The view into the Vallée Blanche from Punta Helbronner (Pointe Helbronner) on the Skyway Monte Bianco. The Skyway reopened on February 11, 2021.
Wow, the weeks are flying by!
Looking over the past week, my favorite sentence regarding this historic pandemic comes from the current Swiss president and economics minister, Guy Parmelin, who said, "We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but there is still a long way to go.”
Indeed! There is still no definitive date for the reopening of Europe to foreign travelers, but serious progress is being made. Notably, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced a “Global Travel Taskforce” which will present a report on April 12th with recommendations on how to reopen international travel. At this point, the government anticipates no international travel before May 17th. Granted, the UK prime minister can’t make decisions for Switzerland, France, Italy, or any other European country, but the fact that we’re having this conversation is good news. The British government also announced on Sunday that every adult in the country should be able to have their first coronavirus vaccine shot by July 31. This is a full month earlier than the government’s previous target!
This isn’t to say that the situation is rainbows and unicorns. It’s not. I feel grateful every day for the ability to help guests plan their future trips to Europe. Here are some travel-related flickers of light in Europe at the moment.
The Skyway Monte Bianco Reopened on February 11, 2021
This is the view of the Dent du Géant (Giant’s Tooth) from the Pointe Helbronner (11,358 feet / 3,462 meters) on the Skyway Monte Bianco. The Skyway Monte Bianco reopened on February 11, 2021.
The Italian cable car system Skyway Monte Bianco reopened on February 11, 2021. This is really exciting news because it was almost one year ago that Italy shut down because of the pandemic, becoming the first western country to get hammered by COVID-19.
The Skyway Monte Bianco connects the town of Courmayeur, Italy with Punta Helbronner (Pointe Helbronner) on the south side of the Mont Blanc Massif. The Skyway Monte Bianco is one link of a much longer trans-border high alpine cable car system that connects the towns of Courmayeur, Italy and Chamonix, France. The Skyway Monte Bianco offers incredible views of the Aosta Valley, the Val Veny, and the Val Ferret in Italy. As guests climb higher they enjoy expansive views to the Matterhorn in Switzerland, the Monte Rosa (border of Switzerland and Italy), and the Gran Paradiso (Italy). Guests also delight in up-close views of Mont Blanc (the highest peak in Western Europe), the Dent du Géant, and the Vallée Blanche (see top photo), home to the Mer de Glace, one of the most prominent glaciers in the Alps.
From the Pointe Helbronner, guests have the option of continuing the journey to France by hopping on a three-mile-long cable car and dangling above sparkling glaciers during an airy crossing of the Vallée Blanche. Guests can then board on an equally stunning cable car at l’Aiguille du Midi (an imposing rock spire) for an immediate and precipitous drop into Chamonix, France.
Each segment of the cable car system is a striking journey in itself, but the entire trip from Courmayeur, Italy to Chamonix, France is an incredibly breathtaking and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hint: It’s also a great rest day excursion during the Tour du Mont Blanc. Please contact us for advice on working this into your itinerary.
Three Lugano Restaurants Awarded a MICHELIN Star
Hiking trails lead to MICHELIN-starred restaurants in Canton Ticino, Switzerland. This is the “olive path” which takes hikers past historic olive groves in the lakeside village of Gandria just outside of Lugano.
The first time I tasted a traditional Ticinese risotto in Lugano I was blown away by the flavors. The ingredients tasted so fresh and lovingly prepared. I looked at my friend Veronica, who is from Ticino, and I said, “OMG, these tomatoes. They are the best I’ve ever tasted!” (They really were the best.)
Veronica smiled and replied, “That’s because they come from a farm outside of Milano, Italy, just 50 km down the road.”
Ah ha! It’s this Italian infusion of fresh ingredients that is the secret to the wonderful flavors that you find in Ticino—Switzerland’s Italian-speaking “Riviera.”
Good food is an integral part of the Lugano experience, so I was not surprised when I heard that three restaurants in Lugano received new MICHELIN stars. Bravo to the following chefs/establishments!
I Due Sud / Chef Domenico Ruberto
At the Hotel Splendide Royal *****s
Ristorante Principe Leopoldo / Chef Christian Moreschi
At the Hotel Villa Principe Leopoldo*****s
Ristorante META / Chef Luca Bellanca
At the Palazzo Mantegazza
MICHELIN-starred restaurants pair really well with village-to-village hiking tours in Ticino. Or how about a cooking class and cruise on Lake Lugano? Let’s design your dream trip!
