Switzerland Here We Come!

5 July 2012 - Today we travel to Switzerland for a whole other experience. Bellagio - Menaggio - Lugano - Lucerne.

An early start getting up at 3:30am to get ready to leave beautiful Bellagio to catch the first car ferry to Menaggio. The trip across Lake Como was lovely and Menaggio has a similar feel to Bellagio. We boarded a bus which travelled westwards up through the mountainside and across the border to Lugano, Switzerland. Since the bus drops you off on the eastern side of the town, we walked towards town and got a taxi to the train station, where we boarded the train with two minutes to spare. The next station is where we had to change trains at Bellinzona for the William Tell Express,

Trevor on the William Tell Express.

this was a beautiful trip through and round the mountains

No these views are not the same moment but
also some scenery on the William Tell Express

View from the William Tell Express

to Fluelen where we got the ferry to Lucerne.

Fluelen where passengers from the William Tell Express change to the ferry

The ferry trip was slow but enjoyable as we sat in the first class dining area and ate Swiss Cuisine

Swiss Cuisine, First Class dining, William Tell Express, Ferry section.

afterwards sitting on the front balcony taking in the views of mountains, the lake and lakeside villages, soaking up some sun at the same time.

One of the lakeside villages from the ferry from Fluelen to Lucerne

When we reached Lucerne then checked into the Krone Hotel, a nice hotel in the old centre of the city with views over the square below.

View from the Hotel Krone, Lucerne

We explored Spreuerbruecke (Spreuer Bridge) which was completed in 1408 and the 67 paintings that represent the Dance of Death, which was name this because this was where chafts of wheat were thrown into the river.

Spruerbruecke, Lucerne

One of the 67 paintings which make up the Dance of Death Collection on the Spruerbruecke, Lucerne

We walked across the Kapellbrecke (Chapel Bridge), like the other bridge it was constructed in the 1400's as part of the city's fortifications. The 17th century paintings are of Swiss people and local history including the city's patron saints, Leodegar and Mauritius.