intercity again today from milan to lucerne via lugano
6am we are out of the hotel and bus/metro to milan central
in plenty of time for our pre-booked train and boat journey
not long after leaving milan we are surrounded by mountains and lakes
a few tunnels and a bridge over lake como before coming into lugano
along the way somewhere passing from italy into swizterland
there's a fenicular railway from the train station to the town proper
so with about 3 hours to kill down we go on this early monday morning
not many people around and the rain is threatening but still lots to see
the town built around the lakeshores a-la queenstown - feels similar
we walk for an hour in one direction before the rain sets in
so a bus back and into the shopping area of the town
nice shops / nice (for them) prices too so looking only
there's a craving for a hot chocolate - found and devoured
we agree the best we've ever had - spooned rather than sipped
catch the fenicular railway back up to lugano train station - bye
we take the first class tickets of the wilhelm tell express
a very modern purpose-built panoramic-glass spacious carriage
it feels like an a380 on a railway track - fast and quiet
glorious views in every direction of rivers, lakes, mountains
the frequent villages and churches distinguishing it from nz
there are full 360 degrees tunnels to reduce/increase height
one long 15km tunnel takes us from italian to german switzerland
a change in weather also while in the tunnel to full sunlight
several hours later we alight at a lakeside town called fluelen
observe a paddle-steamer coming our way and then all aboard
directed to our table for an silver-service lunch of our choice
all the time cruising around lake lucerne and taking it all in
several more hours seeing switzerland from another angle
...them's there houses perched high up in those hills...
all quite beautiful really and a great little side trip
glide into lucerne, alight and walk to our booked hotel
nice little place 15 minutes from all the tourist action
unload and reverse steps back to town and to the old area
typically european really - cobblestones, boutiques, walking
find the jazz club but alas monday is down time - nevermind
roller-blading big in this town - a lot of them are lakeside
we're seeing prices as expensive as warned so a plan hatched
off to the nearest dupermarket and load up with goodies
then head lakeside, pop the bottle of bubbly and picnic on
toast ourselves to making it to yet another idyllic place
and then joined by mamma swan and her brood of 7 swan-lings
they seem to enjoy all we have to offer - pistachio nuts
dusk in lucerne is pretty special on this spring evening
looking across the lake at sunset over the mountains
a wander back over the kapellbrucke (chapel bridge)
lucerne's iconic 14th century bridge over the canal
lots more photo opportunities and then head home
on the way we observe a swarm of roller-bladers
they seem to have taken over the streets tonight
a brilliant day - milan seems so long ago...
