Lucerne

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  Lucerne, Switzerland
Saturday, August 2, 2008

Lucerne
Friday 1/8/08 - Saturday 2/8/08

Tour: "1/8: On the Swiss border take your pictures of the thundering RHINE FALLS, then continue to picture-book Lucerne.
2/8: Admire Thorwaldsen's LION MONUMENT and the ornate patrician houses lining the cobbled streets of the Old Town, then cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Afterwards, shop for Swiss watches and choose from our optional activities: climb a mountain by cable car, take a cruise on the fjord-like lake, or sign up for a folklore party with yodelling and alphorn blowing for a first-hand impression of Alpine merrymaking."

We arrived in Switzerland on Swiss Independence Day (dating from 1291 and associated with Wilhelm Tell) and were greeted with lots of families and fireworks around Lake Lucerne.

We saw the Sleeping Lion Monument, carved from the rockface to commemorate the Swiss soldiers who were ordered to lay down their arms and were then all killed by an angry mob.

Just before nightfall, we took an 'optional' excursion up Mount Pilatus (7000 feet) and were completely bowled over by the incredible mountains and views.  We were very lucky as it was raining as we went up in an aerial tramway and gondola (very crowded), but the clouds obligingly cleared just before we were due to catch the cogwheel railway back down to Lucerne (descending by up to a 48 degree angle!). 

Next morning, Alexis and I paired up to have a look at Lucerne.  We walked along Lake Lucerne, looked obligingly in the gift shops, and saw the wooden Chapel Bridge with beautiful colourful Summer flowers along the outside and paintings underneath the eaves.

We met back up with the group for a Swiss Folklore Party, accompanied by real Swiss cheese fondue (!), sausages and a strawberry and apple icecream with merangue.  The performers played some great music, and really got the crowd involved - I even played an alphorn!  Then there was yodelling, flag throwing, bell playing and all round good fun.

Left to our own devices again in the afternoon, we looked more around the Old Town, I had an argument with a photo developing shop (I lost both the argument and therefore 40 francs = roughly the same in $A!), we walked to the lovely Jesuit Church and up the Old Town walls and turrets.

I also downed a delicious creamy chocolate milkshake, before heading to the Transport Museum.  It was closed, but I did get a look at the post-it-noted Beetle outside as well as an incredible array of car wheels along one side of the building. 

That evening, I walked back along the lake side towards the piers for a sunset cruise.  The lady at the counter, who (lucky for me) spoke English as my German is limited to about three words!  She offered me something called a Sunshine Express Cruise, and said it had music.  I accepted, thinking that there would be more of the alphorn type music I'd heard at lunch... but I could not have been more wrong!  It blared Top 40 music and the Nutbush!  Having parted with 15 francs, I still went along and got my 'lemon' (she meant melon) welcome drink and sat out the front of the cruise boat.  When we went along, I could barely even hear the music, and the scenery was just magical - perfect.

More soon...

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