Time to go home

After almost two weeks travel in Switzerland, Basel, Zermatt, Grindelwald, Locarno, Maienfeld and Luzern, time to go home. Beautiful place and heart-warming people, I miss you all. Will come back sometime.

Last evening at Switzerland

Wandered around the lake Vierwaldstättersee after dinner. Quite and beautiful place and we wanted to stay there more. By the way, he is our new little friend.

Hotel Beau Sejour Au Lac

This is the hotel we stayed at for two nights. It was by accident to stay there because another hotel I had booked had a pipe problem, which caused us to move to Beau Sejour Au Lac. It is a little old hotel but staying there was highly comfortable because of the landlord couple's great hospitality. They are 88 and 85 years old but very fine, besides, they are so nice and kind.

Linear

They are kind of linear, aren't they?

Kapellbrücke

Probably the most famous landmark of the city. View from that bridge is also something you should not miss.

Old part of Luzern

Old houses with splendid paintings. After browsing the old part of Luzern, felt hungry and thirsty, we jumped into the beer hall which was built in the city hall.

Lion of Luzern

Commemorated for Swiss mercenaries who dies in French Revolution. Mercenary was an important means to make their livings back in that century.

Wanna a cigar?

Had arrived at Luzern, the last destination of this trip, late at last evening but we started to walk around the city.

He is silent but always smiley with a cigar.

Lichtenstein

A very small but probably one of the most wealthy countries in Europe.

Found something you like?

While waiting for next train, dropped at a shop called "Haidi shop". By the way, the cartoon on the windows of the 2nd floor looks like the Japanese manga version depicting Heidi. A quite interesting comparison when look at the other cartoon, an European version, which shows how the Swiss see Heidi.

Heididorf

Heididorf is a lovely place, just like being cut out of a cartoon scene.

With heavy duty on my back but beautiful place

Time to move to the next and last destination in this trip. Moved to northeast by bus and then train, yet another accurate operation, and dropped at Maienfeld. My wife insisted in going there because of Heididorf there. Since I did not see the Heidi TV cartoon when I was a kid, it does not matter whether this place is associated to Heidi somehow; however, this place was quite scenery, I must admit.

A little bit stronger one

After eating meal, we came back to our favorite place. This time, tried another variant with a little bit stronger alcohol.

Shelter

After coming back to YH, hit another Ticino local beer under the huge umbrella at the garden. This place was really a shelter for us when temperature was over 30 degree C.

Supposed to be a beautiful scenery...

Santuario della Madonna del Sasso is a landmark of Lucarno and view to that sanctuary was supposed to be a beautiful scenery as presented in the city brochure. However, the facade was being renovated or something, which was a bit of disappointment. It does work but one cannot complain because those facilities are old and need a regular maintenance.

Cimetta

On top of the Cimetta observatory, it was so calm and peaceful. A little bit warm but very much relaxing.

Cardada

Since we hiked like a hell and Walkmate always showed over 25000 steps everyday, we decided to take an easy way. Used a funicular to Cardada and then, further up to Cimetta by gondola and lift. Here is Cardada (1332m).

At the YH garden

Spent sometime with local Ticino wine at the garden of Youth Hostel we were staying at. This YH is good, modern but only problem is no air-conditioning under 30 degree C even until 23:00, which made us annoyed.

A holly hit

After sightseeing around the Roman Catholic site, we felt hungry and dropped in a restaurant nearby. Seems like they already closed kitchen but they prepared salad for us. Italian people are always so kind. No need to say that beer was just great.

Sacro Moten Calvario

The destination at Domodossola was Sacro Monte Calvario, a Roman Catholic sanctuary, also a world heritage site. However, my partner just complained and cursed the hot temperature and a couple of kilometers mileage for hiking up to the top of the hills. She should have shown her respect for this holly site.

Melt down

Arrived at Domodossola in Italy. Bought Italian ice cream which was relatively cheaper than Switzerland; however melt down started quite fast because of so warm temperature.

Centovalli railway

Centovalli, meaning a hundred of valleys, is a famous sightseeing railways, running beyond Italy and Switzerland national border. We used this train for traveling to Domodossola (the Italy side) and traveling back.

Locarno

Locarno is a medium size city and well know by Locarno international film festival. Unfortunately, the festival was finished one week before our arrival but fortunately, the city was not so crowded.

Pizza

If it comes to Italy, technically speaking it is not in Italy though, one must eat pizza. It was good but prices are Swiss standard, sadly.

Castles

Belinzona is well known with three ancient castles. View from the castles is quite different from ones we saw at Zermatt and Grindelwald because here is a small Italy in Switzerland.

Bellinzona

We dropped at Bellizona before reaching the destination, Locarno. This part of Switzerland is Italian speaking place. The temperature was surprisingly high up.

Panoramic train

Left a memorable place Grindelwal, headed for the next destination, Locarno, but we took a detour in order to enjoy train trip. Panoramic train was supposed to be connected from Interlaken to Luzern; however, it turned out that we were forced to get out of the train at (perhaps) Meiringen, which is far off from Luzern, due to some incident and forced to take bus through Gisvill, where another panoramic train to Luzern waited for us. More amazingly, this incident did not cause any delay to our original itinerary. One cannot underestimate their accuracy.

Last evening at Grindelwald

Fair local wine with a magnificent mountain behind.

Rugenbrau

A great hit after the hike. It was non-alcohol beer though.

Eigergletscher

We got out of train at Eigergletscher station and continued hiking. Another amazing view but it says, the glacier has been withdrawn quite seriously these days...

Self portrait at hütte

After hiking Zermatt and Grindelwald, man has got deep suntan.