Courtney LaFranchi, United States

I came to visit Coglio this past December and have been missing it like you wouldn’t believe. I come from a long line of Lafranchi’s, my great(x3) grandfather Guiseppe Pietro being the last to have been born in Coglio. My visit was spectacular, and I cannot thank my distant relatives enough for showing me the house my ancestors built, the church, our family crypt, and everything else. I just felt like sharing what a special experience it was to travel ‘back’ as a fourth generation American. I will most definitely be venturing back as soon as possible, hopefully for longer. I have never seen such a beautiful, serene place, in my life. I detailed my visit in my blog, in two parts:

http://stardustandwanderlust-courtney.blogspot.com/2011/12/not-crown-nor-scepter-switzerland-part.html

and

http://stardustandwanderlust-courtney.blogspot.com/2011/12/switzerland-part-2.html

My family has, since arriving the USA spread out among the states, largely California and Oregon (I was born in Eugene). I currently reside in Idaho, which is uncannily similar to the Magic Valley with a heavy mining industry, deep canyons and tall mountains. But truth be told, it is a poor substitute!