Swiss'd!

[icepixie]

More than anything right now, I want to go to Lucerne. Seriously, right now. NOW. Totally my place-in-Europe-I-will-not-leave-before-seeing thing now. I'm not entirely sure why it's taken hold of me so, but whoa. Lucerne. Totally.

Anyone ever been there? *looks at nickless*

Also, anyone know of any more cheap intra-Europe airlines besides RyanAir, EasyJet, Flybe, and BMI? I found a cheap EasyJet flight from London to Basel (then 1.5-hour train ride to Lucerne), but it requires yet another stay overnight in London, as it leaves reeeeally early in the morning, and I'd like to avoid that.

Comments

[nickless.livejournal.com]

Dude, I was in jail in Lucerne! Seriously, that's where it was! *g*

But YES. Beautiful. Awesome. I would love love LOVE to go back there, if for no other reason that we were there on a weekend and very little was open, so we felt rushed with the time we did have.

Definite things to do - take the tour of/to Pilatus (named so because it's supposed to be the mountain Pontius Pilate climbed, looked down and saw the huge lake kinda shaped like a cross, couldn't handle the guilt anymore, and threw himself off). Do the big one where you get the cogwheel up the mountain and the gondola ride down the other side (possibly with a boat ride across the lake to get there). But only do that if the weather is decent, 'cause if it's overcast, you won't be able to see anything anyway.

In the city, you can walk up to the fortress wall, which is pretty cool. We weren't able to find an open tower, probably because it was a weekend and getting into the evening, but it was still neat. Just wander around town a bit; it's very centralized and easy to find your way.

Definitely take a city tour. There are so many buildings with gorgeous, GORGEOUS murals tucked away here and there, and a tour is really the only way to definitely see them all. Make sure you also get a tour of the bridges, especially Chapel Bridge with all of the paintings. And you'll see some of the biggest freaking spiders this side of HP2.

The river is pretty neat - that's where we watched the people surfing in the middle of a land-locked country, and also where they had the awesome benefit "race" that Saturday morning that basically consisted of thousands of people with inflatable toys jumping off bridges for a however-many-k float down a glacial river.

Shopping looked awesome, but just about everything is closed on Sundays. Except for places like Bucherer, which is this big fancy department store. We had 'coupons' for free souvenir spoons from there, but that might have been a tour thing. The second floor has more affordable souvenirs and is open on Sundays. There are of course other little touristy shops around there, but also a ton of nifty shops, including a damn good bakery/sweet shop on the edge of the downtown area, up the hill from the river... *g*

The jail was close to the river, and I'd recommend staying in that area 'cause it's very centralized. There was a lot of more modern stuff, some close and some a bit farther away, but we really didn't do any of that. The jail's kind of trendy so it could be expensive, or it could be really cheap because dude, you're sleeping on a cot in a cell - if it's the former, I'd check around for something near it. But if it's cheap, then if you can handle a hostel, you can handle the jail. As long as you're not claustrophobic... That area's really convenient, and iirc, the other side of the river is more ritzy.

I'm subbing tomorrow, so I'll take my pictures to work and try to get them all scanned, and dig up my info/journal to give you more details. Now I'm all wishing I could get over there to go with you - I always said that was one of the places I definitely wanted to go back to. There's definitely a night life, which I didn't care about, but it just had a very nifty atmosphere day and night. I liked it bunches and bunches. As you might have been able to tell. *g*

[icepixie]

Dude, I was in jail in Lucerne! Seriously, that's where it was! *g*

I saw that one online and thought, "This is where Sarah stayed!" Hee. It looks like pretty much the same price as the other hostel (well, budget hotel, really) we're considering (one that seems to cater to English speakers...since this will be both Ellen's and my first trip out of the US/UK, we're thinking that might not be a bad thing) for not-as-nice rooms. The one we'll probably go to is also along the river--on the river, really--about a five-minute walk from the train station.

But YES. Beautiful. Awesome. I would love love LOVE to go back there, if for no other reason that we were there on a weekend and very little was open, so we felt rushed with the time we did have.

We're going in the middle of the week, so hopefully we won't run into that problem. Of course, this means I'll be in Salzburg only on a Sunday, which could be bad. Hmmm. Must investigate...

Mt. Pilatus. Got it. It looked cool on the website. I don't have much of a plan besides wandering around and going to what looks cool; there are a few buildings I want to see, like the water tower and this 15th-century church that's all silvery white towers and things, and the dying lion monument, but mostly I just want to gaze at the picturesqueness of it all and go up in the mountains. The bridge tour sounds neat.

There are of course other little touristy shops around there, but also a ton of nifty shops, including a damn good bakery/sweet shop on the edge of the downtown area, up the hill from the river... *g*

Oh, yes. I must try Swiss chocolate. Mmm.

I'm subbing tomorrow, so I'll take my pictures to work and try to get them all scanned, and dig up my info/journal to give you more details.

Ooooh, yay!

Now I'm all wishing I could get over there to go with you - I always said that was one of the places I definitely wanted to go back to.

Well, if you feel like dropping everything and making a transatlantic flight, we're going March 22nd and leaving on the 26th... ;)

There's definitely a night life, which I didn't care about, but it just had a very nifty atmosphere day and night. I liked it bunches and bunches. As you might have been able to tell. *g*<

Never... ;) I wanna go around and take pictures of the city lit up at night, assuming it gets lit up. That's always fun. *desperately wants a tripod*

[nickless.livejournal.com]

I saw that one online and thought, "This is where Sarah stayed!" Hee.

Yep! *snerk* It's really not that bad - they've put bathrooms into all the rooms so it's not like you're being all communal. It's just... small and sparse. :)

one that seems to cater to English speakers...since this will be both Ellen's and my first trip out of the US/UK, we're thinking that might not be a bad thing)

The bit about everyone speaking English? Soooo true there.

We're going in the middle of the week, so hopefully we won't run into that problem.

Oooh, cool. I'm all jealous.

Of course, this means I'll be in Salzburg only on a Sunday, which could be bad. Hmmm. Must investigate...

Oooh, Salzburg! Been there, done that, one of the other places I definitely want to go back to. I can do suggestions/pictures for that, too. And I might have a few requests. *g* Seriously, I'm VERY curious to see how their old-downtown-area survived the massive flooding right after we were there.

Mt. Pilatus. Got it. It looked cool on the website.

Yep, but only in good weather. Otherwise it's a lot of time and you don't get to see anything but fog.

I don't have much of a plan besides wandering around and going to what looks cool; there are a few buildings I want to see, like the water tower

Right off the bridge, discussed in the tour. :)

and this 15th-century church that's all silvery white towers and things,

Trying to remember which one that is - I've got a map scanned with all this stuff on it.

and the dying lion monument,

OMG, I'd forgotten that until I was going through my pictures. That was absolutely amazing.

but mostly I just want to gaze at the picturesqueness of it all and go up in the mountains. The bridge tour sounds neat.

It is - they give you lots of info about the history and such. Also make sure to go on a tour just through the streets - I'll post some of the pics of the frescoes that are freaking gorgeous.

Oh, yes. I must try Swiss chocolate. Mmm.

Request - you HAVE to get some Kinder Eggs. I'll post the German name later when I find it - chocolate eggs with a toy inside that you have to assemble. The US won't sell them because of the tiny parts (damn sue-happy society), but they are SO much fun. We put a few together at the end of ScaperCon that year, and it was hilarious.

I'm subbing tomorrow, so I'll take my pictures to work and try to get them all scanned, and dig up my info/journal to give you more details.

Ooooh, yay!

I got all of the Lucerne/Luzern proper pics scanned, and the info sheet. I'll add the Pilatus and Salzburg ones as I go.

Remind me to also check where Melk is in relation to this. I have the feeling you'd appreciate that one as much as I did.... ;)

Well, if you feel like dropping everything and making a transatlantic flight, we're going March 22nd and leaving on the 26th... ;)

*swears* My spring break is the week BEFORE that. I am so very pissed right now...

I wanna go around and take pictures of the city lit up at night, assuming it gets lit up. That's always fun. *desperately wants a tripod*

Mmmm, maybe. Not a whole lot that I remember, but there were good views from up by the fortress walls.

This is fun - it's been a while since I've gone through my stuff and it's making me all reminisce-y. And determined to get my passport renewed asap...

[icepixie]

Yep! *snerk* It's really not that bad - they've put bathrooms into all the rooms so it's not like you're being all communal. It's just... small and sparse. :)

Heh. I've done the communal thing in hostels before. Some I'd do it again in a minute, others...no. Just, no. Although at least I've only been in one that charged for showers.

The bit about everyone speaking English? Soooo true there.

*is pleased*

Oooh, Salzburg! Been there, done that, one of the other places I definitely want to go back to. I can do suggestions/pictures for that, too. And I might have a few requests. *g* Seriously, I'm VERY curious to see how their old-downtown-area survived the massive flooding right after we were there.

Well, if I get a chance, I'll investigate. Even now that we've rescheduled and I think I'll have two days there, I'm putting everything else second to the Sound of Music tour and singing in the mountains and such. ;)

I'd love to have suggestions/pictures for Salzburg as well.

Yep, but only in good weather. Otherwise it's a lot of time and you don't get to see anything but fog.

Okey-dokey. How long does it take to get up there and back from town? And is it something where you can walk to the boat, get ont he boat, go up the mountain, and return by railway (or vice-versa)?

Right off the bridge, discussed in the tour. :)

So I see in your pictures! I didn't realize the bridges had murals. Awesome.

Trying to remember which one that is - I've got a map scanned with all this stuff on it.

I think it's the non-Jesuit one. It looks kind of like a pair of silver candlesticks.

It is - they give you lots of info about the history and such. Also make sure to go on a tour just through the streets - I'll post some of the pics of the frescoes that are freaking gorgeous.

I love the Friti (or however that's spelled...the Swiss boogeyman) one you posted. What kind of price do these tours charge, do you remember?

Request - you HAVE to get some Kinder Eggs. I'll post the German name later when I find it - chocolate eggs with a toy inside that you have to assemble.

I've seen a few here and there in Exeter, but they don't say anything about having a toy in them, so I wonder if they're the same thing or not. I'll get one next time I'm in Tesco, or when I'm in Switzerland.

Remind me to also check where Melk is in relation to this. I have the feeling you'd appreciate that one as much as I did.... ;)

Melk?

*swears* My spring break is the week BEFORE that. I am so very pissed right now...

Oh, how annoying! That's the week we'll all be tearing our eyeballs out because of papers. We're giving ourselves a few days to recover before hopping on a plane...

Mmmm, maybe. Not a whole lot that I remember, but there were good views from up by the fortress walls.

Yeah, I'm gonna try to get up in some high spots and take pics.

This is fun - it's been a while since I've gone through my stuff and it's making me all reminisce-y. And determined to get my passport renewed asap...

Hehehe! Hey, we're going all over the place in the UK in June, apparently, so if you wanna pop on over... ;)

[nickless.livejournal.com]

I think I'll have two days there, I'm putting everything else second to the Sound of Music tour and singing in the mountains and such. ;)

The other benefit of doing it yourself - you get to spend more time there if you want. We were there for half a day. :( But, you might have to do a bit of traveling to sing in the mountains - other than going up to the fortress, they're not real accessible right there. It's decidedly NOT mountainy until you get a bit farther away.

I'd love to have suggestions/pictures for Salzburg as well.

Definitely. *g* The castle & gardens are on one side of the river, but the other side (closest to the mountain/hill) is Old Town, where most of the nifty stuff is. Of course, a lot of the neat stuff lined the first street along the river, so I'm wondering how bad it got wiped out during the floods. *pout*

Okey-dokey. How long does it take to get up there and back from town? And is it something where you can walk to the boat, get ont he boat, go up the mountain, and return by railway (or vice-versa)?

Golden Roundtrip brochure from Mount Pilatus-Railways sez:

Well, hell - you can only take the cogwheel up the mountain from May-November. BUT, you can do the gondolas both ways - from the railway station in Luzern, go on bus #1 to Kriens, up to the bus stop "Linde Pilatus". Takes about 15 mins. Gondola goes from Kriens to Krienseregg, then to Frakmuntegg, then you change to the cable car for Pilatus Kulm. Takes about 30 minutes. So, not very long at all!

Ooh! Try www.pilatus.com - that's on the brochure.

So I see in your pictures! I didn't realize the bridges had murals. Awesome.

They're incredible. Very, very cool.

I think it's the non-Jesuit one. It looks kind of like a pair of silver candlesticks.

Yeah - the Jesuit one is on the other side of the river. The Hofkirche is the candle-y one, and it looks like it's kind of between the Lion and town.

I love the Friti (or however that's spelled...the Swiss boogeyman) one you posted.

Isn't that gorgeous?? It's so weird, 'cause you're following this tour guide through these little streets surrounded by old buildings, then boom, you pop out into a square and there's this gorgeous painted wall right in front of you!

What kind of price do these tours charge, do you remember?

I'm not sure, 'cause all that stuff is included in the overall trip price. I can't think it would be too expensive, though. As you walk across one of the bridges (the bigger one that's been rebuilt, and is farther up the river, closer to the station) there's a little gift shop - it seems like lots of the tours start there, so they'd have info if there isn't any over by the station.

re: Kinder Eggs -
I've seen a few here and there in Exeter, but they don't say anything about having a toy in them, so I wonder if they're the same thing or not. I'll get one next time I'm in Tesco, or when I'm in Switzerland.

http://home.primus.ca/~mtm/KinderSurpriseEggs.com/index.html

That's the Canada page, but they pretty much all look the same. Although the non-airport-duty-free ones have WAY better toys.

Melk?

Unfortunately, too far from Salzburg, really. Better suited for Munich. (And those salt mines I mentioned were in Berchtesgarden.)

We're giving ourselves a few days to recover before hopping on a plane...

Although you seem to have the longest spring break in recorded history!

Yeah, I'm gonna try to get up in some high spots and take pics.

Salzburg - take the funiculur up to the fortress (Hohensalzburg), which is across the river from the gardens they danced through in SoM. There really wasn't much up there other than a great view of the city and a nice breeze, which was our main motivation.

Hehehe! Hey, we're going all over the place in the UK in June, apparently, so if you wanna pop on over... ;)

Oooh, so tempting... Of course, at this rate, we'll still be making up snow days in July! *grumble*

[icepixie]

But, you might have to do a bit of traveling to sing in the mountains - other than going up to the fortress, they're not real accessible right there. It's decidedly NOT mountainy until you get a bit farther away.

Well, maybe I'll sing in the moutains in Lucerne, anyway. ;) As long as I find that big fountain from the movie and get to run around it, I'm happy.

Soooo...according to the Pilatus site, you can go sledding for free through March. I know what we're doing...

The Kinder eggs here only say "Kinder Egg," not "Kinder Surprsie," which leads me to believe they dont' have toys. But I should go to Spar soon... ;)

Although you seem to have the longest spring break in recorded history!

It's like Thanksgiving and spring and fall break and half of Christmas all rolled into one. ;)