, but was then marred by two solid days of off-and-on torrential rain, fog and clouds.

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Weather improved dramatically when we returned to Italy for a visit to Cogne and the Grand Paradiso National Park:

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Our last night together was spent near the Milan airport in a B&B with magnificent views over the Ticino River.  (This is an agricultural B&B that raises blueberries!)

It was a treat to share this time with Holly, Matt, Caleb and Lily.  Hope they will have good memories as they return to the hot climes of Tatum, Texas!