Until the 1970s, Italian smugglers would travel to Switzerland to buy goods that were heavily taxed in Italy (such as tobacco, coffee, and sugar), and walk across these mountains to carry them back to Italy. Italian customs authorities set up a dense network of border patrol stations in the mountains. Rifugio Murelli is one of them.
Rifugio Murelli sits on top of the ridge dividing Lake Como from its neighboring Swiss valley Valle di Muggio. This ridge offers fantastic views of the southwestern arm of Lake Como. On the other side of the lake, you can see the whole route of Mom and Dad's special hike from Torno to Brunate, which I highlighted in red.
You know you're crossing the Swiss border when you see one of the many boundary markers distributed along its full length. This one, at the top of Poncione di Cabbio, has been around since the year 1900.
After crossing back into Switzerland, Dad hiked down into Valle di Muggio to catch the last bus of the day in the peaceful hamlet of Cabbio...
where he was met by a wotten-waven welcoming committee!
Back in Idaho, I was just waking up when I received their donko-gram informing me of Dad's safe journey.
WOW how far is that hike highlighted in red. Looks like it would be wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Goose
Love the idea of a donko-gram. Was it marked "for you eeyores only?
ReplyDeleteToodle pip!
Bertie.
What a beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteNola
So beautiful, what a great place to walk and send donko-grams from! Lee and Phod
ReplyDeleteBut Tootsie, you're still in Switzerland, right? I am a little confused.
ReplyDeleteI think it's so nice to be able to just walk in and out of the 2 countries. Very friendly :) X
*squeeeee* Shaggy donkeys! You can post donkey pictures all day if you'd like.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been one long hike! What beautiful scenery and Cabbio looks like such a quaint little place. :)
ReplyDelete