Wed, 13th of April. So this is Switzerland… Arrived at Holiday Inn Express before dark from a quick trip to Basel, welcomed by a- 180-degree-view of the Swiss Alps. Marche nearby is a bonus. Had to wait for awhile, as the lobby was full of travellers from a bus tour staying there for a night. We had an early bed time hoping for Mon to fully recover the following day.
Thurs. 14th of April. I didn’t have enough sleep the past few weeks with Mon’s birthday preparation, last minute planning of itinerary for this trip the following week, unexpected emergency landing at India and with Mon getting sick the night before… Must be stressed; this time it’s me. I woke up feeling with a severe headache and feeling really cold. I took a Panadol after breakfast to keep me going. My body maybe WEAK but my mind is WILLING!!!
It helps a bit. I suddenly remembered that we were supposed to buy a Swiss Pass a day before at Zurich. I completely forgot about it. We started our day by driving to the nearest train station at Lucerne to see if we could buy a Swiss Flexi pass there. We bought a 5-day Swiss Flexi Pass. It would allow us to travel by train and boats, bus and trams to some of the major cities for 5 days in a month in Switzerland. We would be using our Swiss pass later on joining a scenic train tour once we return our rented car at Geneva.
It was a good decision to drop by at Bahnhof Train station. We parked our car there and started our day, strolling around Lucerne after buying Swiss Pass.
Highlights:
Bahnhofplatz (or Bahnhof Plaza, next to the train station).
Water Tower - Was built in ca. 1300 as part of the city wall... Lucerne's trademark and most photographed monument in Lucerne.
Gletschergarten (The Glacier Garden) – featuring the outstanding natural monument with gigantic glacial pot holes from Ice Age 20,0000 and also the hall of Mirrors. All of us had fun being lost and finding the way out from the Hall of Mirrors.
Bahnhofplatz (or Bahnhof Plaza, next to the train station).Hofkirche (R.C.) (or Church of St Leodegar) – I
t is the main cathedral and a landmark in the city of Lucerne.. It was rebuilt in 1645 after being destroyed by a fire.
t is the main cathedral and a landmark in the city of Lucerne.. It was rebuilt in 1645 after being destroyed by a fire. Chapel Bridge - It was constructed in 14th century as part of the city's fortifications. The painting that were a
dded in the 17th century illustrates scenes of Swiss and local history including biographies of patron saints, Leodegar and Mauritius.
dded in the 17th century illustrates scenes of Swiss and local history including biographies of patron saints, Leodegar and Mauritius.Water Tower - Was built in ca. 1300 as part of the city wall... Lucerne's trademark and most photographed monument in Lucerne.
Lion Monument ("The Dying Lion of Lucerne") - hewn out of natural rock in memory of the 
heroic death of the Swiss mercenaries at Tuileries in 1792. Somebody, by the name of Mark Twain, described the monument as the saddest and most moving piece in the world.
heroic death of the Swiss mercenaries at Tuileries in 1792. Somebody, by the name of Mark Twain, described the monument as the saddest and most moving piece in the world. |
| Hall of Mirrors |
Musseggmauer (Mussegg Wall) – We're able to reach one part of the wall but so tired to go further. It's said that 3 of the 9 towers were open to public. We were content having a glimpse of the Mussegg Wall while driving around Lucerne after our walking tour.
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| Lake Lucerne |
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| The Old Town of Lucerne, on the right bank of the Reuss |
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| Needle Dam Facility - originally built in 1859-1860. |
We finished early around 6pm. It was still early as sunset was about 8pm in Switzerland. We could still drive to Interlaken or Berne :-(... Sigh... but my head was terribly aching. So we drove back to the hotel and had dinner at Marche; then had another early bed time.
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