Month: April 2023

Munich

Today we explored Munich.

Munich City Hall
Marion at Marienplatz
We stopped at the Hofbräuhaus for a snack.
Beer and a pretzel.
Bratwurst and sauerkraut. And the white shredded stuff is horseradish. It was all delicious.
One of the Hofbräuhaus waitresses.

We enjoyed window shopping on our way back to the hotel.

It was tempting to buy a hat.
A yarn store. I had to go in.
Dirndls and lederhosen

For dinner we went to a nearby brewery.

Schiller Bräu
My chicken cordon bleu
Dukes roast beef

Zurich, Switzerland to Munich, Germany

This morning we went out to the airport with Rick and Elaine to see them off on their trip home. We had a wonderful time traveling with them.

Rick and Elaine checking in for their flight.

On the way back to our hotel Duke wanted to visit the Easter Bunny but I told him No! He’s too old.

Duke looking at the Lindt chocolate bunny and the line to visit the real Easter Bunny.

At about 1 o’clock we walked to the bus station and caught a bus to Munich. Duke booked the front seats on the upper level of the bus so we had a nice view for the 4 hour ride.

On the bus for Munich.
The view from the bus.

In Munich we walked to our hotel.

Munich train station. It’s right next to the bus station.

For dinner we went to Café am Beethovenplatz where we ate last time we were in Munich. The atmosphere, the music and the food were great.

Café am Beethovenplatz
Dinner

Lucerne to Zurich

Duke planned for us to return our rental car to Basel airport which is just over the Swiss border in France, because if we returned the car to a country other than France, where we rented it, there would have been a $2000 surcharge!

We left Lucerne relatively early this morning so that we could return the car by 11. We got to the airport with no problem but when we got to the rental car return counter the lady said that we needed to return the car to the French part of the airport and we were at the Swiss part of the airport. It turns out that the airport is divided in two. We followed the signs to Car Rental (CH). We should have followed the signs to Car Rental (F). We packed up our bags again and got back in the car. It was about a ten minute drive to go around through customs to the other end of the terminal. But we got it done and successfully returned the car.

From the Basel airport we took a bus to Basel train station and then a train to Zurich where we are tonight.

First attempt to return the car at Basel Swiss
Successfully returning the car at Basel France
Having a snack in Zurich train station while we wait for the train
Deciding which snack to have was a challenge!

Once we had checked in to the hotel in Zurich we went for a walk down to Lake Zurich and then stopped for beers along the river.

Enjoying our beers in Zurich

For dinner we went to a nearby beer hall.

My bratwurst and Rosti
Duke’s Pork Liver and Rosti
Enjoying our last meal together for this trip.

Rick and Elaine fly home tomorrow.

Graechen to Lucerne

Our road trip through Switzerland is almost finished. Tomorrow we will turn our car in in Basel. Today we drove north and a bit west to Lucerne. It was basically clear and cold today, a wonderful day to enjoy the Alps. We stopped to stretch about an hour into the drive at the GOMS suspension bridge.

GOMS bridge
I went a ways out on the bridge. It sways a lot! This is the view from the bridge.

Then we took another car train. This time we were on the Furka car train which takes about 15 minutes and goes about 9.5 miles.

Waiting for the train.
Cars coming off the train that we will be getting on.
In the tunnel.

In Lucerne our hotel is right next to the train station. We parked the car, checked in and then went for a walk.

The Chapel Bridge was originally built in 1333.
The four of us on the Chapel Bridge.
The weather was nice enough that we could sit outside for our beers.
Our hotel
The view from our balcony.
For dinner we had pizza.
Our pizza.

Zäziwil to Graechen

Today we drove southwest into the Alps almost to the Swiss Italian border. The route Google proposed and that we wanted to take had an instruction to “Take the Lötschberg Tunnel Train”. We had not realized when we started that the tunnel train would be part of the route.

The tunnel train is almost like taking a toll road. You pull up, pay your toll and then drive on to the train. In about 15 minutes the train pulls out and into a 9 mile tunnel. At the end of the tunnel you drive off and continue down the road.

Getting on to the tunnel train

When we came out of the other end of the tunnel the skies were clear and the mountains were all around us.

Taking pictures of the Alps

We drove up into the Alps to the ski town of Graechen. We can see the gondola from out hotel. They will still be skiing here for a couple more days.

Duke and I on the Main Street of Graechen
The gondola and skiers from our room.
Another view from Graechen
Duke and I had a three flavor fondue for dinner. The flavors were herb, chili and truffle.
Elaine had wienerschnitzel.