MONDAY 28 JULY 2014. LUZERN.
Bright sunny morning when we woke up. After breakfast at the Hotel we headed for the railway station and caught a train to Luzern. The journey took about 45 minutes. Swiss trains always run on time. Went into the tourist information office on arrival and picked up a map, then headed for the old town. Discovered this lovely covered bridge - apparently the longest in Switzerland. Spent time walking around the old town - Brian was a bit disappointed - it was not as extensive as he had anticipated. I guess we were spoilt by the size of the Zurich old town. Eventually found our way to a walk around the town walls with all their very Swiss towers.
Bought a picnic lunch and sat on one of the seats in the bridge to eat it.
Then a stroll down by the lake before heading back to the station and the train back to Zurich.
As usual Brian well out in front of me going up hill! This was the first of about six towers on our walk around the walls of the city.
Flowers everywhere. This is part of the longest covered bridge in Switzerland.
The photo below was just one of the grass verges on our way back from the city wall walk.
A fantastic wedding cake in a shop window. I sent a copy of it to my Peruvian student who is getting married in September.
TUESDAY 29 JULY, 2014. OUR LAST DAY IN EUROPE.
Woke to more rain. Had breakfast at the Hotel. Packed up and took the bags down for storage. Then donned our raincoats and headed out to the old town once more.
Decided that rather than spend the whole day walking around the city, we would go to the movies to see "Boyhood". Glad we did. It is a long movie, over 2 hours, but very interesting. Enjoyable, and sad, but entertaining too.
Before going there, decided that we should spend the last of our Swiss francs so headed for the chocolate section of the COOP so that we could bring home some of the famous Swiss chocolate to all our chocaholics in Oz. Going there was a good move because we got more for our money than we would have done at the airport.
Returned to the hotel to collect the bags around 5.30, and caught a tram to the airport. The journey took about half an hour. When we arrived, we walked straight from the tram stop into the departures section of the airport. All the procedures were quick and easy so we were soon sitting down having a drink and some snacks. Brian bought a pair of shoes which he managed to pack into his backpack and then it was time to board the plane for the 10 hour flight to Seoul.
When we arrived, we searched for the lounge that Brian had discovered on the internet. Unfortunately, it was closed. But there were facilities in that area of the airport which were much more comfortable than the departure lounge. We found some comfortable full length lounge type chairs and spent the three hour wait relaxing as much as one can in an airport.
Boarded the flight for yet another 10.5 hour journey on the plane, plus a 3.5 hour journey on the bus to Canberra. We were pleasantly surprised when we found out seats. We had two aisle seats, but they were two together in the middle of the plane. The arrangement throughout economy was 2 x 4 x 2 across the body of the plane, but at the back the 4 seats were reduced to two so that the trolleys etc that came from the galley could be manipulated. There were about six rows with this combination and it was really comfortable because we had more leg room, and unlike the first leg we were served first, so the food was hot.
Arrived in Sydney around 6.30 with about 20 other international flights, or so it seemed to Brian, because there were sooo many people there. Fortunately though the new e/passport control meant that we were through without any delays and were able to have a coffee at Rydges Hotel before getting on the 8.15 am bus to Canberra.
Therese picked us up in the Subaru, drove us home to some nice soup she had made and left us to recover. By this time it was lunch time Thursday afternoon. So we hadn't been to bed since getting up at around 7.00 am on Tuesday morning. Don't think I want to do that kind of trip again, although I didn't feel too bad when we finally got home.
So this is the last post to the 2014 blog. It has been a wonderful trip. Brian's organisation skills really came to the fore and everything went so smoothly it was almost too easy. I really enjoyed spending the time that we did with the English family, and also the different areas we visited. Switzerland was wonderful so I'm really glad that after all these years, we finally got to see it. Must admit though that we were not particularly impressed by the Swiss cuisine. We ate out a few times and the best meal we had was at an Italian restaurant.
We hope you have enjoyed reading the blog - I keep telling everyone it means that you don't have to sit through the slideshow at the end and we don't have to try to remember what we did when and where so it represents a "my trip" log.
All the best
Mary and Brian.
When I went to make a cup of tea after typing the above, this is what I saw through the kitchen window! It is great to go travelling, but it is also good to come home.
