Christmas on steroi_s 🧑‍🎄🎅🎄🦌🛷

love_the_life · Dec 18, 2023

We stayed in a Schiewzerhof in Zurich from memory

Lovely small hotel.

Pushka · Dec 18, 2023

The water flow was immense. This is release from storage.

Ae ended the walk and had only 30 minutes to grab some lunch. We umm, enjoyed these $30 Bunnings Snags, no onions.

Pushka · Dec 18, 2023

love_the_life said:
We stayed in a Schiewzerhof in Zurich from memory Lovely small hotel.

Yes, there is one there.

Pushka · Dec 18, 2023

It was quite foggy and we weren't expecting a good view but the guide was confident we would.

Along the way.

First views.

Our trip involved a chairlift to two levels then a rotating lift with 360 views. The chairlift contained 6 adults which was perfect. The roto thing contained maybe, 50, mostly skiers with their skis, boots, and well, attitude.

Pushka · Dec 18, 2023

The roto gondola. It was steep which we only realised on the way down.

This new facility can only be built with helicopters flying in materials. It will take years to finish.

Pushka · Dec 18, 2023

The walkway. Only rocked at the far end but too many selfie Insta poses caused this bridge to clog up.

We spent about two hours up there, at 10,000 feet. Amd once again the familiar feelings of altitude kicked in for me. Legs felt like lead, and feet became swollen. This time we knew immediately what was happening and so didn't progress to the uncoordinated stage. I just rested more and was very thirsty and so drank a lot of water.

The view coming down.

I loved the snow on these pines. Perfect Christmas trees.

Pushka · Dec 18, 2023

Apres ski parties.

After a break we went to the markets to grab some dinner. Had Indian for around $60 and was actually ok. Walked though the riverfront with great light displays.

Found another market.

This one was popular.

And the cost - crazy.

ellen10 · Dec 18, 2023

Wow @Pushka such stunning photos. Looks like a wonderful day and such a nice experience. Especially after your disappointing river cruise.
May the wows continue!

RooFlyer · Dec 18, 2023

That's the Mt Pilatus gondola? it was foggy down below when I intended to do it, and I talked myself out of it - damn.

love_the_life · Dec 18, 2023

Pushka said:
Yes, there is one there.

They were doing work on the exterior and had scaffolding covering the building so to compensate we were given a lovely crystal key ring (and from memory there was no view abd we only stayed one night)

. The room was very small but beautifully appointed.

love_the_life · Dec 18, 2023

That gondola and bridge look a tad too high for moi

. Spectacular photos and just gorgeous. The weather looked perfect.

Pushka · Dec 18, 2023

RooFlyer said:
That's the Mt Pilatus gondola? it was foggy down below when I intended to do it, and I talked myself out of it - damn.

I would have done the same based on the fog below. But I'd booked with Viking and the guide who lives here said that fog below was the best sign for sun above. This one was Titlus but kind of the same thing.

Pushka · Dec 18, 2023

love_the_life said:
That gondola and bridge look a tad too high for moi . Spectacular photos and just gorgeous. The weather looked perfect.

It was wonderful. I made sure I was looking down on the way back. 10000 feet is the highest I've been.

Pushka · Dec 18, 2023

ellen10 said:
Wow @Pushka such stunning photos. Looks like a wonderful day and such a nice experience. Especially after your disappointing river cruise.
May the wows continue!

Just a standard iPhone 13. It sees colours that the eye doesn't see. Things like Northern Lights. It isn't until you look at the photos sometimes, that you see them. I took a photo of the farmhouse I posted above. To my eyes it was all cloud. The iPhone saw blue sky above. And yes, certainly made up for a lot.

We noticed that on the bus after the ship that everyone lack spirits and energy. People should have been on a high but they were somewhat drained and almost exhausted. Even the guides who met us along the way said they knew we'd had an unpleasant time but hope they could make up for it. So clearly the boffins are talking.

Basel is still flooded out. Water levels way high. I think storms are coming from after we leave, but the river cruises suspend for a while anyway. And that winter housing area is where we spent our time in Strasbourg, far from the madding crowd.

The slopes yesterday are rated Black. The highest you can go maybe? The guide, who tobaggans on the lower slope and is a skier said they'd never go there.

We think we might just take the train to Interlaken today. We love the Swiss rail. Maybe even shoot for First class.

VPS · Dec 18, 2023

I presume they've discussed compensation - I appreciate you may not want to discuss it publicly at the moment but very interested to see how it pans out.

Pushka · Dec 18, 2023

VPS said:
I presume they've discussed compensation - I appreciate you may not want to discuss it publicly at the moment but very interested to see how it pans out.

They have mentioned this, this was when we had just missed Rudesheim. And before we got stuck in the industrial tip. We have a list. Lucerne people have been excellent. They have commented on the disappointing experience and trying to make it up for us. But this group of 20 or so just aren't enjoying it so much. Everyone is bussed out. On the last night of the cruise the mood had shifted even more so negative, I think because having actually had the last few hours cruising to Breisach, we remembered again what we'd missed for the last four days. In a way, finally getting underway for a few hours may have made everyone feel worse.

latawiec · Dec 18, 2023

Pushka said:
Basel is still flooded out. Water levels way high. I think storms are coming from after we leave, but the river cruises suspend for a while anyway.

The high water on the Rhine is nothing in comparison to the present flood in the Northern Queensland.
Some places get over 2m of rain within 6 days.

TheRealTMA · Dec 18, 2023

latawiec said:
The high water on the Rhine is nothing in comparison to the present flood in the Northern Queensland.
Some places get over 2m of rain within 6 days.

Yes but @Pushka is in Europe.

Pushka · Dec 19, 2023

latawiec said:
The high water on the Rhine is nothing in comparison to the present flood in the Northern Queensland.
Some places get over 2m of rain within 6 days.

And this is relevant how? Of course it's devastating for everyone in Cairns. That goes without saying. The floods in India a couple of weeks ago scoop the lot but I'm not on a boat in the Ganges or wherever.