Lake Day

Last, last weekend, we were fortunate enough to get invited to a really special birthday party.  It was for a work friend of Ryan's, and was held at her grandmother's house on the lake of Lugano.  It was in a town about 30 minutes away, and gave us views of different mountains and a different part of the lake.

It was an all day thing.  Ryan went skiing...

 
And canoeing...

And swimming...

The party continued through lunch, dinner, and well into the night.  I love that we are invited to be a part of these authentic, local experiences.  We're not the easiest guests... the language is a bit awkward, we don't have a car so we needed a ride, we don't typically do things with this couple, and yet, they extended the invitation.  It's nice, and gives us a window into a world here that we wouldn't be able to see on our own.

This swan kept diving, wiggling it's tail feathers and paddling its feet until it got what it was diving for.    

This was our grill for the night. 

This picture below is part of what makes these experiences so special.  We were obviously the only Americans at the party.  So the grandmother decides we should have something to remember our time by, and gives us this postcard.  The picture is of their house, their view and their old sailboat, and was taken 40 years ago.  They weren't aware of its existence until stumbling upon it in a local shop.  Since then, they've been trying to collect as many possible... the total, at the moment, is ten.  And they gave us one.  We didn't want them to, but they insisted.  I think they thought it was cool knowing it would end up in America.  This is what happens... not only do we get to see these intimate gatherings, ones we could never create for ourselves as tourists, but we get treated like special guests.  And it all amounts to feeling very, very grateful for what people have done for use here.  We're leaving with some amazing memories, this being one.