After a few hours, we arrived at a spot in the mountains of the Locarno district of the Ticino region  where the buses could be parked. From there, we took a long group hike on a smaller road and then on a trail through a valley that led to a massive waterfall. I am a big fan of hiking, and I really loved that trail. It was well-maintained enough to not get lost but still wild to allow for a true experience of the Swiss wilderness. 

Along the trail, there were traditional stone mountain houses, very friendly goats that belonged to a farmer in the area who allowed them to roam around, and a river that we would follow after we spent some time at the waterfall. The stone houses were really impressive. 

I was interested in the house shown to the right because the roof looks like one single giant stone that was somehow transported fully intact. It made me wonder how these houses are constructed. 

Besides my fascination with the stone houses, I also really found it interesting how animals we came across behaved. These goats were really, really friendly. I am an animal lover, so I spent some time hanging out with them (as it seems customary for hikers in that area).

Even in the mountains, where the Ticino region is at its coolest, a hot hike made it really refreshing to arrive at a cold waterfall. This waterfall is massive. At the bottom, there is a swimming hole and another trail that leads to a spot above the treeline with a great view of the waterfall. Spending time looking out over snow-capped mountains on one side and this waterfall on the other was humbling.

After spending a while at the waterfall, swimming and hiking, we continued a longer hike through the valleys to a famous swimming spot. We stopped occasionally along the way, and we ate lunch next to the river. This river is famous for how crystal clear it is. 

Even when the bottom is six feet below the surface, every rock is clearly visible. Locals and tourists swim in the many swimming holes along the river.

After about an hour, we arrived at this swimming spot below. It was lucky that the teacher's assistant, Becky Thompson, was so helpful and informative. She had experienced the program in Lugano the year before and was well-prepared with tips. She reminded us of all of the things we needed to bring, and it turns out that a pair of hiking shoes that could get wet along with an extra change of clothes was really helpful. 

Lavertezzo (shown on the left), a stone bridge with a double arch, built in the 17th century, extended over the river. 

Past the bridge, there was a small restaurant with locally-made cheese and wine, and beyond that restaurant were small footpaths that led to four or five houses on the other side. 

We had about four hours so explore on our own, so I was able to break off on my own to try the restaurant's cheese and wine, follow the footpaths to see different types of traditional homes, and then hike along the river on one side of the bridge until I found a spot to hang my hammock over the water and relax for a while. 

The water was freezing cold, and when I returned to the bridge, people were jumping off of one of the biggest rocks. I went swimming with some of the other students while others jumped off of some of the biggest rocks, climbed the rock walls up before jumping back into the river, and sketched.