Tag Archives: carriage ride

Lucerne, Switzerland

Yesterday, we drove from Florence -long day-but the drive down thr9ugh the Lake Como district into Switzerland was most enjoyable. We stopped at a ‘roadhouse’ for the usual WC stop and a coffee.  Well, anyone not in Europe, you don’t have a clue what happens here.

Level 1 – groceteria, Level 2- a self serve that seems to be as large as your house (and then some) – hot foods, soups, salads, sandwiches, Asian food…..it is never ending.

Back on the bus now to complete this leg of our journey and we arrive at Lake Lucerne, where we go for a cruise around the lake and are served wine or beer (2 each) and then we head off to the Hotel Astoria. (Gotta love Insight Tours AGAIN.)

The reason you are getting two days in one is that we could not for the life of Sam get on the wifi.

Today, however, is going to be so different for me. Anyone who knows me knows I don’t go above the 2nd  step on a ladder, so what do we do? We go on two cable cars up 7,000 ft to the top of Mt .Pilatus THEN we take the steepest cog-wheel train in the world down the mountain. I have pictures to prove it….

Now we get on the bus, drive for about 40 minutes into a small village, get  in a horse and carriages and go to a farm where they show us the products they make from only 19 cows. They gave us a light lunch, glass of rose wine and now we come back to the hotel. Think we are done yet? Not a chance.

Now tonight is our ‘dine around’ dinner and our poor guide, Bob, in the pouring rain has to take all the groups out to 4 different restaurants. Just before that though, we all met on the penthouse level for a drink for Don and I for having travelled with Insight before. And THEN, and THEN…we met our first Insight tour guide, Monica, from our trip to Provence in the South of France. Hugs and kisses all around. Just loved her.

Tomorrow up at 5:30 a.m., leaving at 7:00 p.m. and off to Paris. Whoopee!

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Bruges, Belgium

This morning at about 9:30 a.m. we left for the train station to take us to Bruges .The train ride takes about 1 1/2 hours and the scenery is so pretty. The towns are scattered throughout but are definitely worth looking at.

We arrived safe and sound and took a bus into town. Now here the senses seem to explode. It is like looking at a Christmas card of old, yet there are modern shops selling the most modern clothing, perfumes, shoes and books and, in the same breath, are the shops of old selling tatting, tapestries and, of course, chocolates.

We ate at a restaurant in one of the main squares and wow….Lucille and I tried Belgian waffles (hers was strawberries and whipping cream) and mine was chocolate and an ice cream…ooooohhhh they were good. Don ordered pate on toast (looked like a pound of pate) and Carole had a mushroom omelet.

I learned something new….coffee here in Europe is stronger than strong but I ordered a ‘French coffee’….tah dah it is coffee with Cointreau and whipping cream. Not good for the waistline but what the heck, it was DARN good. Have to check the menus more closely from here on in.

We walked around a bit and then took at horse carriage ride throughout the town.  This is a dream town for sure with canals, boat ferries, churches, and people…..lot of people.

We purchased a few trinkets to bring home…gee …we haven’t even started the tour yet and we are already filling the suitcase.

 

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