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An Italian lodge jumps the Swiss border

The borders in the European Alps have been the source of some strange happenings recently, including a border-jumping ski lodge. Refugio Cervino, a two-storey lodge built on the Italian side of Theodul Glacier, has been slowly moving towards Switzerland - and its international movement has called its ownership and national boundaries into dispute. The border between Italy and Switzerland has previously been defined at the boundary of the Theodul drainage divide, the point where melted water either flows south to Italy or north towards Switzerland. However, rising temperatures have changed the flow of water. As a result, two-thirds of the Refugio sits in Switzerland while the remaining third is in Italy, and has become a subject of diplomatic negotiations. According to Agence France Presse, a compromise to redraw the boundaries was reached last year - but that doesn’t stop the ever-increasing glacier melt. Swisstopo, which stays on top of the official boundaries of the Confédération Helvétique, will be changing the boundaries in 2023. "We agreed to split the difference," chief border official Alain Wicht told AFP. Though international surveyors have previously been brought in to determine where the boundary should sit previously, Mr Wicht says the Refugio is a sensitive issue as the Theodul Glacier is “the only place where we suddenly had a building involved”. The Swiss have taken a more neutral stance in the debate, but the Italians are unwilling to part with the building without compensation, "The refuge remains Italian because we have always been Italian," Refugio’s caretaker, 51-year-old Lucio Trucco, says. For now, the refuge will be an enclave of Italy within Switzerland until the borders are changed. Image: Getty Images

International Travel

“Come on, come on”: Karl Stefanovic clashes with ALP President

Karl Stefanovic and the President of the Australian Labor Party have butted heads over Anthony Albanese’s treatment by the media and his latest forgetful moment while facing the press. Wayne Swan told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/anthony-albanese-gaffe-labor-mp-wayne-swan-weighs-in-on-controversy/f5d3c937-39fd-41f0-9c28-ad2f71cde2c9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Today</a> that Mr Albanese needs to be “given a fair go” instead of being the target of “gotcha journalism” and compared his treatment by the press to that of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Meanwhile, Stefanovic claimed the future prime minister should be across all the details after Mr Albanese failed to recall his six-point plan for the NDIS. “I just think Australians are being sold short by this kind of ‘gotcha’ journalism,” Swan said. “He was being asked about a press release that was 18 days old. I think the problem we have got here is the Prime Minister is not being subject to the same focus and I also think there is a degree of hostility in the press pack and that’s not helping, it’s not good for democracy and it’s not good for debate.” Karl shot back that if Swan was in the same position he would “definitely remember policy details”. “You can only have so many times you can be asked details - if you want to be prime minister of this country - and I’m telling you right now Wayne Swan, you were across detail - you have to be across a level of it and this was his own policy,” Stefanovic said. “He is across the detail, there is no question about it - but this ‘gotcha’ journalism with the press pack on the road is disgusting,” Swan replied. “Come on, come on, what (about) asking questions of the person who wants to lead the country is disgusting?” Stefanovic asked. “No, demanding dumb answers - that is the problem here. I think the sort of prosecution of Anthony Albanese is now at the level we saw with Julia Gillard and that was a low point in Australian politics,” Swan answered. Swan continued to say that the public “are absolutely fed up with this”, while Stefanovic countered that the public “need to see Albanese perform and be across more of the details”. The debate - and Mr Albanese’s failure to recall - came after he was unable to recall the cash rate or the unemployment rate in the election campaign’s opening days which made him the target of various critics. Images: Today

News

Wild Republic: The new drama thriller set in the Alps

Dubbed the “Lord of the Flies for a new generation”, Wild Republic is the latest series to take inspiration from the classic novel. The German television series starts with a bunch of juvenile delinquents who are undergoing an experiential rehabilitation program in the rugged German Alps. <img style="width: 500px; height: 250px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843508/luis_zeno_kuhn-fotografie-munchen-03363.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2e998bf45e6343b482cc559525562674" /> Image: SBS Following the sudden death of one member, the troubled youths face a tough choice: wait for the authorities to investigate the crime or take fate into their own hands and make an escape? <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tO0LVkF-Vuk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Directed by Markus Goller and Lennart Ruff, the eight-part series tackles issues about how to survive, what choices are made, and at what cost. <img style="width: 500px; height: 238.57142857142858px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843509/wild_republic.jpeg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/584d5f7e05394894bbb871d15f9e9387" /> Image: SBS The series is now exclusively streaming in German with English subtitles at <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/wild-republic" target="_blank">SBS On Demand</a>. Image: SBS

Go tell it to the mountain: A Switzerland adventure

There aren’t many countries where you can sit in the spot where it all began. Relaxing in a small meadow on Lake Lucerne’s shores, however, I can make that claim for Switzerland. Here on this patch of grass on 1 August 1291, representatives of three small alpine valleys got together and signed a pact from which modern Switzerland emerged. August 1 is now a national holiday, and the meadow’s name, Field of Rütli, resonates through Swiss history. True, I don’t find much happening in Rütli these days, but it’s a fine place for a picnic and a good location to start an exploration of the Swiss heartland around Lake Lucerne, where history and scenery are equally dramatic. It’s also the spot to start my hunt for William Tell, the local lad who fought for freedom and became the world’s most famous Swiss. I arrive from Lucerne by steamer on an astonishingly scenic ride down its lake, embraced in mountains. My aim is to walk parts of the 36-kilometre Swiss Path, created for the 700th anniversary of Switzerland. With Swiss precision, the pathway is divided into segments representing its 26 cantons. As I walk, signs informs me when each canton joined the confederation, and gives a background to their history. It’s a lovely walk, the path sometimes talking to footbridges across streams and tunnels through cliffs. The landscape is surprisingly wild and rugged: quite the contrast to the bourgeois prettiness of downtown Lucerne. The following morning, a yellow postal bus deposits me back on the Swiss Path at Altdorf, a pleasant town of cobbled squares, painted houses and elaborate shop signs. A twist of bread marking a bakery directs me to a scrumptious almond croissant. Altdorf is the birthplace of William Tell, whose statue I find at the base of a medieval tower. The hero stands with his crossbow over his shoulder, his arm around his son. The monument marks the place where Tell was forced to shoot an apple off his son’s head by Gessler, an arrogant Hapsburg overlord. As I walk onwards, the valley narrows and the cliffs close in. Steep ups and downs challenge my lungs and knees. There’s only enough flat land to support a few villages under towering snow-capped peaks. It’s a rewarding hike to the Tell Chapel along the lake’s shore, which is painted with scenes from Tell’s life. It was from this spot that the hero supposedly leapt from a boat taking him to captivity. Tell fled into the forest and later shot Gessler dead with his crossbow, sparking Swiss independence. Nearby Schwyz sits high above Lake Lucerne in a wide valley of cherry orchards surrounded by snowcapped mountains. This now-quiet backwater canton gave its name and flag to Switzerland, and became famed for its mercenaries, who returned to build the impressive townhouses. The Town Hall is exuberant: cherubs hang over every window and frescoes depict historical battles. In contrast, the Federal Archives are kept in an ultra-modern, concrete building on the edge of town. I drop by to see the original Oath of Alliance signed at the Field of Rütli. Other proclamations mark the adherence of new cantons to Switzerland, each becoming increasingly ornate with ribbons and wax seals. Few countries in the world have such delightful birth certificates. Back by Lake Lucerne, I follow the road to Gersau. Improbably, this was once the world’s smallest republic, independent from 1390 to 1817. At Vitznau I enjoy modern evidence of Switzerland’s fighting spirit at Mühleflüh Artillery Fortress, decommissioned in 1998. I enjoy a scramble through underground bunkers to inspect barracks, kitchens and artillery batteries beneath fake rocks. From here, legs weary, I take to the rack railway up Mt Rigi, and the views become ever more expansive around each dizzying bend. Lake Lucerne shrinks to a puddle and a 200-kilometre range of jagged snow peaks emerges on the horizon. Though less glamorous than more famous viewpoints near Lucerne, such as the James Bond movie setting, Mt Pilatus, Rigi provides a landscape to make my soul sing. Even the cows seem to pause in their chewing and bell-clanking to contemplate the scenery that plunges below their flowery pastures. At the western end of the lake I’m back to base at Lucerne, whose old town straddles the Reuss River and looks onto the yacht-studded lake and panorama of alpine peaks. In 1332, Lucerne became the first big town to join the alliance of alpine cantons. It’s crammed with old guild houses, baroque churches and ornamental fountains. I study a cartoon-like account of its history on the painted panels that line its famous symbol – a covered wooden bridge. One shows William Tell with his crossbow at the ready. The timeline shows me something that I’ve already gathered: Switzerland has a birthplace, a proper birth certificate, and a mythical founding father, providing a story to delight me. Written by Brian Johnston. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/switzerland-adventure-go-tell-it-to-the-mountain/">MyDiscoveries.</a>

Cruising

My fairytale holiday in the Swiss village of Grimentz

Justine Tyerman is a New Zealand journalist, travel writer and sub-editor. Married for 36 years, she lives in rural surroundings near Gisborne on the East Coast of New Zealand with her husband Chris. In this piece, she takes us to the history, fairytale village of Grimentz, high in the Swiss Alps. She was so enchanted, she wants to go back in the summer… The dull thud of explosives penetrated my dreams, peeling away the layers of sleep. I floundered my way out of feather duvets and pillows so deep, they must have placed the entire Swiss goose population in serious jeopardy. I wondered whether I had accidentally been spirited away to a war zone in the night. My heart pounding as the muffled blasts intensified, I stumbled over a mountain of pillows and peeked out the window to see a blizzard of epic proportions raging outside. High up in the mountains above our cosy chalet, I visualised the heroic ski patrol bombing the steep slopes and wind-blown cornices above the pistes, releasing controlled avalanches before opening the ski area. We had arrived the previous day at the exquisitely-beautiful alpine village of Grimentz, one of a cluster of small settlements in Val d'Anniviers in Switzerland's Valais region. Negotiating the half-hour, narrow, windy road by car from Sierre was an adventure in itself and reminded us of the spectacular but hair-raising Skippers Canyon road near Queenstown. We discovered on the return trip that we had taken the wrong turn-off and driven on a secondary route rather than the main one, but it was worth it for the sheer thrill factor. There was a high degree of trepidation and anticipation as we unlocked the sturdy wooden door to Anne's chalet, booked from New Zealand via the international home swap website, <a href="http://www.lovehomeswap.com" target="_blank">Love Home Swap</a>. We had suffered a few scam attacks (not on the Love Home Swap website, I hasten to add) en route to securing the perfect Swiss chalet so it was a relief to find ourselves ensconced in the most stunning of homes. The luxurious, spacious, five-bedroom, two-bathroom holiday home on the top two floors of a traditional Swiss chalet-style complex was even more gorgeous than portrayed on the website. Elegantly-designed with oak floors and enormous cathedral windows in the apex of the steeply-pitched roof, the chalet overlooked the magnificent Val d'Anniviers. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35154/in-text-image_498x245.jpg" alt="In -text -image (2)"/> Looking down on the Val d'Anniviers from the Grimentz ski area. Image credit: Justine Tyerman What's more, it was just a few steps from the speedy bubble télécabine to the Grimentz ski area, the brand new high-speed cable car linking Grimentz with the neighbouring Zinal ski area ... and Florioz' legendary Après Ski bar owned and run by Claudio Florey, an Italian woodcraftsman loved by all. As I stood on the balcony drinking in the sweet alpine air and the breathtaking mountain and valley panorama, a few wispy snowflakes began to drift down from the silver-grey heavens. Later in the afternoon, as we wandered through the picturesque village, with its sun-blackened wooden granaries on stone stilts, a serious blizzard set in, delivering much-needed fresh snow to the slopes. We took shelter in Restaurant Claire-Fontaine where we feasted on scrumptious raclette (a traditional Swiss tummy-warming potato and cheese dish) and spicy vin chaud (hot mulled wine). By next morning, the weather had miraculously cleared and we had the best blue-sky powder day of our lives. The snow was the lightest, driest fluff you could dream of. We skied every on-piste and off-piste run on the entire mountain until the lifts closed. It was a heady thrill to ski the wide, open, uncrowded, sunny slopes with our adult offspring who can now ski faster and better than their ageing parents... all those years in ski school finally paid off. Having first-class, new ski equipment also made a huge difference to our skiing. The charming Benoit at Val Sports in Grimentz assured us the Dynastar Neva skis he picked out for the females in the family would be perfect ... and they were. A versatile ski designed especially for women, they were soft, light, forgiving and easy to manage. We fell in love with them. In addition to an excellent, efficient, logically-designed network of chairlifts at Grimentz, we were astonished to ride poma and T-bar lifts that turned corners and carried on even further up the mountain just when you expected to unload. And nothing ever breaks down on a Swiss ski field. It would be considered a national disgrace ... unlike elsewhere on our month-long family ski tour. From the top of the Grimentz field, we could see the majestic Matterhorn in the distance, standing aristocratically apart from the dozens of other 4000m-plus peaks. Jets from the Swiss Airforce thundered over us during the day, leaving the sky crisscrossed with vapour trails like a drunken game of noughts and crosses. They kept returning for yet another circuit of the clear blue sky, tipping their wings in greeting to the skiers and the mountains, no doubt as reluctant as we were for the fun to end. Rosy-cheeked and deliriously happy, we stopped off for a glass or two of local wine and beer at Florioz before heading home to our cosy, warm chalet. It was such a novelty for us, as Kiwis, to be within strolling distance of the lifts, supermarket, restaurants, butcher, boulangerie, patisserie, ski shops and the best après ski joint in the village. After luxuriating in hot baths (there were two in the chalet) and cooking dinner in the superbly-equipped kitchen, we fell into our sumptuous beds and slept soundly until the boots of the first skiers walking down to the lift woke us from our blissful slumbers. We had five unforgettable days' skiing at Grimentz, Zinal and neighbouring St Luc in bright sunshine, with few people and the best snow conditions in the alps, thanks to the high altitude. Riding the shiny new cable car linking Grimentz and Zinal was an exciting scenic experience. The huge rectangular capsules can transport 125 people at a time over the steep mountain between the two resorts in just eight and a half minutes. It is the pride and joy of Grimentz-Zinal lift company director Pascal Bourquin. He said the cable car took two years to construct at a cost of $32m Swiss francs, a huge vote of confidence in the future of tourism in the region. For variety, we also rented snow shoes from Benoit and spent half a day hiking the tracks above the village, lunching at the up-market Marais Restaurant, one of many on the mountain. It was a warm zero degrees so we snow-bathed outside in deck chairs until the sun went down. As soon as the skiers and snowboarders headed for the bars or their beds, the mountains became the domain of the snowcats. I loved watching the groomers at work just above our chalet, preparing the pistes for the next day, pushing mounds of snow ahead of them and creating smooth trails in their wake. The powerful lights of the massive machines illuminated the white darkness and the plumes from the snow guns on the lower slopes. I had never heard of Grimentz before I came across Anne's chalet on the Love Home Swap website, and neither had many of the Swiss people we talked to. But this remote, relatively-unknown jewel of a resort turned out to be a highlight of our ski touring adventure in the Swiss, French and Italian Alps. The beauty of the village and the mountains, the comfort and convenience of the chalet, the vast scope of the excellent, high-altitude ski areas and the quality of the snow took us completely by surprise. Rather than a house swap which did not suit Anne, we negotiated a points swap whereby she earned points or credits for our week that she can use at other Love Home Swap members' homes anywhere in the world at any time. At the end of our week-long stay, I wandered around the lovely chalet, imagining how it would look in the summer with the light streaming through the cathedral windows, and the doors open wide to the mountains and the valley. I had visions of myself sitting on the balcony in the wooden chair made from a tree trunk, sipping chilled white wine in the sunshine instead of vin chaud by the roaring fire. The name Grimentz does not express the mesmerising effect of the place. Far from being grim as the name implies in English, it is enchanting. It played with my heart and my head, fooling me into a fantasy that it was not really 30-plus hours from New Zealand and that we could pop back in the summer to go hiking and biking ... and sip chilled wine in the sunshine. Have you ever been to Switzerland? Share your travel experiences in the comments below. Anne's chalet can be booked through the <a href="http://www.lovehomeswap.com/home-exchange/switzerland/grimentz-stunning-penthouse-ski-duplex" target="_blank">Love Home Swap website.</a> For further information, visit <a href="https://www.valdanniviers.ch/" target="_blank">anniviers.ch</a> and <a href="http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-au/home.htm" target="_blank">myswitzerland.com.</a> Justine Tyerman travelled in Switzerland with a Swiss Travel Pass courtesy of Switzerland Tourism. Love Home Swap assisted with accommodation. Visit <a href="https://www.lovehomeswap.com/" target="_blank">www.lovehomeswap.com</a> to view 100,000 properties in over 150 countries.

International Travel

The best way to see Switzerland

Justine Tyerman is a New Zealand journalist, travel writer and sub-editor. Married for 36 years, she lives in rural surroundings near Gisborne on the East Coast of New Zealand with her husband Chris. Drifting down a crocodile-infested Ghanaian river in a boat with a broken motor was just the sort of epiphany my young Swiss friend needed to shock him into an appreciation of the transport system he had taken for granted all his life. As we zipped effortlessly and quietly by train through the unbelievably picturesque Swiss countryside, I complimented Rafael, a Swiss-German in his mid-20s, on the punctuality, cleanliness, comfort and efficiency of his country's superb transport system – but to my amazement, he screwed up his nose at my praise and professed feelings of frustration at such a well-oiled system. "It's so well-behaved, so predictable, so... so Swiss," he said. "That's why I went to Ghana last year – to experience a country as different as possible from the perfectness of Switzerland. I wanted chaos and unpredictability." And Rafael got what he was after. "Ghana was über-chaotic, especially the transport," he said. "We were stranded for a couple of hours in a boat on a river before the skipper managed to restart the motor. There were crocs in the water and the boat had seriously low sides. My girlfriend wasn't happy," he said. Then, a few days later, the vehicle they were travelling in broke down and they were marooned in the middle of nowhere for three hours in the extreme heat before a mechanic arrived by bus with a replacement radiator. Rafael said he came home with renewed appreciation and grudging respect for the transport system of his motherland. Such things would never happen in Switzerland. Ah the young, I thought at the time. They always need something to rebel against and in an orderly place like Switzerland, the only thing this charming young man could target was the perfect transport system. So to the rest of the world, for whom gleaming, clean, modern trains, boats and buses that run precisely on time and never break down are a huge novelty and a joy, I say go to Switzerland. And buy a Swiss Travel Pass which allows you to travel on all public transport – trains, boats and buses in 75 towns and cities across the entire country – with no fussing about queuing for tickets or operating vending machines at deserted stations. The Swiss Travel Pass (from three to 15 days) also allows free entry to more than 490 museums and gives holders 50 percent off most of the magnificent mountain railways. There are many options but best of all, children under 16 travel free when accompanied by an adult with a pass. The network of trains, buses and boats is astounding – it's the densest public transport system in the world with over 26,000 kilometres of rail, road and waterway routes. Even the tiniest of villages in the remote countryside and the high alps have rail links. It's the lifeblood of the countryside and enables the Swiss to maintain their village lifestyle and commute to the cities to work. The rail is electric so it's quiet and clean and non-invasive. I quickly became a Swiss rail convert, travelling many of the main lines between towns and cities and the panoramic and mountain routes too. My introduction was the Jura Foot Line which links Basel and Geneva, passing through picturesque vineyards and villages and skirting three sparkling blue lakes as it traverses the rugged, sub-alpine terrain of the Jura Range, including the famous Creux du Van rock formation. Determined to give my pass a thorough work-out, I also travelled by boat from Switzerland's most beautiful baroque town, Solothurn on the River Aare, to Biel on Lake Biel. The afternoon was warm and sunny, so we sat on the top deck of the long riverboat, drinking in the stunning views of the Jura ... and a glass of Swiss chasselas. Hugely confident after just a few days, instead of taking the direct route on my itinerary from Yverdon-les-Bains on Lake Neuchâtel to Interlaken at the foot of the Jungfrau, I opted for the Golden Pass Line scenic route through the Swiss Alps. "It's much longer," said a Swiss transport advisor whose intention was to get me from Y to I as efficiently as possible. "Who cares," I replied. "I don't mind how long I sit on a Swiss train – it's a bonus." Five hours later I disembarked at Interlaken, my nose squashed from having pressed it to the panoramic window of the luxurious carriage for the duration of the impossibly scenic trip through alpine meadows and valleys with soaring, snow-capped mountains and glaciers on either side. The mountain railways are in a league of their own. I travelled the historic Jungfrau Railway which takes passengers from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch at 3454m, the highest-altitude railway station in Europe. The top section of the cog railway climbs through a tunnel in the Eiger and Mönch mountains, an audacious project finished in 1912 after 16 years' construction. The view from the Sphinx Terrace at the "Top of Europe" is quite literally breath-taking and dizzying. At 3571m the air is noticeably thinner and I wasn't sure whether I was suffering a touch of altitude sickness or was just completely bowled over by the spectacular 360 degree panorama of the row upon row of mountain peaks and glaciers. The mountain railways operate all year round and are an essential service, offering the only access to remote alpine ski villages like Kleine Scheidegg. The booking system is effortless too. I went to a ticket office in Grindelwald with what I thought was a nightmare set of connections whereupon David calmly typed in the details and came up with a print-out of all the information I needed to get me from Grindelwald to Berne airport. He confidently assured me that six minutes between trains was exactly sufficient time to go from one platform to the next... and it was. It had been calculated to the millisecond. My next trip is to take the slowest express train ride in the world, the Glacier Express, which meanders through the alps from St Moritz to Zermatt in eight hours, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels. I can't wait. When I retire I plan to buy a <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.raileurope.com.au/" target="_blank">Swiss Travel Pass</a> and spend the rest of my life travelling Switzerland by train – there are dining cars on many of the trains so I'll be ok for food. Sleep, however, is another matter. The seats are superbly comfortable, but the views are too good to miss... I'll only be able to sleep in the tunnels. Have you travelled on the Swiss transport system before? Share your experience with us in the comments below. * Justine Tyerman travelled courtesy of <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.myswitzerland.com" target="_blank">Switzerland Tourism</a>. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/06/10-best-rated-tourist-landmarks-in-europe-tripadvisor/">10 best-rated tourist landmarks in Europe revealed</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/domestic-travel/2016/06/10-lesser-known-new-zealand-holiday-spots/">10 lesser-known New Zealand holiday spots</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/06/tips-for-travelling-in-europe/">5 quick tips for travelling in Europe</a>

International Travel

Seniors retreat in Tasmania’s Swiss Village

Recharging your batteries for the weekend in a quaint, European village sounds lovely, but generally the price of international flights makes this a bit of a pipe dream. But what if we told you that you could stay in a village every bit as picturesque as one in the Swiss Alps – and you’d only have to venture as far as Tassie! With the Airbnb property featured in today’s article you can do exactly there, with this <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1966689/?af=61160407&c=apac_au_over60_swisstassie" target="_blank">lovely cottage</a> in Grindelwald the perfect location for a seniors retreat. This <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1966689/?af=61160407&c=apac_au_over60_swisstassie" target="_blank">three bedroom cottage</a> features all the modern amenities you need to enjoy a weekend escape, housed in a unique piece of architecture that’s an attraction in and of itself. Established in the 1980s as a unique residential development, Grindelwald is a fascinating part of Tassie that brings a distinct taste of Europe to the Apple Isle. Fringed with glassy lakes and spectacular views of the Tamar Valley, Grindelwald houses have been built in Swiss style with wide eaves, flowerboxes, window shutters and balconies, providing a fascinating place to spend a weekend, week or even longer. While you’re in Grindelwald there’ll be plenty to do as well, with boutiques, craft and gift shops, clothing store, hairdresser, day spa, golf pro shop, chocolatier, and a cafe and bakery all providing the perfect way to while away the hours. Even if you’re not headed to Tasmania any time soon, make sure you scroll through the gallery above as these images provide a fascinating look at this part of the world. And to find out more about this property, <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1966689/?af=61160407&c=apac_au_over60_swisstassie" target="_blank">click here</a>. <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/?af=61160407&c=apac_au_over60" target="_blank">Whether you want to make money by renting your place or to find affordable accommodation options and stretch your travel budget further, head over to Airbnb now and have a look around.</a> Related links: <a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/06/private-school-headfort-house-airbnb/">You can spend the night at this 200-year-old private school</a> <a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/05/4-lighthouses-converted-into-luxury-cottages/">4 lighthouses converted into luxury cottages</a> <a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/05/luxury-cottages-built-into-their-surrounds/">Luxury cottages built into their surrounds</a>

Accommodation

World’s longest train tunnel to open under Swiss Alps

Travelling around Europe is about to get a whole lot quicker with the opening of Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel. The tunnel, constructed over 17 years at the cost of $12 billion will run through the rocky Swiss Alps at depths that of 2.3km deep. The line is 57 km in length and will offer a speedy, green alternative to flying with travellers able to journey from Zurich to Milan in two and half hours. The tunnel is also expected to connect areas like Rotterdam, Holland and Antwerp with Adriatic ports, which will hopefully reduce air pollution along trade routes. During a period of rising European tension, this new project is hoped to be an example of what can be achieved when the nations cooperate and band together. Swiss president Johann Schneider-Ammann was joined by German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president François Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi where all there to enjoy the maiden voyage and opening of the tunnel. Have you ever caught a train through Europe? Or do you prefer flying? Do you think the opening of this new route will change your decision to fly/train in future? Share your thoughts in the comments. Related links: <a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/04/10-happiest-countries-in-the-world/" target="_blank">10 happiest countries in the world</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/04/10-river-cruise-ports-you-must-experience/">10 river cruise ports you must experience</a> <a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/02/spectacular-hikes-around-the-world/">10 spectacular hikes to do around the world</a>

International Travel

Italian ghost town home to just one man

If you’re someone who doesn’t typically get along well with your neighbours, maybe a move to Sostila, a tiny mountain hamlet in Italy, is on the cards. The reason? You’d only have one! 65-year-old Fausto Mottalini is the sole inhabitant of Sostila, attracted to the town’s panoramic views, alpine air and glistening snow-capped peaks. Mr Mottalini made the move to the tiny hamlet at the feet of the Italian Alps in retirement after a career as a doctor, looking for a fresh start after a failed marriage. And by all accounts he seems to enjoy the secluded surrounds. Mr Mottalini says, “I was given the chance to start a second life when one day I came to fix the broken roof of our house. The surrounding peace and silence struck me, I realised this was going to be my new home. Now I’m happy and satisfied.” Mr Mottalini has to leave the village a few times every week for supplies, but spends the rest of his time outside, trekking, shooting photographs and gardening. Mr Mottalini also enjoys reading, stating, “I underline the best sentences I come across in books and take notes. Brainstorm is healthy. I need to exercise both mind and body. I do what whatever I want, whenever I feel like it. Now am I not a lucky man?” And while he may spend a lot of time in solitude, Mr Mottalini isn’t entirely alone. On weekends his nephew Franco dresses in medieval clothes takes curious visitors on an 8km trekking route to Sostila that allows them to experience the secluded village. Italy has nearly 20,000 ghost towns which have been totally or partially abandoned due to harsh living conductions, natural calamities or lack of electricity. Sostila remains inaccessible by car, and the only way to reach it is by trekking through dense rainforest. Mr Mottalini typically parks his car in the valley where the last bit of road stops, carrying his bags and supplies between the village and the vehicle. Mr Mottalini says, “Each day for me is new, unexpected. I live it with curiosity and an open heart. I don’t waste my time mulling over the past or waiting for tomorrow. I live the present. I may be alone, but I never feel lonely.” Scroll through the gallery above to catch a glimpse of Sostila. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/passenger-robbed-of-3-million-by-overhead-locker-thief/">Passenger robbed of $3.3 million in cash and valuables by overhead locker thief</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/friends-carry-man-muscular-dystrophy-around-europe/">Friends carry man with muscular dystrophy around Europe</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/airline-offers-free-flights-for-crying-babies/">Airline offers passengers free flights when babies cry</a>

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Italian ghost town home to just one man

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