ASCONA - Chestnut fairs in villages around Locarno, Ascona and up the valleys served the usual plates: roast nuts, cake, a glass of local wine. Extra weekend trains from the Gotthard brought day visitors who had packed a jacket this time.
Stallholders said spending was local-heavy compared with August. They would take that. A lake that has cooled is still a lake.
A border flavour
Italian visitors came too, as they do when the weather is kind. Ticino's autumn is a bilingual invoice. The chestnut does not care which stamp is on the ticket.