Zermatt to Stresa

Day seven is a total change of pace. After a short train journey we take a coach to Stresa, on the shore of Lake Maggiore. We cross the glassy, still waters by boat, arriving at the charismatic island of Isola Pescatore, a tiny fishing village, in the middle of a lake, in the Alps! Magical is the only way to describe this place. As for the lake trout with fresh oregano, that would be heavenly. Day eight is totally unscheduled, ie, full-blown ‘me’ time. I decided to use my first-class Swiss travel card (included in my booking package) to travel half price on the scenic Centovalli railway from Zermatt to Locarno, where (true story) tropical palm trees and lemon groves flourish in Switzerland’s warmest postcode.