My residence for my stay in Lugano is Casa Santa Brigitta administered and maintained by the Sisters of St. Bridget of Sweden (the Bridgettines). I was unaware of their house in Darien Connecticut (Vikingsborg Guest House) until the Sisters shared that with me. Here is their U.S. website (https://www.bridgettines-usa.org/about-us)

This is their Mission Statment as presented in their brochure:
“Our vocation is to always be in the joy that comes from the Lord, the joy of having met HIM, our first love, and this joy that we live and seek, we would like to pass it on to the people we meet with every day, with a smile on our lips, a smile that comes from the heart, as our Holy Father Francis rightly suggests, without joy in our hearts we cannot call ourselves Christians.”

The Vicar General and Chancellor recommended the Casa to me in August 2019. The Sisters come from India and the Philippines, are multi-lingual, and perform the spiritual and domestic requirements to run a very efficient, immaculate and welcoming home for their guests. My room is at the corner on the third floor, just below the roof terrace. Located at a major intercession, the street noise begins about 5 AM but the efficient and noise reducing windows and doors isolate it. All guest rooms are equipped with a “mini=split” for personal heating, cooling, or venting modes. Here’s my perch on the third floor with two corner views, one towards Monte San Salvatore (the tram is a five minute walk), and the other is towards Lake Lugano with the water geyser visible during the day and early evening.

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The three meals are plentiful, homemade and varied. Our dining room has an old world elegance to it. Bright, airy, and nicely appointed. The main meal (pranzo) is at noon. Usually a soup or pasta with various homemade sauces, a meal selection (fish on Fidays), with a rotation of potatoes, rice, or risotto, and various vegetables, followed by a homemade dessert and coffee. Now you know why I NEED to walk through Lugano!

I will have an interview with one of the Sisters and post photos but only with the permission of the Superior. Trust me, I don’t want to be asked to leave! Ciao, it’s almost time for pranzo!