Yesterday, Tuesday, Roli and Hans took us on a weeeeeee trip into the country and boy what a trip it was. The weather had turned over the weekend but Hans assured us that Tuesday would be perfect so we planned a trip to see the Eiger and to have lunch at the revolving restaurant on top of the world.

I can't begin to tell you how we got there but here is a sort of guide, maybe Hans will fill in the towns for me LOL.

Train from Zurich to Bern

another train from Bern to ?

another train from ? to ?

another train from ? to ?

another train from ? to Murien

a bus from Murien to the cable car

cable car to cable car

cable car to cable car

cable car to cable and we made it.

WOW

Coming home was a bit simpler as we did cable car to cable car to cable car to train to boat to train to tram and home - see easy.

To say we were impressed with the public transport in this country is the understatement of the century. Everything works like clock work and is onetime, clean and the staff are more than helpful.

Through all those changes the longest wait was 35 minutes for the boat, everything else changed within 5 minutes - extraordinary.

Now I am pleading total innocence about the latest disaster. Rumour has it that where moi goes disaster follows and welllllllll last night the main hot water system for Zurich blew up, yep half of Zurich with cold water and that included us. I didn't do it, really. I had a cold shower at 6 this morning, do you think I am that stupid to do that to myself - I am pleading the 5th.

Arrived in Cairo today and what different place this is LOL. When we flew in the pyramids were still standing (I think) Hans has put them on disaster alert while  we are in the country. 

Good afternoon from Zurich,

Some days you just never should get out of bed and yesterday was one of those. It all started off really well, we had planned an nice simple dinner for Hans and Rolis return from their cruise as we know they will have been living the highlife onboard.

First off we hit the supermarket and purchased the necessary ingrediants for a fab dinner: eggs, bacon, ham hock, parsley, chive and shallots for the pie which was to be accompained by a simple salad and fresh strawberries and cheese to complete the dinner. Then down to the bottle shop for the champagne and wines, off to the flower seller for some wonderful orchids to adorn the table and we were set.

Back home and the preparations began, everything going wonderfully. I smsed Hans just to check on the arrival time and got the reply "landing in Zurich around 5pm" so into full swing we went. Everything ready and chopped, mixed, sliced, pastry thawed and the oven hot and waiting. Hmmmm 6pm and no Hans and Roli, 6.30pm no Hans and Roli, just better  check the calendar - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH a day early. Arriving Sunday not Saturday.

So, last night for dinner we had a great pie with some really nice wine. LOL LOL LOL as I said at the start some days ------- LOL

Today, Sunday we decided to head down to Bern for a look see as it is the capital of Switzerland. Unfortunately the weather gave us our first taste of winter, wet, cold and generally miserable. Our first cold wet day so far on the trip.

Bern is very pretty and I am sure on a good day spectacular. The city centre is full of flowers, fountains and medival buildings with cobbled roads and paths. The highlights of the area are: the House of Parliment,

The amazing clock towers that really do look like cuckoo clocks

The floral decorations adorning almost every window in every building giving the street a wonderful soft look.

and the river that rushes through the centre of town under old stone bridges and past the windows of the houses.

But for all that it was sooooo dam cold that we ended up doing Bern in 2 hours and rushing back to the station to come back to Zurich to settle down in a heated apartment. Now you can call us weak etc but you have to remember we came with only summer clothes and left all our heavy Melbourne stuff back in the wardrobe, so we were really feeling it.

Hans and Roli should be in the air and about 2 hours away now, wonder what we will do for dinner tonight because we ate all the goodies last night LOL.

Good morning from Milano. I guess the thing to say about here is that you need to see it before going on to Florence as this is a big bustling reasonably dirty city but with some great architecture whereas Florence is all about being wonderful and that includes the feel of a not so big and very clean city.

That said, this is certainly the style capitol of the world for both men and  women. To just sit and watch you soon realise that if they got rid of all the tacky tourists who are wearing their clothes for the second or third day, then you would have a gem for clothing. Today was 30+ and quite muggy but the men are still in suits, jackets and ties, polished shoes and looking fabulous, oh and there are some good looking ladies as well LOL. As I mentioned yesterday the stiletto is back and sitting outside the designer stores watching the fashion mafia  you soon realise that if the heel isn't 4+ inches don't go in. How you walk around these cobbled streets with grills over the subways and not break your neck escapes me.

This is what I call a shopping mall

We took off this morning and trained it into the main square and did THE cathedral, wow is that big, must be almost as big as St Peters, and we got to seem more saints at rest, cardinals at rest and lots of very very large paintings. From there it was off shopping and we found the only place in town that still had some summers stock and was basically getting rid of it at 50% off so we both helped ourselves. There goes a couple more old shirts into the bin LOL.

Shopping done it was off to the castle for a wee look around and some more Michanglo's and De Vinci's and the compulsory tourists but thank god no lines to get in.

Now, I have to give credit where it is due. When we checked in at Hertz yesterday I mentioned that the GPS was a disaster and I was not happy about having to pay for something that didn't work and the young man behind the desk said "certainly Mr Allen, I would love to have seen your face when you realised this ", so man with humour, very polite and then he cancelled all the charges for the GPS and gave me a discount for returning the car early as I mentioned that without a GPS there was no way in the world I would be driving around MIlan. LOL

Hans you are absolutely right about Italians and driving. 50 means slowing down to 70 from 110, 90 means anything you want and as for one way streets, you can only go one way as all streets here are 4 feet wide. LOL that said we did survive.

Now I have to reassure Di that we are well as I have started getting abusive emails about my lack of communication LOL.  

Yesterday Sunday, was wonderful, 30 and clear sky and perfect weather for a swim. After breakfast Ron and I headed down to the little beach just below the hotel and grabbed a couple of lounges and proceeded to plot the days activities - oh hell this is about as active as we need to get LOL.

As the day heated up so did we and it was into the lake for a swim. Yes, as I said in the previous blog cool not cold but certainly noticeable when you first hit the water LOL. Needless to say Ron was not that stupid.

We wandered down to Limone for lunch early afternoon and had a fab seafood grill with fresh fish from the lake plus some local scampi - wonderful and of course washed down with a bottle of bubbly.

The afternoon was spent wandering around Limone and eventually we ended up back at the beach bar and another swim in the lake. Sorry Di no pics but Ron will vouch for it.

Last night we had the most amazing thunderstorm that raged for ages, non stop lightening and thunder, Thor and Zeus were really going for it and they dumped a massive amount of rain as well.

Today we caught the ferry up to Riva  for a look see and had lunch at one of the great little street cafes and tried on of those "Orange drinks" apres spritz  (could get very attached to drinking those on a hot day) and then across to Melcaster (or something like that) for a look at the castle and climbing the ramparts. We have just returned to the hotel in time for the last all you can eat salad bar. Off to Milan tomorrow and praying like hell that IT (Italian tom-tom) works as our Italy map will not get us anywhere in Milan, just to Milan and while I know Ron has amazing navigational skills they are not that good LOL. 

If you don't hear from us again then we are in a petite Lancia somewhere in Lombardia - LOST

Don't panic we made it. We left Garda at 9.30 this morning and headed off down the highway to Milan and todays drive was much better than the first one. We did to way way off road and found a lovely little village that had the most amazing restaurant and lunch was had and thoroughly enjoyed. 2 amazing pasta dishes, 2 salads, 2 main courses - 20 Euro, can't get better than that.

Arrived at Milan this afternoon and was disappointed in our first sight. I think we did things the wrong way round, should have done Milan before Florence as it is now where near as beautiful as florence, but the fashion is amazing.

To all the girls that need to know - 5 inch stilettos are back, so get your feet ready.

A wee country house in the middle of absolutely nowhere LOL. I suppose the last thing to say about Garda is that if we get the chance to come back we will, if we get the chance to explore the north of Italy we will think about it but if we get to sail around on Garda, don't get in our way LOL.

Good morning and this will probably be posted late as the Astor Hotel at Lake Garda has wi fi but charges like a wounded bull for it so we are using it sparingly.

Yesterday we said farewell to Florence. What an amazing city but like all good things it's time was up and new adventures awaited us. We managed to rise nice and early as they told me at Hertz that anything after 10am you can expect queues so off we trotted and arrived at 9.15am. 

I have to say that the service at Hertz was anything but cordial, the very very old hostess hadn't smiled since the war and I am sure she hated tourists with a passion so our reception was somewhat frosty, but that said they had the car and the "Never get lost GPS" as ordered so off we went.

I had been a wee bit nervous about driving in a city first off but oh well in for penny etc LOL. the first corner, left, wrong side of the road LOL Ron yelling and mild panic but hey, it had to happen so now it was over and done LOL. The directions we were given by her of the stone face cult was turn left, then right over the bridge, around the round about, veer leftish on the next roundabout and look for the green A1 to Bologna sign and then turn on the GPS and it will be plan sailing. Doesn't that sound way too easy LOL, it was.  Driving on the wrong side, in a manual on the wrong side with a passenger in full panic so it was only to be expected that I would miss one of the directions and it was only a little miss at the end, the leftish one, I took the more leftish one and of course everything is one way, not going in the direction I want to go in and a certain amount of angst ensured within the automobile.LOL

Anyway we eventually found our way back and spotted the green A1 and a sign heading us to Bologna. Time to turn on the GPS and life will settle down to concentration on the driving bit. Hmmmmmmmmm "Never get lost" wont come on, oh flat battery, thankyou Hertz, so plug it in and it will charge up in no time, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm plug is broken and wont charge, at this point a large breath was taken and out came the skills of years past and we unfolded the MAP of Italy. Well we want to go up to Bologna on the A1, then on the other side throw a left towards Ferrera, just down by Mirabello, then onto what ever and over the bridge and we should be there. 

My personal IT (Italian TomTom "Ron") did a great job in the circumstances and considering the stress he was under never made a mistake. So we sort of knew where we were headed so it was time to think about lunch. Aha a Pizza/trattoria just up on the right, pull up and are greeted by the chef, fag haning out of the mouth, dirty apron and the only thing straight about the place was US. Off we went, 2nd Trattoria looks much more inviting,(by the way we are doing this because Di reliably informed me that there were great things to do and see if you travel by road) actually had a carpark so in we went and the air sort of made our minds up for us, the place was dirty and a dive of a bar that may or may not serve something called food. B line out of that one 2 out of 2. Off again and finally we spot a deli with a cafe next door, red table cloths on the tables and an expresso machine. Hand written menu nailed to a pole (should have been a warning) but the selection was great. I ordered the Spagetti Cabonara and Ron the Lasagne plus 2 coffees. Straight to the deep freeze for the Findus frozen dinner packs. We give up.

(there is a mountain there somewhere)

Eventually we arrived at Lake Garda and it was very disappointing, the mist/pollution dropped visibility to 400meters so you could just see the other side of the lake and after a hard day on the road we really needed a lift and it didn't seem to be here. Tks Di for the warning about the turn into the hotel the advance warning was a life saver. LOL

The hotel is fine but unfortunately because of hurricane Irene we lost our room on level 5 and had to settle for the ground floor but at least we are here. The vast majority of people in the hotel are German, over 65 and very healthy eaters. The dinner service started at 7pm last night and by 7.10 the salad bar was stripped clean, we arrived at 7.11pm. No one at the hotel speaks English and for the first time things sort of got difficult when ordering wine, gods know why you point to a bottle and nod !!! sounds simple to me but obviously they needed more information, anyway we got there in the end. LOL

This morning is a new day and so is our appreciation of this place. With a clearish sky we can finally see what all the fuss is about, it's breath takingly beautiful. The water is crystal clear, cool not cold and the surroundings are magnificent. The old town is like walking through a history book and there are lots and lots of great restaurants only tooooo happy to take our money. Tks Di great suggestion and probably highlight of trip so far (apart from catching up with Hans and Roli).

Leaving Florence

Good morning and yes it's another early one as we want to get on the road before the traffic really gets going.

Florence has been really good but it is one of those places that at every turn you see something new and different, so to spend more time here just wandering around (minus the other tourists) would be ideal.

Last night after dinner we just walked aroud the central city area and at night the town really comes alive. We stopped at a church (not another grotty old church - Ron) and there was an organ recitel going on, then down at the front of the Vecchio Palace a full brass orchestra and choir - just magnificent.

Today we are off to the lakes in the north for some R and R and with luck the weather will hold so some time by the pool with a book will be very much appreciated.

Hello from Firenze

We set out from Zurich yesterday morning at 8.30am and yes that meant another dawn witnessed. The trip through the alps was pretty uneventful on the swiss side, everything as it should be. Then we crossed over and all those surpressed memories of our previous trip to Italy came flooding back, including why we couldn't wait to leave the place LOL. The first thing you notice is the state of chaos that everything seems to exist in, and that came as a big shock after Zurich.

The Milan railway station was sort of working, well bits were, but couldn't quite work which bits, but anyway we did find our train and it was one of the Eurostars and very impressive it was.

This is it in all its glory waiting for our arrival, which very nearly didnt happen as they only put the notice on the departure board 5 minutes before it was due to go, so no leisurely wander down the platform here. Once on board the trip was good, cruised at 303klms per hour and did the Milan - Florence in just under  2 hours. The first class catering was special. The announcement for drinks, snacks and savouries service had our attention as we hadn't eaten all day and the swiss train didn't have a restaurant car and the Milan debarcle meant there was no time there to change money and seek out food.

The trolley arrived, stale peanuts, stale cake, water (tap) wine with no label and then it was gone - still hungry. LOL  Eventually we arrived and headed  off by foot to our hotel. Directions obtained from the local paper man turned out to be totally incorrect and we were walking in the wrong direction so a cab was hailed and off to hotel Pendini we went.  Hotel is fine, bigger room than the waldorf but really do miss a fridge and coffee making things.

We headed out this morning for the first full days touring and were greeted by an amazing sight. Florence is very very very very busy, it's high season and everyone is here. But, considering the numbers things sort of work out. First thing you notice is the traffic.

There are lots and lots of small vehicles of all shapes and sizes and like all good Italians they park whereever they fit.

You will remember from previous blogs the fascination with clocks the swiss have, well the Italians wont be outdone on that one either,

it's sad, negleted and unloved and unfortunately outside of the tourist areas this was not an uncommon site. Derelict and abandoned buildings, public gardens left to look after themseleves and now resemble weed enclosures.

Back to Firenze, The old city is wonderful, the architecture is astounding and there are marvels around every corner.

The star of the show is the Palazzo Vecchio, truly a marvel with all the statues and fountains surrounding it and the Muesem Uffizi right next door is a wonder of 15th - 18th century art. Yes, Leonardo, Michangelo, Rembrandt, Rubens and Carravagios adorn the walls along with thousands of other works.
We were lucky and got there at 9.45am and managed to score tickets for the 10.30 entry so the masses hadn't invaded yet.

Back in the early 1500's they obviously had some housing problems and the government of the day decided to utilize wasted space on the main bridge over the river. I'm sure there was no planning permit system back there - wouldn't happen today LOL. Good place for a restaurant Dean, are you doing anything ?

The whole center of the city is a maze of twisting and turning alleys and most have the most wonderful bars and cafes, plus the compulsory tourist shops.

Lastly today we climbed to the terraces of the Cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore. Now most of you will know that getting me anywhere near a cliff is out of the question so this was very very very very stupid, ooops I mean brave of me. Firstly you climb up a staircase that is enclosed and so that was fine, then you walk out along a walkway about 8ft wide along side the cathedral on the outside - getting my attention now, finally you walk along a walkway at the front of the cathedral with thousands watching and taking pictures. Let's just say the walkway was about a foot wide, very very very high up and along way down.
I had Ron stationed behind and crabbed my way along with out once looking at the view, all I saw were my feet, but hey I did it. The pic above is from the internal part of the walkway and I did look for this one but was firmly holding on to the rail 8 feet from the balcony edge LOL.

Chow for now.

Zurich

Good afternoon and what a good one it's been. Zurich is such a pretty city, clean, colourful and at the moment very very green. But first some housekeeping for Mark and Caroline.

I know it's only food but LOOK at the selection. Now I am not trying to upset you but thought you should know that we are not exactly starving over here, in fact we are going on a crash diet on return to OZ. But with that in mind it's stuff yourself stupid while you can over here LOL.

You can buy anything in this deli and so far we have attacked it three days running and only venture out for greens - even has wine.

But, now that the house is in order it's back to today. Wandering around this town is a bit like walking through a fairy tale (and dont anyone touch that ) with lots and lots of towers, clock towers, bell towers and houses that you just expect a cookcoo to come popping out of LOL. Almost every house and building has a garden in flower and while I know it's just turned into autumn the amount of colour in window boxes is astonishing. 

This morning we headed off to the lanes in the older part of the city and wandered all over. Lots and lots of beautiful boutiques, restaurants and galleries. Very easy to spend a lot of money here.

The waterfront is spectacular. You are surrounded by these amazing buildings, restaurants, churches, towers etc etc etc and everything is clean and tidy. The people are very friendly and very very curious when they find out we're aussies LOL. A G'day or two never goes astray.

Bridges cross over across the aqua green glacial waters coming out of or into Lake Zurich. People were swimming in there today, hmmmmmmmmm tad cold for this little queenslander LOL.

Hans reliably informs me that this was Zurich's first ever office block. Why cant they still build like this instead of those boring glass towers that we seem to keep throwing up all over.

The only thing that really annoys here is the smoking. I guess we have become so acclimatised in Oz about where and when you can smoke that it comes as quiet a shock to find thousands of people still lighting up in or very close to food, really puts a downer on a good meal.

Hans a question about the eggs

WHAT DO THE COLOURS MEAN ?

Haven't been able to work that one out - green, red, orange, blue purple etc etc etc 

Florence tomorrow

Trainlag

Yesterday it was off to explore the Swiss Alps so we selected the Berina Express which goes from Chor in the middle os Switzerland down to Tarino just over the Italian border. The morning started early (for us) at 5am as we had to work out how to get public transport into the Zurich HB (station) in the dark having not done the trip before. All that done successfully it was onto our trip from Zurich to Chor on one of the intercity trains.

We arrived at 8.20 and the express left at 8.32 and like most things here if that's the time stated you can bet your life that is the time it will go, and it did. We were promised intrain catering so were a little surprised when this came along -

and in the tried and true tradition of great train trips the coffee was weak but hot LOL.

The country is so pretty, very very green and lush, waterfalls everywhere, snow topped alps !!!!! hang on, there aren't any that we can see, oh it's behind the clouds hmmmmmmmmmmm.

The trip takes you through an area which is famous for its castles and while they were not the types from the knights of the round table era, I would be very happy to have one as a holiday home.

Perched high up on these impossible cliffs are these magnificent buildings and churches. Have no idea how you would get down to the coop store for milk but I guess if you can own one of these you will have slaves that will do that for you.

The country seems to have more than its share of churches in all shapes and sizes. Very elaborate bell towers which chime out all day and all night. Speaking of which there are two (one either side) at Hans and Rolis and they never miss the opportunity to ring out the quarter, half, three quarter and then of course the countdown of the hour - Sunday was special because you can add into that the services LOL.



One of the highlights of the train trip was the glacier at the Berina Pass (I think). We were very lucky because when we went past in the morning it was still relatively clear so we got a reasonable look at it.

The weather closed in just after lunch so the 5 hour trip home was fairly tame and we spent most of the time catching up on lost sleep from last night and reading. Today is a rest day and I might just wander down to the local pool as I feel in need of some excersie other than walking. Italy is all booked for Wednesday so another long train trip on the horizion.

Hans and Roli have made it onto their ship and it looks wonderful, they have a deck the size of our last ship LOL. Hans can't leave messages on your blog !!!!!! tried to this morning.

Day one and everything seems to be coming together again as far as Italy is concerned, although when I rebooked the hotel in Milan the rates have gone from $130 pn to $250pn, but there is not much I can do now as time is getting closer and Italy seems to be very very busy. Lake Gardia is rebooked but unfortunately we look like getting a room on the lower floors as the hotel is totally booked out.

Today Hans, Ron and I went into town to sort out our land adventures while here and Italy and got the most helpful Swissrail guy who spent ages with us sorting out the options and the cheapest way to do it. End result is that for the month that we are here and in Italy, trains from Zurich to Milan then on to Florence and Milan to Zurich on the return, plus the half price card, 6 all transport full day anywhere anyway (train, bus, boat) and daily passes around Zurich all for $1000 for two of us. Plan so far is day trip to St Moritz and then onto the Bernina Express which looks a bit like the Rocky Mountaineer but in the alps. Maybe a day trip to Montreux or Geneva and Hans wants to take us up into the alps proper to really scare me knowing my absolute hatred of heights. LOL

After the rail ticket marathon I decided to look at some old things and buildings as well LOL. Hans and Ron ganging up on me in downtown Zurich.

Not sure what the attraction was with this carving but it caught our attention, obviously someone with a good eye for detail LOL. 

Hans and Roli head off on their cruise tomorrow so look out Zurich we are on the loose. 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Ok ok ok, I get the message loud and clear "STAY AWAY".

On the news front we have finally made it out of NYC and onto Zurich. Flight was good even though we had to do the mailrun via Geneva but at least we both arrived safe and sound. Hans met us at the airport and then we settled into getting over the jetlag with champagne, wine, more wine, even more wine and then a cognac disquised as tea at a Chinese restaurant and then oh dam another bottle of wine on the balcony to finally bury any trace of lag LOL.

Living up to my now disasteous reputation, we walked through the door to Hans and Rolis and the hallway lights packed it in !!!!! spooky. Mind you the electrician that arrived this morning was such a good look that Ron and I want his private number incase we need rewiring while Hans and Roli are on the high seas LOL.

Pics tomorrow, if I can hold the camera steady.