Monday 5th May Turin to Gachnang

We drove into beautiful Turin. They call themselves the design capital of the world and wewre the hosts to the 2006 Olympics. Not sure about all that but it certainly is a beautiful city with lots of lovely parks and piazzas. Two rivers converge and there are ideas that this is a centre of magic – black and white. Hmmm. It was lovely anyway with a number of recogniseable names – Lavazza and Olivetti for a start. Shop, and off to Switzerland through the San Bernado Tunnel. Amazing mountains and the kids got to throw a few more snowballs before we crossed the border. Visited the Saint Bernard dog Museum where we learned all about the hospice and rescue centre founded by Saint Bernard. It has been visited by Hannibal with his elephants, Napoleon and Queen Victoria as well as thousands of people who sought refuge over the years. They have paintings and relics from the past as well as dogs that are bred or kept because they are not wanted (due to hip dysplasia or other defects). A dog handler was bringing one back from a walk when we were out with the dogs and she let the kids have a good pat of the one she was taking out next. The littlest one was 4 ½ months old and was sooo cute. Great audiovisual of someone getting lost and then rescued. It meant much more now that the kids have actually felt the cold from snow.

Drove to Gachnang and were very happy to spread out and cuddle Nora the cat etc. The van is fantastic for getting us from place to place but this is luxury.