Hotel Interlaken

... We caught the train back to Interlaken, to catch the Golden Pass Panoramic train to Luzern- as it went along the lakes and over the mountains, it was truly very scenic. Arriving in Lucerne and after getting our bearings, we walked past the famous covered bridge to our hotel which was in the old part of town. It was cold but clear when we went to have dinner but we soon realised that all of the restaurants in our area ...

... to tell us to move to the front of the train but we had missed it!

They were very nice about it though. The conductor told us to get off at the next station and catch another train back to the station where we could get the correct train. A few minutes later she came back to let us know she had arranged for the train going back to wait for us so we would just need to hop off and then get straight back on the other train. Pretty top service if you ask me!

We did as ...

... a ride with huskies or toboggan which we passed on. After that john and I headed to Grindelwald..not the charming place it was 30 years ago...a bit too touristy, then back to Interlaken. We met up with Stuart and debbie for dinner...being fitter and better equipped than us they had hiked part of the way back. Tried a few Swiss specialties for dinner...all in all a long but fantastic day. Not enough time in this lovely country. Off to Italy next!!

... not going to upkeep because it still looks like it's from the 1970s with the the graffiti that could have built up in that time. Plus, the people of Paris's metro system thought it would be a good idea to make you buy two tickets to use on some of the trains, one to get on the train and one to exit. However, we're not going to tell you you need two tickets on any signs. Not where you buy tickets or before you get on the train or, hell, we're still not going to tell you ...

... ever cre*ted on our w*y b*ck to the hostel. I h*d * "Toto, I've * feeling we're not in K*ns*s *nymore" moment, for *n Americ*n would inst*ntly see *n endless list of possible l*wsuits covering every squ*re inch of this p*rk. All of us went cr*zy spinning, swinging, *nd running *round this dre*m spot. However, we m*de sure to stop *ll of the g*lliv*nting *t 10, for th*t is when the city-wide noise limit t*kes effect. Th*t is correct- it is forbidden ...

... to the gate. Northwest had recently put an unadvertised upgrade program for 4-5 people per international flight for their elite members and I was hoping to be one of the chosen few. About 2 minutes prior to boarding, "Will Mr, Kilmer, Mr. *** and Ms *** please approach the podium. May I have your boarding pass as the company wishes to give you a complimentary upgrade to Business Class" Charlie .........(travel magic!!). I am currently a very ...

... wasn't actually a swim, more of a drift really, in the Aare River. It's absolutely unique and I've not seen this crazy past time before. Lou, Lynn, Daniel, Des and I dived into the water and were swept downstream by the current. It was wonderful. We weren't alone, the river was full of people all ages. Babies had floaties on and were as young as 2, and guided by their parents, and there were plenty of grey heads bobbing in the water too ...

... AND it is tucked away inside a parking garage. So to all you people who told me it would be easy to find them in Europe, I would like to thank you for lying...and to those who said it would be cheap...maybe in Athens but this puppy is costing me 20 Euros. To be fair, Switzerland is supposed to be one of the most expensive cities in Europe, but on the off chance I never find another computer, I wanted to say hi to everyone! And how come nobody told me that all the ...

Having left Lausanne and the French part of Switzlerland that morning we headed up to the German-speaking and little-known capital of Bern. The Swiss are lucky in that respect - their country has three official languages - French, German and Italian and also one percent of people that speak Romansh (a mixture of these and Latin that I suspect must be stuff-all good anywhere else). Most Swiss speak one of these fluently, and at ...

... view was infinitely more impressive. Staring down, mountains surrounding us on all sides, lakes Thunersee and Brienzsee, each a good 20km each in diameter, jettisoning out from the plot of land in the center known as Interlaken, or "between lakes". It all happens so fast and you're experiencing sensory overload at all times that the forty seconds of freefall go by much faster than one would expect. But I was there. If only for a moment, it was an experience I can never forget. I ...