Lauterbrunnen & Florence

Monday 29th was our full day in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland - up early as usual and after having breakfast and making our lunch we were off on our walk to the train station in Lauterbrunnen to go up to the Jungfrau, one of the highest points in Europe. The train trip in total takes 2 hours including stops and goes THROUGH the mountain!! We go through various stops and short tunnels all the way up the hill and then once we get VERY VERY VERY high up we then go straight up and through the mountain. Once in the main tunnel there are two stops for five minutes for views of the mountains. I didnàt get off as they were really strict with the 5 minutes and our train was FULL of asian tourists.....

Once at the top we had a choice of what to do.. We headed immediately for what is called The Sphinx which is the highest platform to view the mountain sides... from here we could look down at the other activities which could be done including a zipline, visit the huskies, walk in the snow to another view platform about 45 minutes away. We go back inside after taking photos and head to the ice palace. This isnàt really appropriately named as it is more like ice tunnels and there are ice sculptures throughout. More photos and we head outside for a photo by the Swiss Flag.. ;)

By then we are getting tired and hungry and hot with cold feet!!! So it was time for our lunch and bought some chips - WOW talk about expensive!! lucky we DID bring our own lunch!!!! Then it was a tramp outside once again to visit the huskies before catching the train back down the moutain. I was hoping it would be quicker going down - you know - just release the handbrake and wahoo!!! haha - but no... we head back down in a very safe and sedate manner... booooo...

Back at camp for cheese fondue!!!! Very strong tasting cheese - it almost seems like it has alcohol in it but alas no.... This was followed by beef stew and rosti (another local dish) which is grated potato with cheese etc in it and fried - DELISH!!!!

Most of the others inthe group opt for a night of boozing at the pub - god I must be getting old - after watching the sky diving movies of those that did this (and believe it or not I was wishing I had done this after watching the videos!!) I went to bed because.... another early morning - bags to the bus at 7.30 and brekky till we leave at 8am.

Tuesday 30th - our longest day of travelling - Lauterbrunnen to Florence in ITALIA!!!!!

Very quiet in the bus today... a few sore heads and one very sick person on the bus. Our driver is also hungover so the new trainee is driving us over to Florence today. At the Italian border the police come on board to check our passports... apparently this doesnàt actually happen that often - must be cause the bus was full of LOVELY LADIES!!!! ;) hehe....

Our first stop on ITalian soil is a servo stop for lunch... and we eat picnic MEXICAN!! lol.... mixing up our cultures now!!! We actually have a mexican on our tour (did I mention that?) Francesco. We travel for MORE hours and get to PISA!!! Took some pretty cool pictures all for a competition for the most creative photo contest to be judged by the bus drivers Damo and Mark. Then it was back on the bus AGAIN... getting sick of the bus now... for last leg to resort in Florence... we arrive at 8pm!!! 12 HOURS ON THE ROAD!!!!!

It was just great to dump our bags in our cabins and head to dinner which was PASTA, PIZZA AND GELATI!!! All with a glass of Chianti! YES i partook of the vino (my uncle will fall down in shock at this news!) It was just what we needed after such a LONG day on the bus. Then it was off to the bar for a shot of Limoncello (liquor shot) and down to the Disco-Tech... My god I must be getting old I walked in and I was surprised my hearing aid didn't overload and explode with the loud music... ARGH!! NO!!! Don't let me be too old for clubbing!!!!! Alas Joy and I left them all to it - everyone was on a mission to get Mark drunk as he was leaving us on the morrow... :(

Wednesday 1st JULY
Full day in Florence today, up early as usual and off to Florence at 8am, first stop Michaelangelo Square for panoramic views and photos of Florence and then into the city to meet our city tour guide, Nico... We meet Nico alongside the River Arno and he takes us for a wander around the city to view the sights including: Ponte Vicchio (the only surviving bridge of it's kind left standing after WW2 in Florence) it originally had butchers etc in the shops but is now ALL gold shops now. We also saw the Il Duomo the 4th largest church in the world, the Sante Croce which has the tombs of Michaelangelo, Dante and Galileo, The Uffizi Gallery and finally we are dropped off at the leather factory for a demonstration and the chance to buy leather items from a genuine leatherworker. WE all then went off SHOPPING AT THE MARKETS!!! Bought a handbag - okay i bought ANOTHER handbag ... sigh....

We were hoping to go see Michaelangelo's David but heard the queues were huge so we had a walk through the Duomo and took photos, didnàt walk the 464 steps to the top of the dome... but went and saw Donatella's David in bronze at the Bargello instead. Lots of fabulous statues by Michaelangelo and other artifacts to see there anyway..

I hope you are googling all this... :) I am giving lots of references...

Back at the bus at 4pm and back to the resort for the Medieval Night being held here!! There has been a parade and lots of decorations are up and stilt walkers and people in costume. I believe there is to be a MEdieval Dinner tonight as well but not really hungry has had a big plate of Spaghetti for lunch followed by a HUGE piece of BEAUTIFUL TIRAMASU!!! Yum YUM i cannot believe how much i have eaten on the tour but with all the walking (i hope i am not) putting on any weight!!! lol.....

So now is a free night to relax and pack up ready for another early start tomorrow. We head to Rome with a stop in Orvietto for lunch. We have a walking tour of Rome as soon as we arrive....

Everything is really too quick and you donàt get enough time to look at everything of interest - however you would need at least a week at each major city minimum to really get a good look. We are staying at a fabulous place in Florence called Girasole.... it is a resort camp with about 3 pools and lots of activities available to do. It is up in the hills of Tuscany away from the city by about 30 minutes......

Just loving this tour, kind of looking forward to the greek sailing... was dreading this initially as I am worried it will be really boring but have meet some interesting people to talk to so hoping they will be on the same boat. Alas being the oldest on the tour means some of the younger members are a little... well... wearing shall we say......

I better be off so Arrivederci!!!!!!

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Part of trip: Katherine's Europe & UK Tour 2009

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