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Published: July 16th 2008
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A delectable repast
on our last night in Geneva You can't get away from graffiti no matter where in the world you are. We saw our fair share of it from the train as we sped from Geneva to Zürich - riding a train is of course the perfect place to see it. In-between the graffiti we passed through beautiful countryside and numerous tunnels, some quite long, on a journey which took us just under three hours.
Apart from the graffiti a couple of things we've noticed is how many more people in Europe smoke when compared to Australians. Also how messy Europeans are - they seem to think that if they throw their rubbish on the floor or in the street it will miraculously disappear!! Anyway, enough whinging - back to the main game!!
The night before leaving Geneva we'd enjoyed dinner in the Cafe de Centre Ville which was a bit XXXy but it was really nice. After breakfast the next morning we started a self guided tour - using a Walkman guide which we purchased from the Geneva tourist office. Possibly because of the rain there was no living, breathing guide running a tour so we headed off on our own. Once we started to climb up
Self guided tour of Geneva
but too cloudy for the sun dial to work a hill into the old city Kev decided it was all too hard and took off with the intention to take a couple of trams to explore wherever they took him while I finished the tour on my own. I got back to the hotel to find Kev sitting in the foyer waiting for me - checked out in time to board the 12.45pm Zürich train.
As usual we made the most of our time in Zürich despite the weather which was a little on the wet side in-between some sunshine. We did our usual wander - around - the old town was the most interesting, however there were some beautiful apartment buildings in some of the main part of the town.
Buying ourselves a Zürich pass - trains, buses, boats, museums (which were all unfortunately shut while we were there) - first we took a train to Mt Uetilberg, for a beautiful view above the city. Following a climb to the top of the tower we rewarded ourselves with a hot chocolate at the Top of Zürich hotel where Kev announced he was going to spend his 65th birthday - don't worry you've got a little time to save
up and of course he could have changed his mind by then!! Our cute little waiter brought us some little Toblerones to go with our hot chocolate which, naturally, we greatly appreciated.
We also visited the Rheinfall/Schloss Laufen (Rhine Falls/ Castle Laufen) - Europe's biggest waterfall where 700 cubic meters of water rush over the cliffs every minute, crashing 23 meters to the depths below. It was a natural spectacle which was quite awe inspiring - the photos certainly don't do justice to the power and majesty which the body of rushing water had when you are actually there. To get to Schloss Laufen entailed a train ride of more than 100 kms but well worth it.
Back in Zürich we went on a boat on Lake Zürich for a 90 minute round trip. Very interesting - nevertheless for a good deal of the time on board we were inside as it was bitterly cold on deck. The easiest thing was to go outside to take photos then enjoy the view, and the warmth, from inside the boat!! Chatted to a fellow passenger - an American woman from Chicago whose son had competed in the Ironman competition the day before,
some of which we'd seen on our wanderings!
It's the people you meet along the way that really add the icing on the cake when you are traveling. Such as the couple we asked the way to the Zürich Hauptbahnhof when we got lost - not only did they direct us how to get there they came back to find us and tell us an easier way. And the man on the train, on our way to Schloss Laufen, who told us where to go when we got there, even marking directions on a map - and we hadn't even asked him! He must have sensed we needed a little help - he then waved to us from the train as he continued his journey!!
Talking of journeys, I've been noticing how many crunchy dogs are carried in handbags, taken on trains, in restaurants etc. That info is especially for you Nic but maybe you noticed that yourself when you were here. From Zürich we'll be leaving, on a train once more, for the journey to Lake Como where hopefully it will be a little warmer!!
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Neta
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Where are you
Michelle your blogs have stopped, where are you, are you ok