Are You a Rule Follower? I AM!

Our hotel in Lugano was in the mid point of the hill - the funicular bringing people down to the lakeside leaves from the train station, 100 feet up.  So, we could walk 100 feet back up to go 300 feet down, or just amble down the winding streets lined with shops.  You guessed it, we shopped.  On our route, we passed a residential building with a guard dog dutifully watching those walking by.  Of course, my dad has to stop and engage with the dog.  Luckily, the german shepherd found him to be a non threat, and didn’t react to his advancements and whistles.  Oh dad... always with the animals.  

We eventually got down to the lakeside and wandered for a bit before landing at our safe place, McDonalds.  We thought we’d get a “cheap” dinner and seek out something more Swiss or Italian the next day as it was already afternoon.  The joke was on us however as we AVOIDED the wraps that burned us in Lucerne and ordered McChickens and a burger.  Grand total 35 Swiss Francs, or approximately $40.  yeesh.  One good thing about having purchased something at the lakeside McDonalds is that you’re given the code to the bathroom that is otherwise locked to non-patrons.  All three of us took our turns punching 2-2-1-0 to access the customer only bathroom.  I suppose you could consider it a perk for our $40 meal.  

As we sat and finished up our meal, there was a group of 5 women who came in from the outside just to use the bathroom.  As they were not customers, they did not have the code.  We watched as they looked discerningly at the code pad on the door, looked at each other and tried punching in random numbers.  They looked around confused, and didn’t know what to do  After about 3 minutes, a man (a customer of the establishment) came and punched in the code to use the mens room.  Again, quiet mumbling and looks were exchanged among the women.  All the while, my mom is saying that we should give them the code to get in.  For some reason, I had a visceral reaction to this, and insisted that it was NOT okay to hand out the code to those who had not paid to use the restroom.  Right?  I’m right aren’t I?  I have purchased my share of small items at McDonald’s and other fast food places around the world, knowing that with that purchase came the ability to use their restroom.  Why couldn’t they buy a Coke or something small to justify their usage?  While this is happening, a restaurant worker went into the mens room and came out - we cf course thinking he was checking for cleanliness or something.  Then, out of nowhere, my mom gets up and goes over to punch in the 2-2-1-0 for these ladies.  WHAT?!  How could you betray those of us who have purchased something?  Funny thing is, the code no longer worked.  The McDonalds employee CHANGED THE CODE!!!!!  HA!  Now you can’t breech the bathroom you free-loaders.  Victory was mine.  The bathroom remained for customers only... for now anyway.   

Hotel Federale, Lugano

When we arrived in Lugano, we referenced our Booking.com map of where our hotel was - and it looked super convenient from the train station.  It was the next block over, with just one small turn to make.  However, maps are only 2D and don’t show the elevation and change that occurs when your hotel is in fact one block away, but 100 feet down.  As we exited the station, we could read the name of our hotel, on its roof.  Hmmm.  Following the lead of the crowd, we started down the switchback ramp that led us to the front door of the hotel.  I ran with two big luggage pieces knowing that all they could do is crash into the railing - but evidently it was pretty funny to watch from behind -- my pink bag bouncing on my back as I trotted down hill chasing two suitcases.  

This is a video I took of the steep nature of the ramps I rolled the luggage down - at race pace :)

Zermatt to Lugano. What a ride!!!

We left Zermatt early and headed off to Lugano - another out of the way excursion for most Americans traveling through Switzerland.  It’s in the far southern tip of Switzerland, over a large portion of the Alps- less than an hour from the Italian border.  It took us six hours and four train changes- but at this point, it’s all a part of the experience, right?  We have a pretty good working relationship with each other in terms of navigation of train stations and getting our luggage on and off.  It’s easy enough when the luggage rack is near the door and is empty, but proves to be more of a challenge when other people have chosen to transport luggage on the same train as we are.  The nerve of some people.  

It was a long day of travel, but with each train change, the terrain changed a bit and we went from snow capped alpine peaks to tree covered mountains with palm trees at the base.  We went through a 10 mile tunnel, and over and through some of the most beautiful lands we’ve seen.   

all aboard the Glacier Express.

Pretty sure if I were these cows, I wouldn't stand on the airport runway...

Yup - this is my life. 

yeah - the selfie in full effect.  Bless the Alps. 

What's in a Language?

On one of the train rides we were on, I was talking to my mom about the culture of Switzerland.  What was I going to buy for souvenirs for the folks back home?  Army knives?  Probably not.. Cowbells?  Doubtful.  What else was “Swiss”?  Cheese?  Chocolate?  It’s interesting the history behind the country.  There are three main languages spoken- French, Italian and German (Swiss German, though High German would work I suppose).  Not to mention the amount of people who speak English too.  I was surprised at the fluidity with which the Swiss transitioned between languages - greeting with an Italian “Buona Sera” followed by a French “Merci” after a purchase, and a German “Aufwiedersein” as we left.  Now, obviously those are the easy phrases that anyone can pick up.  But, when asked, many spoke all three languages semi-fluently if not with full fluency.  What an incredible skill, one that I envy with all my heart.  Quite frankly, I felt more uncomfortable linguistically on this trip than I have in a long time.  I felt in a constant state of language confusion -- what do I say?  Which do I choose?  I was often so confused that I either answered in garbled English or soft Hungarian.  Really?  Hungarian?  Oh well.  What can I say? (do you see what I did there- say... what can I say-- this post is about language!!!)

Good thing the menu was in Italian, translated to German on the next line.  Evidently German is the language of the two that uses capital letters. 

I Can Barely Afford to Breathe Here!

We spent some time wandering and looking at the different architecture of the area - it was the Switzerland I had been hoping for.  Chalet like cottages, rustic outdoor decorations, flowers blooming from balconies- in my mind quintessential Swiss culture.  In this town however, there was an air of tourist trap about it.  It was expensive to stay this time of year, when only 10% of the slopes are open for skiing, and many of the hiking trails have been closed to prepare for winter.  There were “mid season” sales throughout the town, but we weren’t quite sure which season we were in the ‘mid’ of.  There were plenty of people in the town, but I can only imagine the wealth that pours through the streets during the busy ski season.  Seriously, the train station opened to a North Face store, which was bookended by a Patagonia and Cartier stores.  Really?  Where’s the tourist gift shop?  I can’t afford any of this stuff...  

Cowbells vs. Mountain Goats

What a blessing that we had gone up the mountain as soon as we did upon arrival.  The next day, we woke up to overcast skies - so much so that we couldn’t see the Matterhorn, which was visible from our hotel room the night before.  Mom and dad got up and went to church, and we met afterwards for another walk of the town.  Actually, I should clarify, mom and I shopped through the town (though things are REALLY expensive in Switzerland) and dad stood under store awnings, facing the mountains, looking for animals.  He claims he saw four mountain goats - and I suppose I believe him, but I found much cooler things in the shop that sold cowbells and chocolate :) 

Dad looking for mountain goats... 

Trying to communicate with a cat who clearly doesn't want to.

Ride to Zermatt

After a beautiful train ride (using the glacier express - one of the most scenic railways in Switzerland, and I would argue all of Europe) we arrived in Zermatt.  This is one of the most out of the way destinations one could find in Switzerland, at the same time one of the most picturesque as the Matterhorn towers above it.  It was a bright beautiful day, and as per the advice of our train conductor, we took advantage right away.  We scooted off to our hotel (a 100m jaunt from the train station) dropped our luggage, left dad for a nap and headed to the Gornergrat - the train that ascends from the town to a panoramic view of the Alps and the Matterhorn.  

It was 60+ degrees out, so we left the hotel with just our long sleeve shirts on.  We arrived at the ticket station, and I noticed the celsius reading of the temperature at the top of the mountain.  It said 6.  I didn’t know the exactly translation other than to say that that was cold.  I ran back to the hotel and grabbed jackets for us both - thankfully.  As we returned to the ticket booth, we weren’t exactly sure the process for boarding the train until a nice young woman said “you get on here, and have the opportunity to get off at different spots along the way.”  She was a scientist, in Switzerland working for two weeks.  She had done the Gonergrat before with her mother, but it was cloudy and they weren’t able to see much from the top.  She hailed from southern California, and had layered adequately for the journey to the peak of the Alps.  We had an enjoyable conversation on our way up, her filling us in on tidbits of information we didn’t know about the area.

At the top, it was cool, but we Minnesotans were ready for it.  I ended up peeling layers after a while and enjoying the sun at the top of the mountains.  We could see for what seemed like miles - glaciers, lakes formed from melting snow, peak after peak of alpine mountain. We were let off at a hotel - go figure, a hotel at the top of the Alps - with a view to die for.  Glad we weren’t staying there as it was a haul and a half to get anywhere, but it was a nice concept.  Beyond the observation deck, there was a higher area to view from - so Morgan (our new friend) and I decided we’d head up that way.  It was up a bit with a climb using a rope for assistance.  I figured that as a snow native, I didn’t need the help, but the sun mixed with snow made for a slushy slippery experience.  My New Balance shoes weren’t going to be enough to launch me up the hill.  Rope it was.  

Mom and Morgan!

From the top, there was again a wonderful view- can you go wrong at an altitude of 12,000 feet looking through the sunshine to the Alps?  As I came back down the rope-slope, I had to swat my right arm at something - what the heck?  I looked back at the critter that I had just encountered, and noticed it was something I had never seen before - prior to last night.  After dad’s encounter with the nun and dog, and the hummingbird moth, he googled a picture and explained how the critter worked - he had watched it for at least 45 minutes after all.  How in the heck was a hummingbird moth at the top of this mountain we had come up?  There wasn’t any vegetation, there weren’t any other animals - I had no idea.  But, it was like dad was up there with us - enjoying the sites. :)