Switzerland Final

Thurs September 14, 2017

Leaving Zermatt Switzerland, we head to the famous "Lake Geneva", of course home of the United Nations, Red Cross and many more.  We traveled by high speed train through some of the most beautiful country Switzerland has to offer.

Flower Clock

  Spectacular country side settings and scenery.  Our route took us through Visp, Montreaux, and Chillon.  Arriving in Geneva we got a brief orientation tour of the city center, Old Town, and the famous Flower Clock.


Spectacular Scenery
 

  Unfortunately, we had our first rain of the trip, so our tour was somewhat abbreviated.  The evening however cleared for our wonderful dinner boat ride on Lake Geneva, Swiss cuisine and charming shoreline villages.  This is clearly the spot for the "Rich & Famous".  Very expensive living.  My traditional evening Manhattan at a hotel bar, a mere $25.  Ouch!

Friday September 15, 2017

Next, off to Lucerne with a lunch stop in Interlaken aboard the Golden Pass train, taking in the stunning scenery of the heart of the Swiss Alps.  Our lunch stop was at a Youth Hostel,

Youth Hostel

Famous Peaks Eiger and Jungfrau
 

and was very good. In route to Lucerne, enjoy the view of the famous peaks Eiger and Jungfrau.
  In Lucerne we had a short drive to the famous "Lion Monument", built in memory of Louis XVI's Swiss Guard.

Saturday September 16, 2017
Awesome day, still in Lucerne.  Early morning boat ride on Lake Lucerne via Stanserhorn Mountain.

Boat ride was cool but comfortable with sunshine.  Beautiful scenery.  Arriving at shore we were greeted by our bus to take us to the Stanserhorn Mnt..

  There we boarded a small "cable train" taking us to the "Worlds" newest unique cable car, "CABRIO".  Wow!!  What an engineering feat!  The Swiss know how to make things.  This was an open car with a 360 degr view of Jungfrau and all the surrounding peaks.  This was "Incredible"!!

The evening we were treated to a "local" farmer carriage ride.  More like a covered wagon, but fun.  Drawn by two horses, owner Hans, gave us a marvelous tour of his farm and village area.  Rain had proceeded our arrival, so we were treated to a "double rainbow".
Completing the carriage ride he treated us to wine and cheese with some wonderful homemade bread.  Our Switzerland adventure ended with a "farewell" dinner at a local restaurant in Lucerne.

Farm Carriage Ride

Tomorrow we head to our Germany leg of our trip.

Farmer "Hans" and Wife

Friends Bill & Judy atop Stanserhorn

Switzerland Summary:

For friends and family never having visited Switzerland, we can highly recommend as a bucket list item.  The scenery is incredible, train system efficient, villages quaint and perfect, people friendly, country clean, and Alps awesome.  Highly recommended, but it is a little pricey.

Sunday September 17, 2017

Our Switzerland Journey

Travel day, leaving Lucerne early am to the train station via Zurich.  In Zurich we board a flight for Germany, Frankfurt.  Arriving mid-afternoon, we will meet with our new Travel Director for a welcome reception.