Don’t hold your breath in the Gotthard Tunnel!

Today, as yesterday, has been a really beautiful day.  Unfortunately we had some chores to do – mine in front of a computer and V ironing.  However, it was so beautiful that we decided to take Rufus for a walk in Giardini Pubblici (the park closest to where we live in Milan) this afternoon.

Whilst walking in the park, we have to pass under a footbridge – but it’s a wide one as I guess they also use it for park vehicles.   V says that he doesn’t like walking under the bridge because it smells.  I said that it didn’t but he said that it didn’t matter anyway as you ‘have to hold your breath under bridges and in tunnels as it’s lucky’!  Yep, he really said that.  He did add that it probably wasn’t a good idea to do that in the Gotthard Tunnel (from here to Switzerland).

It reminded me of when he was on Jeopardy and, when asked if he had ever worked in a factory, he replied ‘No, but I did drive past one, once’.

Anyway, regarding the holding of one’s breath under a bridge or in a tunnel, he said that everyone would know this was true and that if I blogged it I should ask you, the reader, to confirm his preposterous suggestion.

So, it’s up to you now…..

8 thoughts on “Don’t hold your breath in the Gotthard Tunnel!

  1. I never heard of such a thing. But it’s never too late to catch a superstition.
    And I know for sure it would be a good thing to hold the breath under the San Gottardo tunnel because it is really sickening down there. If a car isn’t perfectly sealed in a matter of minutes it turns into a gas chamber. I always advice anyone to take the upper old road if it’s not winter. It’s very beautiful and not that longer as one could think.
    Giardini pubblici is lovely anyway. My grandpa used to take us there every sunday when I was a little kid. Lots of memories. There was the same little train to ride, and almost the same carousels. And a strikingly similar pony to ride with. And the germani reali in the pond, and the museum of natural history that was my favorite museum of all. etc.

  2. You are right about the San Gottardo Tunnel. It is terrible. However, to hold your breath for that long would be impossible. I like the idea of going over the top. Next time we drive I shall be asking you for directions. Are germani reali goldfish or something else?

  3. no, the “germani reali” are the typical ducks, you know: where the male has a green head and the female is all brownish like a sparrow. I didn’t know the English name. I figured it should have something “german” in it also in English, since the name is so peculiar in Italian (wait I checked on the vocabulary, zanichelli says it’s the “mallard”, good to know)

    you can get the upper road of the San Gottardo from the freeway, just before the tunnel. There usually is a sign that says if the road is not blocked by the snow. It should say “passo” or something. And if you then stopover for a while when you’re at the top, you can be lucky and get to see the old swiss post stagecoach, drawn by horses, which nowadays rides that road only as a touristic attraction. The coachmen blow the horn when they are at the top, and the fat kind old Germans aboard smile and wave their hands.

  4. As you probably know, the mallards are still there!

    The trip over the pass sounds a lot better than the tunnel. I especially like the idea of the old stagecoach, the coachmen blowing the horn and, particular, the ‘fat kind old Germans abroad’ which really made me laugh. I can picture them now…..

    Thanks. I’ll try that next time I have to go.

  5. Hi Steve,

    As far as we remember the road surface is fine but we never saw any motorcycles. V seems to think that they advised you to keep your windows closed and, if that’s the case, they may not let motor cycles through.

    It is particularly bad down there, even with the windows closed and would take too long to drive through to ‘hold your breath’. My guess is that motor cycles aren’t let through that particular tunnel (and it’s probably the case with the other long tunnels).

    Perhaps someone else knows for certain?

  6. The road inside the tunnel is perfect for motorcycles, and they are allowed in, and the air is foul. The pass above is much nicer, though you cant speed because its so windy and it is 10 km longer, but after going over the top, I’m never going through again!!(except for winter).

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