Christmas on steroi_s 🧑‍🎄🎅🎄🦌🛷

[Pushka]

View from the room this morning. Fog.



Tonight.


Our plan was to take the train to Interlaken. Easy right. Swiss Trains are perfect. But this trip was not done with us yet.

We front up to the counter to purchase our tickets. Oh. There may be a problem. Please take this number and wait to be called. There was a train due to leave in 20 minutes. So we waited. Finally called over to be told the connection between Lucerne and some stop along the way was an issue but we could take a BUS. At that point we almost ran out of the building. OR, we could take the train to Bern, the connection may or many not wait for to go to Interlaken. And then reverse to get back. Nup.

So we went back to Viking rep and asked for suggestions. Take a train to Zurich? Basel? To do shopping. Ah, we are here for scenery. Right. Oh well, take a boat trip. Ok. We purchased the tickets. $280 aud. This better be good. It wasn't bad for a couple of minutes.



These were the only seats. We had no intentions of eating so pointless.







It has just occurred to me. I'm summoning up @Captain Halliday here

 

[Pushka]

Then we saw a few interesting little features on the water.


Hmmm


To this.


So with Fog horns sounding and full fog, we continued our hideously expensive trip.

Oh, we did eat. This.

 

[Pushka]

We got off. Tried not to cry about the money. . Ventured into the supermarkets. Bluddy heck the prices are insane. And why is Swiss milk chocolate so much more expensive here?

Sushi. $55 aud.


What?

 

[Pushka]

We walked around after that taking photos.



More drinking water. They sell empty water bottles here (like the one use water filled bottles but empty)


Viking also use this hotel but location not great. Built for Queen Vic but she never stayed there.



And we had the next hot cholcoate here. The guide had recommended it.

 

[Pushka]

We are off to Zurich first thing tomorrow to catch a flight to London where it will be warm at 10c but, ahem, wet.

 

[OATEK]

We are off to Zurich first thing tomorrow to catch a flight to London where it will be warm at 10c but, ahem, wet.

But it has been fine and warm for the last couple of days in London - hope you aren't bringing the wet weather with you from your adventures in the floods!!

 

[Pushka]

But it has been fine and warm for the last couple of days in London - hope you aren't bringing the wet weather with you from your adventures in the floods!!

I think the wind blows the other way.

 

[Seat0B]

. 10000 feet is the highest I've been.

Well I except when flying

 

[VPS]

We walked around after that taking photos.

View attachment 359415

More drinking water. They sell empty water bottles here (like the one use water filled bottles but empty)
View attachment 359416

Viking also use this hotel but location not great. Built for Queen Vic but she never stayed there.

View attachment 359417
View attachment 359418
And we had the next hot cholcoate here. The guide had recommended it.
View attachment 359419

How did you rate the hot chocolate and how expensive was it

 

[tgh]

#1 son worked in Basel for a few years, we learned to avoid eating and staying in Suisse and found nice hotels nearby in Germany.
Many of his co workers lived in France or Germany for the same reason.
They would like to move back to Basel if an opportunity presents; a best of both world scenario.. all the perks of working for a big multinational in Basel and the nice lifestyle available just nearby in France

 

[I love to travel]

@Pushka feeling for you. I had the holiday from hell a few months ago and it's awful but admire your perseverance and still in tact sense of humour

 

[Pushka]

@Pushka feeling for you. I had the holiday from hell a few months ago and it's awful but admire your perseverance and still in tact sense of humour

I think if we weren't catching up with family (son) for christmas, we keep reminding ourselves of that - then the sense of humour may have left the building along with Frasier.

The fabulous days - Colmar - Cologne - and the Alps were gold.

 

[Pushka]

How did you rate the hot chocolate and how expensive was it

We rated it 11 out of 10 for the dark chocolate, I'm never a fan of white chocolate anything. And it cost 5.50 Swiss francs so maybe, umm, $10? Interestingly they value the euro at the same rate as the Swiss franc where as for the AUD the Swiss franc is much lower rate. Some shops take both.

We had a great dinner at a brauhaus last night. Sat next to a Brit couple but it was also packed with locals. We'd been recommended the chicken. It was half a chicken which was beautiful and a pile of chips which we just couldn't get through. Cost 28 Swiss francs which is cheap at only around $50 for half a rotisserie chicken . Beer, they make it was pale and excellent. The Brit lady had ordered beef something and there was a six inch piece of half a bone in it, for the marrow. She wanted to take it back home for the dog. She did taste it and she said it was pure fat.

Heading off to the airport in about 90 minutes. Need to extract some more kinder surprises from the breakfast bar - I could probably sell them on the streets for 3 swiss francs each . Flying BA on a Qantas redemption in J, which was extremely easy to obtain. From Zurich. Doesn't that sound sweet. Our third time to this airport.

 

[TheRealTMA]

View from the room this morning. Fog.

View attachment 359398

Tonight.
View attachment 359399

Our plan was to take the train to Interlaken. Easy right. Swiss Trains are perfect. But this trip was not done with us yet.

We front up to the counter to purchase our tickets. Oh. There may be a problem. Please take this number and wait to be called. There was a train due to leave in 20 minutes. So we waited. Finally called over to be told the connection between Lucerne and some stop along the way was an issue but we could take a BUS. At that point we almost ran out of the building. OR, we could take the train to Bern, the connection may or many not wait for to go to Interlaken. And then reverse to get back. Nup.

So we went back to Viking rep and asked for suggestions. Take a train to Zurich? Basel? To do shopping. Ah, we are here for scenery. Right. Oh well, take a boat trip. Ok. We purchased the tickets. $280 aud. This better be good. It wasn't bad for a couple of minutes.

View attachment 359400

These were the only seats. We had no intentions of eating so pointless.
View attachment 359401
View attachment 359402
View attachment 359403
View attachment 359404
View attachment 359405
View attachment 359406

It has just occurred to me. I'm summoning up @Captain Halliday here

$280 for how many people? We did that back in October 22 and did included lunch and wines and I don't remember it being that expensive? Maybe it was discounted becazuse we had a Lucerne Visitors Pass.

I thought the food and wines were quite good.

Lucerne Guest Card | Discounts | Lake Lucerne Region | Luzern.com

Guest Card • Discounts • Experiences & Excursions • Buses • Mountain Railways • Cable Cars • Museums • Lucerne City • Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region

www.luzern.com

 

[Pushka]

$280 for how many people? We did that back in October 22 and did included lunch and wines and I don't remember it being that expensive? Maybe it was discounted becazuse we had a Lucerne Visitors Pass.

I thought the food and wines were quite good.

Oh don’t ask. No food.

Anyways I’m sorted for breakfast.

 

[Pushka]

At Zurich airport. Oh my. Insane security screening here. Most people took up five crates as everything was out. Cameras too. And each had to be separated. But actual scanning was quick.

We spent our last 40 Swiss francs. On chocolate. Two giant salted caramel added to the mix toblerones and one large packet of those tiny chocolates. Toblerones for us. Tiny chocolates to be given to dIL to hand over to the grandies and knowing her will last them a good year.

Driven to the airport in a Mercedes limousine. Nice.

Went to the wrong lounge. Of course we’d not even thought about exiting EU/schengen. So more passport checks then into the correct aspire lounge which is kinda basic. But great views over the mountains and spectacular when a plane takes off. Will try to get a photo. Door to external balcony is locked unfortunately. I’m pretty warm here.

Last nights photos.

Brewery. Excellent blond bier.




This was excellent. 28 Swiss francs.





We found the Christmas Market.



It was closed

 

[Pushka]

Now it’s plane spotting.

 

[Seat0B]

Great plane photos! And good to see your sense of humour still intact.
Hope you have a joyous reunion with your family - that will make it all worthwhile.

 

[VPS]

I can’t find the article I saw the other day but forecasting snow for Christmas Day. Good luck

 

[Pushka]

I can’t find the article I saw the other day but forecasting snow for Christmas Day. Good luck

Wow. We will be in Lincolnshire so it just might be. oohh.
We are safely ensconced in Staybridge Suites off Bath Road. Bit of a deal to get here on the Hoppa but all good. The guy behind us just missed his bus and went to enquire about a taxi. £40. He declined and returned to the bus stop.

Arrived around 3.00pm and checked in. IHG platinum so room upgrade and free drinks. There's a huge lounge downstairs with free tea and coffee machine. Alcohol and nibbles Tues, Weds and Thursday from 6pm until 7, free washers and dryers and a rather good gym apparently. We have a separate lounge room and bedroom. Kitchen with dishwasher and microwave. All of this for £100 a night. Great value. They use the Hilton Inn next door as their restaurant and breakfast area.

Usual club Europe.

Perfectly fine for just over an hour trip and great price. Qantas Classic reward.

We loved the look of this on the menu.





But alas, wasn't offered onboard and we had this which was tasty.

We didn't fly over the alps, just the fog.


Soon entered Heathrow, ooops @OATEK




Roo.


And just to finish it off, a BUS trip to the terminal.