Finally Here!
Trip Start
Aug 15, 2010
1
3
10
Trip End
Dec 13, 2010
Riva San Vitale, Ticino, Switzerland
Monday, August 16, 2010
The flight to Zurich wasn't that great. I didn't get any sleep thanks to the person in front of my reclining until their head was basically in my lap. The food was also lacking, but I was expecting that. When we got to Lugano we boarded a propeller plane (little sketch) and then flew to Riva. The views on the way in were absolutely amazing and so beautiful that I didn't want to take my eyes off them to search for my camera. The Lugano "Airport" is basically a room with a baggage conveyor belt (which is stupid because getting our luggage off the tarmac would have been easier than waiting the extra 3 minutes to make it look official). Then we grabbed some cabs (very small cabs with lots of luggage and not a lot of room for the owners of the luggage) for a 25 minute ride to the villa.
When we arrived at Villa Maderni (built in 1725) we checked in, got our keys and towels, and I lugged my suitcases up 3 flights of stairs to my room on the 3rd floor. My room has 4 beds, 4 closets, 4 night stands, a large table (instead of desks), and a bathroom with the smallest shower I've ever been in. We are the only room in the villa with our own bathroom; everyone else uses communal, but the shower is so small that I will be using the other ones from now on. Every time I moved my arm I hit the temperature control. Not a fun or productive shower (I'm pretty sure there is still conditioner in my hair).
After unpacking, exploring the villa, showering, eating (real food!), and wondering town, it is still only 5 PM. I feel like I have been up forever and can't wait to go to bed tonight. Unfortunately we have meetings after dinner (my shift isn't until 7:15 which sucks because I hate eating after 6 PM) to get through before we can sleep. More orientation tomorrow, and then my first class starts on Wednesday!
