We begin today with a round up of last night and our big night out! Certainly big for two old kiwis!
Zurich Party, where all of downtown Zurich is “Eingang” (entry by foot) only….practicing my German. A tram and a train to get as close as we could get…before footing it.
The early evening twilight portrait, with Zurich lake behind….
While all around us, half of Switzerlands population enjoyed the sights and sounds (a slight exaggeration – but huge crowds)
Fairground rides for about 5 kilometres around the lakefront.
Freefalling, one way to escape the crowds!
Airshow over the lake, the Swiss Army, performed amazing manoeuvres overhead!
Florian having a small snack on the 6km walk to our prebooked table on the other lake front in the swimming beach grounds!
Did I say it was very hot! So the walk, noise, crowds and heat were all a little overwhelming..we were now six, with Florian and Verenas’ Finnish friends joining us for their first time Zurich party too.
As the sun set, we arrived at our prime (lakefront) position (organised by our wonderful hosts) in readiness for an evening of sights and sounds!
The kiwi, Austrian, Swiss and Finnish team (with a couple of Americans sharing our table) relaxing, beer in hand, fireworks about to start!
Rock music accompaniment and a perfect position under a speaker, performed with precision timing and display….
And to share a taste of the amazingness – an iPhone 8 amateur video…Ground control to Major Tom, a David Bowie classic…
But wait there was more, after a breathtaking 30 minutes, we had the first time, 150 drone light show to come
Again with Swiss precision, this was an entertaining and very clever work of art across the lake!
Around 12.30 pm, it was time to head for home…opting to avoid the crowds and another 6km walk to the train, Verena took us straight up a couple of blocks, hailed a taxi, and had us tucked up in bed by 1.30am!!! What a fantastic experience.
So that was last night, another fun day planned for today, with a trip to Lucerne, just a bit over an hour away…clouds deciding that probably best to explore the city rather than venture into the mountains..
First glimpse of Lake Vierwaldstättersee, on which the city of Lucerne sits on.
Florian was hungry and I needed a loo…
Very clear instructions for my 1 franc toilet stop!
And a coffee and snack stop at “Bachmann” a food stop for every taste..
A wall of dripping chocolate above a vast selection of specialty chocolates! Also coffee and sandwiches.
Upon “Ausgang” (exiting by foot) A slight raindrop saw us Don our free ponchos (handed to us last night and not needed)
As we explored the streets of this beautiful old city.
Picture perfect architecture and fountains graced our walk…then I spied an antique market, the flea type, along the lake edge.
Not a boys thing, but fun for a Kiwi op-shop fan.
It was back across another bridge, destination craft beer pub! The calm before the storm (literally) and an eerie light on the water.
Of course no European city (or story) is complete without a picture of a Kirche (church – deep into learning my new language now)
This one sporting a colourful Big Ben on its spire.
Managing to secure a waterfront position (At pub) with a view of the famous Chapel Bridge built in the 1400’s
Beer and snacks and coffee (again) happily relaxing, the darkness was rolling down the mountains in the distance! And within about 2 minutes it hit, torrential rain and gale force winds, punters diving for inside shelter and staff grabbing flying chairs, plates cups and glasses before they all ended up in the lake!
This lasted for about 30 minutes, and changed the landscape and ambience very rapidly, in other places in the city, it downed trees and blew over lines of parked bikes…was kind of fun (not for the poor staff trying to secure their outside dining possessions and getting drenched in the process)
Ponchos still earning their keep, after about half an hour it was safe to head outside and back to the car for the journey home…
Another great adventure and day in the wandering kiwis life.
All who wander are not Lost girls 