High Altitude

Our car plunged into the Swiss Alps through a small but intricate road system; the beauty of the massive peaks as well as the craftsmanship of the transportation infrastructure were astounding. We drove in through a mountain, out over a tunnel spanning a massive gorge, then back into another mountainside, all wonderfully constructed with organic aesthetics. Passing through a particularly long tunnel, we seemed to be transported into another country, where the German/Austrian signs suddenly transformed into Italian, and the partly sunny weather turned into a thick fog. Crumbling castles and ancient villas stood on top of picturesque peaks, while quaint towns dotted the valleys along the way.

The old sanatorium rested up on a steep ledge above the nearby town; obviously the grounds were being used to care for goats, but no one seemed to be tending to them at the moment, and I hoped we could be in and out before anyone was the wiser.