Blogs from Switzerland, Europe - page 265

Decide to stay another night at bike hostel since the washrooms are cleaner and the staff cheerier than any of this blog's readers. ... read more

No bags (no bikes shoes!) plus rain puts Andrew and Ray on train to Lausanne (after visit to Geneva airport to advise of their departure for Lausanne). Cell phone useful to call airport several times throughout the day for recorded message that Ray's bags have not arrived. Dinner at elegant old high ceiling oil paintings train station restaurant in Lausanne. Beef tongue, local cold meats and Dole du Valais (Swiss wine). A and R decide if bags not there by following day to travel by train to Zurich to spend a few days shopping for replacement bike bags etc. On return to bike hostel Ray receives their first call on cell phone. Expecting news from British Airways, gets British mother-in-law instead. (Ray hides any theortetical disappointment). They discuss the apartment reservation made by Ray and ... read more

Eh oui! Nous sommes arrivés sains et saufs! Et je peux vous garantir qu'à 6h du matin à Zurich c'est calme...mais le soleil est là! Premier objectif : l'auberge de jeunesse afin de nous défaire de nos sacs à dos (c'est quoi l'idée d'apporter autant de stock?!) Après 15 minutes de marche, 4 étages d'escaliers montés, on y est! Première rencontre avec un autre voyageur à l'auberge : il nous donne de mauvaises indications pour l'épicerie, alors on tourne en rond...mais on a rencontrés d'autres voyageurs moins perdus au cours des derniers jours, c'est plus rassurant! Comme nous n'avons pas encore accès aux chambres, nous nous promenons, un peu comme des fantômes endormis dans Zurich qui se réveille. Cette première journée sera tranquille, on marche et on visite la ville, surtout le vieux Zurich : ... read more

On plane, Andrew watches the in flight movie 'Happy Feet' (foreshadowing end of trip visit to southern tip of South Africa) while Ray makes up for his self imposed no spirits rule in place for the last week of hectic preparations by enjoying a few very small bottles of Shiraz - from Sonoma on the first leg to London and from the Rhone on the second leg to Geneva. After movie over, Ray describes to Andrew his satisfaction in how much they accomplished and had organized and went on about details of possible improvements. Andrew kept his headphones on, pretending to listen, but actually not, which Ray was oblivious to. Ray questions Jason, cabin steward, on second leg of flight, about meaning of term he uses to describe food on offer as 'sandwich style offering ... read more

What can I say? - we love Switzerland! Switzerland has fantastic long distance cycle trails, and they don’t all involve climbing the alps. You don’t even need a map as all the routes are way-marked and take you to amazing places, into the forest, up by waterfalls, nature reserves, lakes with reed beds or enticing clear water, mountain views, quintessential farm chalets, crop fields, needle top spire churches and of course, cows with bells! Our average daily distance has gone significantly down, partly due to more challenging terrain and unsealed roads, partly due to there being so many nice places to stop and admire the scenery, and there really seems no need to hurry. Having crossed so easily into Switzerland, we did get a bit of a shock on the Brunig pass at 1008m between Interlaken ... read more