This morning Robert and I wake up first and sneak out for a morning swim. As we're at the bottom of the mountains the sun still hasn't risen high enough yet so the temperature is still manageable.
The lake is very refreshing and there is no one else around. Today our only activity is Swiss miniature, the largest miniature village in the country and as its only 7 minutes away we make the most of the campsite facilities and enjoying a slow morning. There is a small park for the kids so they spend time there whilst we repack and sort the van.
Swiss miniature is full of famous swiss buildings and monuments so we don't recognise any of them but to say this place opened in 1959 they are still in very good condition with lots of little details to enjoy.
We find a treasure hunt with a quiz that is based on questions relating to the grand tour of Switzerland, a scenic road trip all around the country.
This keeps the kids on the lookout for the monuments we need to find along with giving us some additional facts to read about them. We successfully complete the trail and enter the competition to win a holiday around the route so who knows that could be a future road trip.
The second half of the park we start to move a bit quicker the heat is oppressive and we find ourselves desperately hunting for the shade.
We did look to see if any of the sites were in the local area and found a funicular to the top of one of the mountains, it would have been fun but a family ticket cost £50 so didn't seem worth it.
Looking on the map I had found a tiny area of Italy within Switzerland and as it was only 10 minutes away we decided to go visit and see if we could get some cheaper supplies since things are so expensive in Switzerland. Turns out other than a casino (one of only 4 allowed in Italy apparently) there's not much so we drive all around and back out.
With still half the day left we head into the centre of Lugano hoping to grab an ice cream and mooch around the shops but we soon find Switzerland completely closes down on Sundays with just petrol stations and the odd café open. We do however find a park so the kids are content although after 15 minutes they are dripping wet from sweat.
Tonight's plan is to sleep in the Swiss mountains where we might finally need to use the duvet. The drive up is spectacular, huge mountains, sweeping roads and turns out we're actually on part of the grand tour. It's also refreshing to see the car thermometer creep lower and lower as we drive higher and higher.
The highest point is 2066m above sea level and as we get out of the car its now only 27°c. There's a small café so we do infact get to have an ice cream, although only just since the card machine doesn't work and we have to borrow some euros from Robert to pay for them.
Robert is eager to get into the lake so gets fully changed into his swim wear, Liliya dips her legs in put it's a bit too chilly for her.
Even though I've completed a Swiss run i I'm not sure I've ever run at this altitude so I squeeze in a quick one whilst Al does the cooking.
We all sit outside for our meal but the kids have asked for their blankets and we can hear the distant bells worn by the mountain cows as all the tourists who drove up for a hike have now left. I also have to get into my hoodie but it's a nice feeling after a week of blistering heat.
