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Published: October 8th 2010
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Engelberg
The swiss train network system is as precise and punctual as the swiss watches The whole world seemed to be bent on setting roadblocks for our Swiss holidays. Incessant rains lashed Delhi for days and there was a real threat of floods in Delhi just before our departure. Dengue and eye flu cases were rising exponentially, terrorist strike seemed imminent and many of the lanes on the road leading to the airport were blocked for commonwealth games. Then they gave the Ayodhya verdict the same evening on which we were to catch our flight. Even the forecast for the four days of our stay in Zurich was cloudy and heavy rains.
“Problem aa chuki hai” was the ophthalmologist’s diagnosis as he examined Akshat’s eyes just two days before our holidays. We had discovered the viral infection early as we were in a high state of alert and timely medication just somehow controlled it. He was quarantined in a separate room while Anshul was given steam inhalation four times a day to control his throat infection.
Things started to fall in place once we were in the taxi for the airport. The roads were clear, the traffic was thin. The new swanky terminal III at the Delhi airport welcomed us with shopping malls and
Mount Titlis
Touching snow for the first time in life food plazas. Immigration and check in was Comfortable and the flight was a breeze. Even the weather turned sunny for the days we were in Switzerland.
Here you can expect things to be as per your plan as the trains are very punctual. I had downloaded a detailed time table of the Swiss rail and it worked out perfectly well. No hiccups at all. There were many connecting trains just minutes apart, just a turn in the wrong direction to the wrong platform would have meant missing the train, but the signs on the stations are loud and clear and we could always take a few steps even when on an escalator.
On the first day we took it easy, got our swiss pass for four days and a walk in Lucerne. The swiss pass was exactly what we wanted. Valid on all trains, buses, trams etc, discounts for adults and youth and travel for Anshul was free. Looked like they had made it specifically for our trip. And use it we did. Hopping from one train to another, covering vast distances up to Jungfraujoch and back within a day. My vast research on train schedules was very
Dreamland.
On Mount Titlis, snow guaranteed all year round. helpful and we could find routes from the station near our hotel to the mountain peaks like Titlis and Jungfraujoch and back within a day. An early breakfast and late dinner was all it took if the route was too long.
My experience in Europe has been that many will run away from you terrified if you stop them to ask for directions. No matter how much you try to know about the place on the net you will inevitably get lost. Our way out was to look for Indians to ask for directions and they are really very helpful to fellow Indians in foreign land and there are plenty of us in every part of the world.
We had deliberately not taken the all inclusive packages which included hotels and tours. The hotels mentioned in the packages did not have very encouraging reviews. With such advanced public transport system I didn’t feel the need to be a part of a tour. We could independently plan our itinerary and do things at our own pace. With a great deal available at Holiday Inn Express near the airport we had planned all excursions based from this hotel. All went
well and we saw the beautiful countryside of Switzerland from our train windows, walked on snow on the mountain for the first time in our lives at Mount Titlis, looked at the clouds beneath from the top of Europe at Jungfraujoch and had leisurely walks along the lakes at Lucerne and Interlaken. The breakfast at the hotel, omnipresent chain of McDonalds and the Indian restaurant Masala at Zurich took care of our culinary requirements.
Its safe and incredibly beautiful. You can take a stroll along the lake and be transported to the top of a snow covered mountain in a matter of minutes. Just some of the reasons why tourists from all over the world flock to Switzerland. A nice vacation enjoyed by all in the family, rated 10/10 by the boys. Five nights and five days out was sort of longish for me and the early to rise and late to bed routine sounded familiar to Anupama.. While Akshat and Anshul didn’t want to leave I did actually wanted to be back in India. Somehow I always feel more comfortable and relaxed in India. Aadat pad chuki hai yahan ki.
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