Post No5 - 2012 Trip - More of Switzerland

It was a beautiful drive through to Lucerne the following day. The Swiss countryside was chocolate box perfect with the constant backdrop of snowclad mountains

with beautiful 'pointy' churches in the small villages we passed through

We finally made it to Lucerne where we spent a couple of nights. Its a beautiful city right on the Lake with many stunningly decorated buildings

We had a very exciting day too going up the grande Mt Pilatus on a teensy red cable car

 thats 'us' up in the air, the little red dot!

  Amazing views of everything from on our way up there

So after lots of photographs, 

 posing, and expensive coffee and cake

We came back down the steep mountain slopes on a little cog railway (see below)

 which was a lot easier than what these brave people were doing!

 Next (yes, it was a big day!) we were onto a lovely old ferry and a leisurely cruise back along the lake to Lucerne - everything along the shores was sooo green, and just so Swiss!

THANKS RITA FOR AN AMAZING MEMORABLE DAY xx

Post No4 - 2012 Trip - Switzerland - A Brief Plunge into Winter

Next morning it was up and off towards Switzerland. It was a sunny but slightly cool morning, but the rough lake was evident that a storm had come through in the night, and as we journeyed north towards the Alps, the higher mountains were glistening with snow.

We drove alongside Lake Garda, so many lovely spots along there, including Riva del Garda.

Before we actually left Northern Italy, we were amazed to spot falling snow flakes, so the 2 'Australians' obviously had to get out and have a little excited romp around amongst the snowflakes and daisies.  

Considering it was mid May, we expected it wouldn't last long, but as we headed up into Switzerland, heading through the Fluelapass towards Davos where we planned to spend the night, the snow got heavier, and heavier, started settling on the trees, and then thickly on the road sides.







The excitement in the car by now had wained and it had gone a bit quiet as we noticed it had started settling on the road itself!





We were still heading slowly up the mountain, and when we saw the road ahead was actually disappearing under the snow and you couldn't even see the mountain ahead, we decided that was quite enough, and turned back down the mountain to the last village we'd passed through earlier (of course, the Australians had to have another romp first though!)

Fortunately, Susch,was a rather cute typical Swiss alpine village, and I'm sure we surprised the hotel owners there by rushing in the door dressed in short sleeves and sandals. This is what it looked like on the way up the mountain!

Needless to say we were the only guests, and later that evening settled down to soup and a hearty home cooked meal in the hotel dining room.  Rita had a downstairs room with 2 resident rabbits outside in the hallway!

Next morning, with the pass still closed, we were directed back to a railway under the mountain, which we drove the car onto, and sat in the dark until we arrived at the other side to brilliant blue sunshine and a crisp white wonderland.

Quite an experience considering we were heading into summer.


The rest of the Swiss experience was quite beautiful, so I will do a separate blog with mostly images.