The Plan B project promotes Lugano as a place where you can spend bitcoin. So we went there for a little vacation and to conduct some reconnaissance. I was interested in the possibility of spending time there when I retire.

The Plan B web site has a map that lists all of the stores in Lugano that accept bitcoin. I set aside a day to explore. Based on that map, I created an itinerary of bitcoin-friendly locations that I wanted to visit. I chose a book store, a record shop, the Plan B information desk, and a cafe. After breakfast I set out on my trek.

I went to the book store and the record shop, they were both out of business. The Plan B map still listed them as businesses accepting bitcoin, but they weren't there.

The map on the Plan B web site shows the location of the Plan B office, so I went there next. That also wasn't there. The address was a small building with half a dozen offices, none of them was for Plan B.

Then I went to the cafe. It existed (it was a large old restaurant on Piazza Manzoni). When I tried to pay with bitcoin, they said that, for them, accepting bitcoin payments was "a work in progress". I paid with a credit card.

So, in my experience, Lugano Plan B is a complete load of crap.