Sweeeeeeeeeeeet Switzerland

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This weekend, all seven of us packed up and headed for Switzerland at three o’clock in the a.m. It was (wisely) decided that an unnecessary amount of money is spent to stay in hotels on Friday evenings after a long drive, and all the travelers want to do is sleep. As an alternative, we rented a car on Friday, went to an awesome bazaar on base, drove home from school, did some work at home, and then went to bed for about 5 hours (typical of a school night), before getting up to hit the road. This worked really well because those that were still tired could sleep in the car, and we got into Lucerne around 8:00 a.m.

We had heard great things about going up the mountain to look out upon the expanse of Switzerland, so we figured that would be a good place to start. The funiculars started running up the mountain at 8:30, so we had just a little bit to wait. However, that was completely okay because, unlike in Germany, restrooms are FREE in Switzerland! We paid our 30 euro (about $38) and made our way up a little after 8:30. Each way, the ride was about twenty-five minutes and provided a gorgeous, near-aerial view of the Switzerland mountains, lake, and countryside.

When you finally arrive to the top, there is a town square-type looking place with a dragon/Pilatus souvenir shop, modern hotel and restaurant, and hotel from 1893. After looking at brochure pictures, it is clear that this place is hopping in the summer with vendors along the walkway, snow on the mountains, and tourists in shorts. The snowy mountains literally are right beside you, and stairs were built up to a lookout at one of the points, where we walked up. The view was even more beautiful from there, but the icy, cold wind prevented us from staying up there for too terribly long. We did meet a really nice group of four guys from Turkey, though, who we unintentionally wandered around with, which worked out well for group photo shots!

Later on, we rode back down and found the signature bridge of Switzerland, covered all along, with one large tower in the middle. As with everything else we see, we all figured that it was probably much prettier in the spring/summer months when the outside is lined with flowers and plants.

After seeing the bridge, we all went our separate ways to do other shopping and sight-seeing on our own. We visited lots of chocolate shops; saw an impressive monument of a lion, dedicated to Swiss mercenaries who died in the French army; met a guy from Noblesville, Indiana; watched Andrea put her feet in a new body of water; and watched these silly, little black ducks that dive like penguins and try to run in the water. Those ducks were darn near one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.

After Lucerne, we had a nice dinner at a native Swiss restaurant down from our hotel, although I’m not sure how authentic it was since our waiter’s mother was from New Orleans. Perhaps it was a knock-off, Cajun-type Swiss. Either way, that was the second time I had tried great wine that day. I do a lot better with the wine when I am able to actually ask about it before I buy it!

The next day we got up bright and early (not as early as 3a.m., though!) and drove to Zurich. On the way there, we weren’t exactly sure what we were going to do or see, but we wanted to cross another European city off our lists. Bill suggests an art museum that he read about in his tour book, so we gear our GPS toward that. When we got there, there was a huge Rodin banner outside the museum, along with his “Gates of Hell” sculpture. I was floored. I could not believe what we had simply stumbled upon. Moreover, I was not at all prepared for what we about to encounter.

We bought our tickets and made our way through the museum, saving the Rodin exhibit for last. Much to my surprise, they were lots of major artists there. The greatest moment came when I stumbled upon the Monet room. Breathtaking. That is the only way I can describe it. I did not even know Monet’s pieces were at the museum, and then I happened upon a room with three of his large waterlily pieces that spanned an entire wall. I have been in love with Monet’s work for about three years now, and I think I get it from Mom. Those paintings brought tears to my eyes, and I almost had to sit down. She was always so into art, and I wish so much that she could have been there. I had to stay in there twice as long to take it in for the both of us. It’s so heartbreaking and saddening to think that someone who was so in love with art did not get the chance to see these major pieces. I’m sure she was there watching with me.

There were many more smaller Monet pieces, along with Van Gogh, Picasso, Chagall, Degas, Munch, Kandinsky and sculptures by Brancusi, Giacometti, and of course, Rodin.

I could have stayed there for many more hours, but unfortunately we had to leave. I did not leave without one last goodbye and glimpse of the Monet room for Mom and I.