Switzerland: the city tour and beach holiday bit!
Trip Start
Aug 19, 2011
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Trip End
Sep 04, 2011
Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Geneva, Nernier and Chateau Chillon On Monday, 29th of August, we took the bus from Sinal to Sierre and the train from there to Geneva along the Rhone and then the north shore of Lake Geneva, enjoying the views along the way. In Geneva we met Philippe who let us into his downtown studio in his lunch break. On the way there I was almost killed by a piece of metal cladding that had fallen off one of the high rise facades and landed with a loud bang at my feet…After a quick snack we left our luggage at Philippe's place and strolled along the lakeside, riverside and through the old town of Geneva, encompassing the cathedral where Calvin had taught his reformation. Afterwards Philippe took us back to Fillinges where we learned to make the most fantastically authentic fondue. We had another lovely evening with Philippe, Juan and Pepa.
After breakfast the next morning we stopped at the medieval lakeside village of Nernier as we made our way along the southern lakeshore to Chateau Chillon, a beautiful castle on an island at Lake Geneva’s easternmost corner near Montreux. After our tour of this fortress we swam around it as it was yet another summer-stunner of a day and, refreshed, made our way cross country via Gstaad to Spiez on the shores of the Thuner See in the Bernese Oberland.
Bernese Oberland
Arriving in Spiez we were greeted by Annerose for a hearty dinner and were later joined by Paul, both old friends of Regine’s parents. We stayed at an apartment next to the school of mountain agriculture and domestic economy where Paul teaches.
The next day was another scorcher that saw us hike up about 1500m of altitude from Lauterbrunnen to the kleine Scheidegg, passing the imposing triad of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau on the way. Here Regine’s knee reminded us once more why we’d terminated our trek. At the Scheidegg we joined myriads of Chinese, Japanese and Indian tours that were on the train back down from the Jungfraujoch after having rewarded ourselves for the slog with some delicious Rösti and well-earned panache while taking in the scenery. On our drive back we cleansed our sore bodies with a very quick swim in the icy waters of the Thuner See at Faulensee and had an early night.
Bern
After a lovely breakfast with Annerose and Paul we left for Bern. Here we took a very informative tour of the Swiss Parliament. At well over 30 degrees midday heat we then enjoyed some scantily clad sweaty action at the Swiss Beach Volleyball Championships held right outside parliament. I can’t imagine any other country being so relaxed about national security…refreshingly uncharacteristic for the otherwise so paranoid Swiss.
We then strolled for hours through the beautiful streets with their trams, fountains, homogenous grey-green buildings with covered shopping arcades and cellars. We also relaxed on the various terraces offering views to the Aare River down below. This has to be the most beautiful city Switzerland has to offer!
Also the most expensive parking garages (25 SFR for 5 hours!!!!)…
Lucerne
That afternoon we drove on to meet Esther and Beat in Lucerne with whom we’d travelled through Tibet, Nepal and India 3 years ago.
We had a tasty local dish cooked by Esther and enjoyed a night-time stroll through this beautiful medieval city, stopping for a beer at a lakeside restaurant. I was blown away by a banjo player who played some great tunes accompanying himself with a drum set consisting of a plastic and a metal container with pedals and a high-hat made up of an Italian caffetiere with flames erupting from it every time it opened up. Crazy stuff!
The next morning Beat whipped up some Röstis for breakfast and, after exploring the old city wall and walking through town with its iconic wooden bridges across the River Reuss, Beat took us to a beach on Lake Lucerne. Here we swam and played some mean beach ball, so mean in fact that my bathing shorts ripped to shreds. Yeah!
Later that afternoon we left for home with proper sunburn and smiles from ear to ear after a most magnificent 2-week holiday in Switzerland!!!!
Thanks to everyone who walked the Haute Route with us and made it a special trip, thanks to all weather gods for their kindness, and the fighting cows for sparing our lives. Special thanks to all our great friends who put us up for their warm-hearted hospitality! We hope we can repay the favour! Gracias, Danke & Merci!!!!
