June 26th - Cooling Off

Our first night in Locarno was very hot!! As we looked out at our patio area, we could tell it was also going to be a hot day. Luckily the landlady had given us a fan which we kept running all night. After breakfast, we walked down to the market where Susan bought a pair of lightweight shorts which she wore often during the remainder of our trip.


After an orientation meeting with Gabi, the Untour representative, we decided to take the funicular and gondola up to cooler air at the top of Alpe Cardada, the 4,430 ft. peak overlooking the city. We first took a funicular up to Madonna del Sasso church. Then on up on a one-mile long cableway to the top. The stations and gondola were designed by Mario Botta who also designed the San Francisco Modern Art Museum.


The cable car itself is a tear drop of glass and steel which gives the passenger the sensation of weightlessness and speed.


At the top is a viewing platform that, on a clear day, gives wonderful views over the lake and cities below.

The photo to the left is of a poster showing the platform. We enjoyed relaxing and watching the paragliders sailing off the higher peaks around us.

It was a hot, hazy day and the views of the lake and surrounding mountains were poor. We hoped for a thundershower to break the heat and our wish was granted in the evening when we went to Ascona to watch the opening parade of the Jazz Festival.



It began to rain just as the parade was starting. There were just three bands in the parade but everyone had a lot of fun. They passed out beads since the theme was New Orleans and Classic Jazz. We enjoyed the Criterion Brass Band with dancer from the UK.




We decided to stay for the evening so bought a ticket that let us wander among the venues. We ate dinner at one of the pizzerias sitting at a table just under the canopy while the rain poured down in front. While eating, we enjoyed the jazz of Mama Digdown's Brass Band from the U.S. This year's jazz festival was a tribute to Lionel Hampton and one of the featured bands was the Hampton Tribute Band with a great young jazz vibraphonist.

Ascona is a smaller city right next to Locarno. It has a beautiful waterfront which is even more beautiful at dusk with the lights of the hotels and small restaurants.