Lugano holds a special place in my heart as it defined some of the most challenging fourteen years in a home away from home but only home in my daughters’ hearts.
You can have a heart in the pearl of your birthplace yet the joy you treasure the most in life cannot always be geographically based but more on home-based. Home-based means the people you love most in your heart, regardless of time and place you choose to live.
ABC’s of Lugano
Alps across azure areal ambiance:
Beautiful Bre bending below booming buildings,
Buzzing bus, busy streets,
Practical, time saving transport and my feet.
Clean, charming Cianni crawling chain
of colourful flowers in the park.
Dog shape lake, dwarf-like architecture
in Swiss Miniatur
as to what Madurodam in The Hague feature.
Enchanting, extraordinary, blue Lugano lake,
That mirrors summer skies.
Fantastic, floating, fun, fireworks fly,
roaring on Swiss National day
above Lugano dark sky
Good great old fishing village Gandria,
Standing strong, deaf and quiet
No humming cars lovely all year long.
Hotels high or low in an elegant row,
roller skating along lake avenue,
roaming tourists on a summer queue.
Italian ice cream you choose to pick
as sweet as Italian language people speak.
Jazz festival playing during summer nights,
Jogging on long lake avenue,
drumming on music lovers ears.
Kayak rowing in the lake
like a knife cutting on calm water as
knocking, squeaking seagulls on autumn days.
Lake Lugano, lavender, falling leaves from changing colour trees,
Lugano city holding world cyclism in an autumn when I was born.
Located in southern Switzerland and nearby Como, Italy border on.
Mountains, Morcote, mists molding magestically,
Family of swans swimming elegantly,
late and early even when autumn chills.
Narrow, neat streets, full of banks and pharmacies.
Twinkling lights dance on Christmas time.
Occasional orchids and palms growing,
Swaying contrasts from Swiss Alps
to mediterranean plants.
Popping popcorns one enjoys on movies,
Mercatino selling handmade creativities.
Qualifying queen in canton Tessin,
quivering, shining, crowning calm lake.
Relaxing rainbow rays rising to many sunny days
retired resting old people fill up the place.
San Salvatore slopes, speechless sights,
Slow funicular train climbing
Shifting, seeing to its mountain peak
silently circles view of lakes and Alps.
Tarts taste transparent temptations
Tan tone on skin easy to get
Tossing, turning from Lugano sunny days
Unexpected, unique, undefeatable Swiss chocolates,
like my unforgettable, understanding best friend.
Valentine vampire parading on carnival week,
Veranda vines, wine, pasta, risotto, panettone
Various very delicious Italian menu.
Wonderful wishful warmer winterland,
Lugano is the perfect answer on my stand.
Xylophone XL marimba in Plaza Riforma
Excited talented young musicians
drumming beats to people’s carisma.
Yachts yearly sailing contests on the lake,
Cycling happy feet of young and old on pedal boats.
Zooming lens by tourists who zest for life.
Zigzag roads climbing up to hill of sights.
Zebra lines stretching Lugano’s taste and aroma.
Zapping zipper of heart on fun and sun.
an excerpt from my memoir, Landscapes of a Heart, Whispers of a Soul, Book 1, Speranza Odyssey Trilogy © 2014 Ana Angelica Abaya van Doorn