Def a WOW moment!! :-) :-) :-) :-)
Trip Start
Dec 26, 2005
1
51
63
Trip End
Ongoing
Lucerne,
Switzerland
Sunday, January 21, 2007
We were supposed to stay at the top of Mt Pilatus, but because of windy weather, the gondolas were not operating and we could not get up there. It was a bummer for most of us, but a small relief too. One group had been stuck up there 3 nights already, and it didn't look like they were coming down anytime soon which meant that they would be skipping certain locations in their itinery.
As consolation for not going up the mountain, the hotel we stayed at, and our wonderful tour manager Ali, had organised for our group to gain free entry into a nightclub close to the hotel, with a free drink on entry too!
A swan
! So we got to our hotel and it was probably one of the best on tour. Not necessarily the nicest, decor wise, but it had a common room where we could all chill out together, have a few drinks (or a few too many!) together, talk garbage etc... With only about a week left to go on tour, it was a turning point I think in people getting to know each a lot better.
The included dinner that night was actually really yummy. The entree was a veggie soup that almost rivalled my grandparents famous veggie soup. So good it was I had a second bowl!! I think I would have preferred to skip the main and dessert and just have a massive bowl of soup, mmmmmmmmmm!!!!
After dinner we smashed down drinks then left for the club. Not many of us went, maybe about 20-30 of us. We got in there and it was a bit dead. What can you expect of a Thursday night though. We were the majority of people in the club, which was fun for us. This club was actually pretty cool, and I'm sure it'd be pumping when it's busy. There was the main dance floor, then a stage of about 3 levels, and 2 podiums for pole dancing!! We all just started out on the main floor, then slowly ended up on the first stage, then the second, and then we were all just cutting sick on the poles
Amy and me
. Tour driver Derek and I were going off on one of the podiums when low and behold, I ripped my other pair of jans, and in the same spot as I did with the other pair! Funny stuff...One of the girls and I spotted another little dancing area - a gazebo that was riased up a bit. We ran over there and started cutting sick again, when we started getting showered on, literally showered on. A water jet sprayed from the roof of the gazebo. It was awesome!! Most people willingly came up and danced under the water with us, others we just dragged in. Of course we didn't think that at the end of the night we all had to walk home, in Switzerland, in the middle of winter. We had ball anyway, and all our shoes looked a lot cleaner by the end of the night!!
Just as we were leaving the club, Chef decided to try his hand at the boxing machine. He also just wanted to beat the scores that the Swiss boys had been getting, which he did, and he got over 900.... lucky boy!! Also, go the Aussies!!
After a cold walk back to the hotel, we went back to the common room and continued drinking - geez it was a good night. Just all sitting and slothing about, talking garbage, drinking..
and wait...another swan!
. I loved it. It felt like home in a way. I think it was this point also I felt truly comfortable around everyone.A few bleary eyes in the morning, and damp clothes, as we got on the bus to head into the centre of Lucerne. Today I was going to fulfill a life long dream (I spose I had already done it at the airport in Zurich, but that was in the airport, it doesn't really count I don't think) - to eat Swiss chocolate in Switzerland!!
Poor Rach had to drag me around for a bit as I was still a bit drunk from the previous night!! But we had a laugh all the same. We walked over the Chapel Bridge - which was once burned down and they have since re-built. Took some piccies then kept walking.
We looked through a couple of shops - Rach bought herself a top and a bag.
Then, we found a choccie shop!!! I bought a small packet of Swiss choccies with smiley faces on them - the International Symbol of Lauren! Rach, Big Rob, Lindsay and I then sat by the lake whilst I fulfilled a life dream - eating my Swiss Chocolate, in Switzerland, whilst looking at the Swiss Alps!
Another swan
! Photos in the the album... :-)After that we walked around for a little bit - and probably had the most expensive McDonalds meal (but probably in the nicest McDonalds ever too!). Got some supplies for the next days travels to St Goar, and then went back and sat by the lake. It was a beautiful sunny day and there wasn't a real lot to see around the joint, but it was nice relaxing in the sun - and I even got a little bit of colour in my cheeks!
We headed back to the hotel in the afternoon where we could have a rest, or chat or whatever. I think I was in much need of a nap after the night before, and for the night ahead. After a nap I walked down the road on the advice of some fellow tour-goers to find a certain sports centre - you'll see the photo. Let's just say I was labelled this for the tour, well the female equivalent anyway!!
That night was a Swiss themed trivia night - but the only Swiss thing was really wearing red and white, which most of us did, it was cool to see most people getting into the spirit. Another yummy included dinner tonight as well!!
We had a break between dinner and the trivia night, so we all headed into the common room for drinks
Big Rob
. It was good, we all got just merry enough so the trivia night was a big laugh. We got into our teams as well - there was a 5/6 reunion of 'I took it up the bum last night' as well, but we gathered a few new members. Well to say the least, we killed it!! It was a clear victory over the other 3 teams. We won Mozart balls and wine, but as I don't drink wine, I made a swap for vodka with a fellow team member. Another great night in the common room though - got some photos with I can even admit I look drunk in about 99% of them!! Another late one, and another morning followed where I woke up still a bit tozzled. But well worth it, had a fantastic time in Lucerne!!
L :-) xo
PS Congratz to Liv and Stew who got engaged in Lucerne!!
