View of the town of Lugano from Paridiso, another town on Lake Lugano

This view combines the essence of Lugano - the Alps, the lake, and palm trees - Yes, palm trees in Switzerland.

Another view of Lake Lugano through the window of a MacDonalds.

The requisite photo to show we were there - overlooking Lake Lugano.

A fisherman in the early morning mist on Lake Lugano.

A church in the Alps about 30 miles north of Lugano.

Side-by-side doorways - one modern and the other ancient - in the town of Gandria on Lake Lugano.

Hotel Imperiale on Lake Como, our base in the Italian lake region, only about 20 miles from Lugano,

The requisite sunset photo.

Switzerland and Italy haven't yet come to grips with graffiti - it was all over the cities.

Another beautiful town on Lake Como, Belagio, one that you usually reach by ferry.

Still another beautiful town on Lake Como, Marcote, you would think it gets boring - but it doesn't.

Another of the lakes in northern Italy, lake Maggiori, about 50 miles wast of Lake Como.

A flower in the gardens of Isola Madre, an island on Lage Maggiore.

A white peacock on the island of Isola Bella,another island on Lake Maggiore.

Sunbeams on Lake Maggiore.

Just a few of the scooters parked in the business area of Milan.

The spires of the duomo in Milan.

The rooftop of the duomo.

The unfinished Rodinini Pieta - Leonardo DiVinci's last sculpture.

The last photo must be a sunset - this one was on Lake Como.