Old McDonald had a farm... And in his farm we got to.... sleep! ia-ia-iooo!

One of the beauties of living in Europe, and mostly in Switzerland, is that you get to visit amazing places within minutes and in a couple of hours you are in a different country!

We went to Italy and visited some charming villages: Asti (where the bubbly wine of the same name is made), Canelli (where MORE bubbly is made) and Alba, the town of Nutella! 

We might be the only parents that leave for a roadtrip heading to a different country with NO ITINERARY, NO GUIDE and 2 KIDS, at 5:00 pm, but little that we knew that we were in for a treat!

All the roads lead to Rome, but in our case they first led us to a Farm. A charming Italian farm owned by an even more charming family.

Apparently "agritourism" is pretty popular these days in Italy. Our farm, La Mussia, was all that you would expect a farm to be: cows and horses, hens and ducks. A cat and a dog resting on the red brick floor.

 

The owners were awsome and they cooked for us, a clean roomy bedroom, and we were on board! Emilio and Sofia picked fruit from the trees, they climbed on the tractors and played with some kids. Dinner included a full five course meal, with plenty of wine, dessert, bread and cheese. Then breakfast with yogurt and home made sweets, and then we continued our quick 4 day trip.

Amazingly, we ended up in Alba, where the truffle fair was taking place. Food and wine, truffles, chestnuts, people, music and joy in the air. An old fashion carrousel, candy and narrow streets completed the story of our amazing, short trip! 

When in Switzerland... have some yougurt (and milk, and cheese, and why not? some milk chocolate, too!) / Simple pero emocionante, festival de "desalpe" de las vacas suizas.

Picture this: beautiful, well-fed cows coming down from the Swiss alps with flowers on their heads as they are guided by Swiss farmers (in traditional Swiss outfits) through the most charming Swiss villages. 

Yes. Those are the "desalp" festivities. A traditional celebration that takes place every year in early fall as the herds of cows are brought down from the mountains after spending the spring and summer munching on delicious green pastures and wild flowers. And that's what we got to experience... The villagers celebrate with traditional food that include saussages, cheese and soup "chalet", you hear the cows coming from afar as their bells anounce their arrival. We got to experience the Heidi tale to the fullest.  Needless to say that milk tastes particularly good in Switzerland! 

Como en el cuento de Heidi, cada año los granjeros llevan a las vacas a pastar libremente en las praderas de los alpes suizos, donde se dan un agazajo con los pastos y flores silvestres. Despues de varios meses, las vacas regresan a sus granjas en medio de un alboroto y alegria único. Las vacas son decoradas con flores y portan cencerros espectaculares; los granjeros llevan sus trajes típicos y habitantes de los pueblitos preparan una fiesta para recibir a las manadas y a sus cuidadores, el aire se llena de música, mujidos, el sonar de los cencerros, y el olor de la comida típica que se vende a los visitantes pero se regala a los pastores... Es una fiesta única que murmura "Suiza" en el eco de las montañas. Un espectáculo simple y que a la vez nos recuerda el cíclo de la vida.