Long-haul adventure for me! Arriving in the magnificent small town of Locarno, I walked through the colorful alleys to the port to take the boat that would take me to the Brissago Islands! Their name alone already made me feel like I was traveling!
The crossing was simply magical! After almost falling into the water by leaning too far to take a photo, I (for once) sat down very obediently to admire the landscape... and I was glad I did, as the boat passes many small villages perched above the water. After almost an hour of navigation and even a few minutes in the cockpit chatting with the captain, we docked on the larger island, Saint Pancrazio.
My visit to the botanical garden could begin! And there, the plant magic happened! Subtropical plants everywhere, as colorful as they were outlandish, a Roman basin, a tropical greenhouse, and even dinosaur eggs! I went from discovery to surprise and learned a lot about the microclimate of this island and the creation of the garden by Baroness Saint-Léger more than a century ago. Clearly, a touch of madness must be innate in us Swiss!
And in the middle of the misty bamboo forest... I encountered an endangered species: treasure hunters! The group of children was on a trail, looking for a hidden treasure on the island. What a great idea! A free treasure hunt for all self-respecting treasure seekers! As excited as they were, I got into the game and after giving them some lemon rounds to regain their strength, we continued the quest together!
Mamma miaaaa! Between the boat trip, the discovery of the botanical garden, and the treasure hunt, it had been a looong time since I had such a beautiful day! Do you know this place in the heart of Lake Maggiore? Apparently, there are even 4 other treasure hunts around the lake for the most curious... enough to enjoy all summer long!
