Switzerland – Lions and Dragons and Christmas and More!

A Swiss Adventure

Some people come into your life, you may not know it when you meet them, but they are family. My sister – I didn’t meet her until I was 19 and in college but she is part of my chosen family. We have quite a lot of things in common and we have been through a lot together. I can go through our college experiences one day that bonded us further, but now we have years invested in each others lives that we will always be there for each other. We don’t get to see each other very often these days as we live half a world apart but at least once a year since we have met we connect up and it’s like we haven’t missed a beat.

Angelique, or Angel, has been living in Africa for the past 2 years at this time but her husband’s post was soon to expire and her extended leave was up so it was time for them to go back to Switzerland. They moved to Switzerland from the states about 8 or so years ago and while there they were posted out to Africa so when that post was coming to a close they were to go back to Switzerland.

Her husband was able to negotiate his position to end in December so that their eldest could finish up his school term, however Angel needed to go back to start her position early. Which in away ended up being beneficial to them as she was able to go back, secure a home for them, coordinate schools, etc. so when they returned it could be a smoother transition.

Last year I had traveled a lot and with balancing vacation time I wasn’t certain if this was going to be a year that we would be able to connect. Once we heard they were due back to Europe it put into motion an opportunity for us to connect, it is so much easier for me to get to Europe for a quick trip than to get to Africa. While we love spending time together and with the added company of her husband and children, it is nice sometimes to have some time without the littles underfoot, and this trip was an opportunity for us to explore just the 2 of us.

As the trip got closer and closer we found some unfortunate news. Her job was going to be a little crazy around the time I was coming in, and with it not being a holiday in Europe the workload needed to be covered. So now our trip which was to go off and explore/adventure together would end up being a solo trip for me to explore until the weekend where we could hang out. Of course, I am no stranger to solo travel so my mind began to wander to all of the places I could go during this time.

As I have mentioned Angel has lived in Switzerland before and I have visited her on multiple occasions so I have visited quite a few places already and was off to find what I haven’t seen yet. Since I was just off the heels of my Irish road trip with my sister, I actually started to look into what if I did a little road trip of my own. Yes, the train system is amazing in Europe but sometimes it is easier to get by in a car (especially with luggage).

Of course my mind was swimming with all of the possibilities of what to see and do, I felt like a hungry kid whose eyes are too big for their stomach, but came to the realization I needed to scale back on my plans. That and while it is warmer than where I live at that time of year I cannot discount that there may be snow in places and thinking of driving through some mountain passes with snow churns my stomach.

I had settled on a few ideas, if you have ever been to Europe in late November and December hopefully you have had an opportunity to visit one of their Christmas Markets. I thought what a wonderful thing to do, so I started to look for some good Christmas Markets that may be an option, then I thought I would do a whole trip around hitting up some of the Christmas Markets and doing a whole write up around the differences, but unfortunately most weren’t opening until the weekend where I would be visiting with Angel.

So what else to do? Well one of my coworkers requested some mountain photos, and if you know me I like a good mountain. I have already visited quite a few of the more famous mountains in Switzerland so let’s keep going down the list. Bingo, I now have a plan….

Push through it!

I don’t sleep well, if at all on planes, and tied with that my way to avoid jet lag when I am traveling places is to get there earlier in the day and just push yourself hard as long as you can. Do not, and I repeat, DO NOT be tempted to stop, take a nap. That will be the death of you, just keep going, push yourself and have an early night the first day, then you’ll wake up in the morning refreshed and on their timezone.

I arrived in Geneva around 11 AM, collected myself and hopped over to the train station and purchased my train package. It was better for me to choose the 3 day Swiss Travel Pass. I grabbed a salad and some chips and settled myself onto the train and enjoyed rumbling down the rails to my first destination. The rocking of a train does not help in the quest of keeping ones eyes open when they are on 28+ hours of being awake.

At last, the train has arrived at my destination, and I emerge to be among the city streets. I can see my hotel looming on the hill far above me in the distance, but here on out I am on foot on the cobblestone streets before I arrive at the funicular which will take me up the hill to arrive at my hotel. Since I didn’t stay in a castle in Ireland, I felt the need to make up for that now and stay in a castle in Switzerland. This 19^th Century Castle was built up in Lucerne on the hill overlooking the entire town.

Lions

I am glad I wasn’t the only one who was heading to the hotel at this time, I arrived at the funicular and a couple was there trying to figure out where to go and what to do to get the funicular. I wasn’t sure if you needed a ticket or something so I looked around, they appeared dumbfounded. I thought maybe you just needed to wait and maybe it came every 10 minutes or something like that. Nope, nothing was happening. They were confused and getting a little snippy with each other, glad I wasn’t the only one overtired. Instead of being confused I called the hotel and asked how were we supposed to call it. Silly us, there was a button to call the funicular, thankfully it wasn’t painfully obvious.

Lucerne is quaint, with their cobblestone streets, the twinkling lights over the river at night, their bridges with all of the swans, the mark to remembrance with the Lion and when you go up onto the hill you have a wonderful area for hiking.

I popped onto a local bus and went down the way Kriens to start onwards to my next destination. I must warn you there is a bit of hoofing it up a steep incline involved, so pack light. They say it’s a 5 minute walk, I don’t know if I completely agree with that. I would agree it isn’t far, but maybe it’s the way I took but it seemed further than that and it had an incline, I hate walking up inclines. Lugging your luggage behind doesn’t help, thankfully I am a carryon only kind of girl, but it was laden down with some items my friend had requested I bring for her which were not the lightest of things to stowaway.

Dragons

Where was I headed? Well I wanted to spend more time above the clouds so up, up, up the mountain I go. Mount Pilatus is my destination, now there are 2 ways to get up this mountain, one being the steepest cogwheel in the world, which unfortunately was closed this time of year, but the other way up is in the gondolas and finishing it off in the aerial cableway aka the Dragon Glide.

Soon enough we left the autumn leaves behind and entered into a winter wonderland. I mean you cannot beat mountain views. The view out of the room was stunning, climbing further up the top (don’t wear your heals ladies (hahaha)) you have a 360 view of all of the surrounding mountains and valley below.

The last call to leave the mountain comes around 4 PM this time of year and those who are not staying overnight head out and the quietness of the mountains settles upon you. They greeted you with a complimentary cocktail before dinner. I used this cocktail to summon my courage to go hunting for the famed mountain dragon. Down the Dragon Trail I went, but alas no dragons were slumbering within the mountain lair that I could see this night.

Staying on the mountain means you were treated to a wonderful 4 course meal at the restaurant onsite. It was delish!

I went to bed early as I wanted to capture sunrise the next morning so I knew that alarm would come early. Um, okay this is a nice place to stay and all but the walls, they be a wee bit thin. My amorous neighbors were having a few rounds of some intense exercise throughout the evening…

While it wasn’t the most spectacular sunrise, it was a wonderful one regardless, worth the frozen fingers…

Christmas

Back down the mountain, on the bus, to the train, to the next bus…. I got on the bus the wrong way. Do you remember the movie Speed? Where the annoying passenger on the bus complains when the bus is taken to the airport so they can continue zinging around the runways, he says “We’re at the airport…I’ve already seen the airport.” Well this is how I felt when after I hit the end of the line on the bus and had to go back to the train station to go the direction I actually wanted to go. Regardless it was a lovely drive to see more of Basel.

The Christmas Markets are pure magic. I was there on opening day. In the main town square, it was packed and the people were abuzz awaiting for the grand lighting of the tree. The mayor was kicking off the event, and while I couldn’t understand what was being said (my German is very limited to basic greetings) it was fun nonetheless. The choir was there to sing Christmas carols, many were sung in English and the ones that weren’t you understood what it was due to the melody/familiarity of the song.

There are two main markets in Basel, Munsterplatz and Barfusserplatz. I started at the one in the main square where the tree lighting was. I enjoyed the views, the ambiance, the artisans. This one seemed much more kid friendly. The carousel wasn’t built up yet being the first night, I think they had intended it would be ready for Saturday and it was Thursday.

It was so fun walking throughout the stalls, the smell of roasted chestnuts, mulled wine or gluhwein, raclettes, and all of the other food was hanging in the air. I like to pick up a few gifts when I travel for the holidays and I managed to find a few fun things to bring back home.

The other market was definitely bigger and more packed with people enjoying all of the company of friends and family spinning about on the rides, enjoying the beverages and shopping. I stopped by and grabbed a quick slice of pizza to stave off hunger while wandering the markets and sampled some delicious fudge (which unfortunately didn’t survive the trip home, aka I ate it all – sorry fam!). The hour was getting late, my bones were getting cold so I wandered back to the hotel, grabbed a quick dinner and hit the hay for the day.

My hotel was quite lovely. I splurged a bit here and this hotel was magnificent. I would definitely recommend and I cannot wait to go back. They greet you with a huge fragrant rose, you are offered a cocktail at the bar (I chose their award winning drink from their most recent competition which definitely complimented the season), the room was lovely glitzy with the most comfortable bed. If you didn’t like the pillows on the bed, no worries, there was a pillow menu for you to choose something for your liking. Before I left I had a nice glass of sparkling wine to enjoy their lovely holiday decorations and to soak up the atmosphere, upon checking out they give you same jam for the road. That jam…….oh it was so lovely. That jam is reason enough to go back.

Before I left Basel I wandered through the markets again to see them in the light of day, definitely is far more festive at night with all of the twinkly lights and crowds. I did stop by the Town Square to visit the Basel Wish Book, this huge book where it is tradition for all in town and visitors alike to write their Christmas wishes in the book, and who am I to buck tradition for wishes.

It was time to end my exploration of Switzerland and go to visit with Angel. I arrived in Geneva and since I was already at the train station I bought all of the chocolate at Laderach for gifts to bring home.

More

Angel and I reunited and quickly shot off for our event of the evening. She had tickets for a concert, to see Angelique Kidjo. Oh what a fun show. The crowd got really into it and she invited most if not all of the concert goers to jump onto the stage at the end for a big dance party.

The remaining of the weekend was spent catching up with Angel, she was staying with some friends as she was transitioning back to Switzerland and we had a wonderful evening with their family which being in a houseful of Caribbean’s how could it not turn into a full-on music and dance party. Sadly, I am so out of my league when it comes to dancing so I enjoyed the show and shared the laughs. They did pull me out a few times but as since I have not lived with Angel for too many years to count, I have lost of the rhythm I was taught. Trust me, these hips don’t lie…

We round out the trip with a night out before my flight, which I forgot, Switzerland is weird. Well not weird, but still has their traditions and Sunday is a day for family. Nothing and I do mean nothing is open on Sunday. It took some hunting but we did manage one restaurant that was open for a meal, we ended up talking ourselves to sleep that night for a quick early morning call for me to catch my flight. Until next time my dear friend. A bientot!

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