Travel Excitement

I still have a hard time believing it, but we have another week in Switzerland under our belts. Some days it feels like we have been here a long time, others like we're just on vacation...

We had a wonderful weekend recently! Although Friday was a little taxing for both of us. After CJ got home from work on Friday we headed out in search of IKEA. And we actually found it this time, so go us! Along the way we also finally figured out the bus system. In Zurich, public transportation is comprised of trains, trams, and buses. The bus was the last piece of the puzzle, and we figured out how they work... I think. But don't worry. Unlike taking the RTA in Cleveland, the well-maintained Zurich buses will not get you killed.

Once at IKEA we were again struck by the fact that we know NO German. Zippo. Luckily, we had used the U.S. IKEA website to try and narrow down our search. Plus we pretty much just walked through the entire store and looked at everything. Needless to say, we were in IKEA almost 4 HOURS?!?! Terrible. On the positive side, we had a very nice chicken nugget dinner (only 3 francs each!) with some apple pie for dessert.

Oh, did I mention we didn't even buy anything? But we did pick everything out. In order to have everything delivered on time, we have to use (not the IKEA delivery system) a guy IKEA contracts out with. Which means we can't order more than a day in advance. So, since we need our purchases delivered next Monday (moving day... YEAH!) we have to go back this Saturday (everything here is closed on Sundays). Oh well, this probably means more chicken nuggets!!

If I had to use one word to describe Saturday, it would be AWESOME! We went to Luzern (also sometimes spelled Lucerne). It was our first trip out of Zurich, and it couldn't have gone better!! Everything there was beautiful! And we had wonderful weather too!

We spent a lot of time walking around the city and Old Town. Some of their more famous sites include the Water Tower and Chapel Bridge which was built in 1333 and runs across the Reuss River.

Here is my favorite shot of the bridge:

Another of their most famous sites is the Dying Lion Monument. It is a monument to the Swiss Guard who were killed during the storming of the Tuilleries Palace in Paris during the French Revolution. It was a beautiful memorial.

Next we went to see the Nine Towers. They are a part of Musegg Wall and were built in 1386 as part of the rampart wall to protect the city. You can climb three of them... we only climbed the first one, and that was enough to early make me pass out! Ps. I am terrified (read: TERRIFIED) of heights! Here is a view from the ground (take my word... it was tall):

I almost had a panic attack thinking about climbing this...

CJ always knew that I was afraid of heights, but I don't think he ever saw it in action until Saturday. Anyways, here is the view from the top... which I obviously did NOT take.

After this, we took the train to Alpnachstad, where we caught the world's steepest cogwheel railcar up Mount Pilatus (7000 ft.)! I know, you're wondering how I survived this. But, I was still okay at this point because we were still essentially on the ground. Here is how we got up the mountain:

It sure was a beautiful view going up!!

At the top there were some trails you could take or places to eat. We took one trail to the very top... and I did not do so well here. I stayed safely away from the WOODEN railing that only went waist high! Did I mention there was a TON of snow up there that no one seemed concerned about? After walking through the mountain and having lunch we took the gondolas down the mountain. Much faster, and more terrifying. CJ thought it was funny I gripped the rail the whole way down! Halfway down we walked through the trails before going the rest of the way down the mountain and then back to Luzern.

Overall, a GREAT weekend. This weekend we will probably get out and see what Zurich has going on for Halloween... although I don't think it's much. Much more of an American holiday. But, I'll let you know! I'm off for now because it looks like a beautiful (and dry) day out! If you want to see the rest of the Luzern pictures, or any more from Zurich, you can go here:

MORE PICTURES :)

And I'll let everyone know how things go with the move!