First of all no matter how you spell it Luzern or Lucerne, add it to your travel list. It is the same destination. Luzern is located in the German speaking portion of Switzerland and this is what you will see on signs or maps. In the French or English language the city of Luzern is translated as Lucerne.

Luzern Lucerne How I love thee, Let me count the ways.

In my travels overseas, I have learned the hard way to plan arrivals as centrally located to hotel destination. Trust me when I say it is worth the time and ensures an easier trip. Bahnhof (Station) Luzern is a major hub and located in the heart of of the city. In addition, station offers 69 vendors to address travelers needs for that one item left at home.

“Everything for your daily needs. 365 days a year. From early till late. “

This train station is positioned on the south side of Lake Luzern which greets you upon arrival. Everywhere is a photo waiting to be captured and a postcard worthy view. Prominent arch way stands resolute in front of the train station. Original station was destroyed in 1971 and a comprehensive redevelopment took place before they built the station as you see it today. On departing, Ricard Kesslings statue Spirit of the times welcomes you to Luzern in a grand way.

As you leave the station sights and sounds surround you while attempting to dodge people traveling to and fro. Sensory overload is almost impossible to escape between the views and trying to navigate with luggage in tow to destination. I remember the immense pleasure that I felt while entering this lovely city by the river. It’s impossible to avoid excitement while wandering and discovering the city on the way to the hotel.

Within a short walking distance of the train station a bridge leads you over the beautiful water that appears to be everywhere. My Swiss Gear spinners were working well on my new luggage as we walked to Des Alpes Hotel . Des Alpes is located in the heart of historic downtown Luzern beside the waterway and Kapellbrucke wooden chapel bridge.

Kapellbrucke Wooden Chapel Bridge

Work started on the wooden chapel bridge in 1332 on a portion of River Reuss. Kapellbrucke bridge linked the old town with the new and surely became a busy path. In the 17th century artist Hans Heinrich Wagman created 158 paintings which adorned the bridge until a fire burned the bridge in 1993. Water tower, 2 bridge heads and a portion of the paintings were saved.

Trails by fire and time did not prevent the Swiss from restoring Europe’s oldest covered wooden bridge. Take the time to walk around and see the surviving art work on this bridge and others. If only the walls could speak to us. Surely the bridge has seen everything from romantic trysts to proposals or hearts won and lost. At dusk walking this dark pathway helps you to step back in time with its creaky noises.

Truly, I loved staying in this area and its central location to everything. During my stay our hotel provided great customer service and a lovely meals by the river. If this hotel isn’t available there are several in this same area along the water and by chapel bridge. Get lost around this area and pop into shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries. We found a great Indian restaurant Mirch Masala within walking distance. Indian food is a great contrast to heavy German food.

Chapel Bridge Farmers Market has it all

Besides the creaky wooden bridge a gorgeous farmers market is held every Tuesday and Saturday. Vendors sell everything that I would need to complete a beautiful fresh meal. Or even items for a great picnic that could be shared on top the mountain. If only someone would have let me in the kitchen? Market has everything from fruits that I did not recognize to veggies saying, “Pick Me-Pick Me”. Vibrant flowers,seafood, cheese, bread, candies, coffee, pastries and more.

Our group wandered through the market while I had visions of recipes in my head. Meanwhile UK stopped in front of the local Pickle Meister and purchased a mixed bag of pickles including sweet, sour, hot and OMG-Hot. UK generously shared with our group as we walked and chatted about which pickle was best.

Counting the ways

From the farmers market to wandering around aimlessly through this city was my favorite part. However there are a few destinations that you should add to your list while you wander.

01 Hiking Suggestions

Scanning the horizon view of Mount Pilatus it is impossible to ignore the majesty and close proximity to the city. If hiking in Switzerland is on the travel list, “You have arrived at your destination.” Clearly more options for hiking will be available than you have hours in your day.

02 Lion of Lucerne Monument

The Lion Monument in Lucerne is a giant lion relief carved out of a wall of sandstone rock above a pond. (32.8′ x 19.7′) It was designed as a memorial for the mercenary soldiers from central Switzerland who lost their lives while serving the French king Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Mark Twain was touched by the Lion and wrote that it was ” the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world”.

03 Max Chocolatier

Swiss chocolate melts in your mouth and makes you want to scream for more. Not very lady like, but the chocolate is too damn good. I recommend a chocolate tasting experience at Max Chocolatier. This company has a special story to tell besides the outstanding products.

04 Fairytale Castle Chateau Gustch

Directions: In front of the Bahn train station, a bus station awaits for you. Take bus line No. 12, No. 18 or No. 2 to the Gutsch bus stop. Proceed to the Gutsch funicular and follow the signs.  The views are worth the effort and bus ride to see this castle.

If the weather is lovely please have lunch or cocktails on the patio. On my next trip, I will have to spend the night in this fairytale castle in the sky. Destination would be a prefect spot for celebrating a honeymoon or special occasion. I only wish that I had more time to fully discover every nook and cranny of Chateau Gustch so that I could share it all.

Chateau’s history is romantic and speaks to us of times gone by. In 2010 Alexander Lebedev and Evgeny Lebedev purchased the property. In time they developed a plan to create a luxurious hotel. Renovations included preservation of historical and artistic details. Attention to beauty surrounds this historical but updated setting that opened to guests in 2014.

05 Jesuit Church- First Baroque Sacred building in Switzerand

In 1666 construction began on this structure and just over a decade later an official inauguration was held for the church modeled after the Roman Church of the Gesu. Baroque and rococo stucco stand out as well as its altar and organ. A concert in this location would have amazing acoustics.

06 Spend a day without an agenda and discover the city

Wandering around a city without a plan or guide book is one of my favorite travel days. You may only discover the unexpected if you allow an opportunity to do so. Please don’t over plan your vacation and miss the chance to wander. Who knows what you might miss?

Truly I could ramble on about Luzern Lucerne How I love thee Let me count the ways. Visit Luzern! City is modern enough to have all of the conveniences of today while still preserving the old. Regardless of your age, this is a city for you to see with its vibrant life. Sadly I don’t know when but I will return one day.

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Hoarding is not in my nature, but have you tried the chocolate from Switzerland? Clearly the cows love the idyllic landscapes, Alpine mountains, crystal clear lakes and fresh air. As cows graze on hillsides and mountain slopes they send out jingle jangles of bells. Surely cows grazing in such a beautiful location would provide the best milk for milk chocolate, hot chocolate or cheese.

Why should you travel?

Without a doubt, I was excited just about the idea of traveling. Hopping on a plane and traveling to destinations unknown is exactly what I craved. A couple of weeks away from home, work and chores seemed like a dream. My hardest decisions would evolve around clothing, chocolate, food and which boozy concoction to sample.

However, before the fantasy vacation could start I had to survive the gauntlet of advance preparation for all the “what ifs”. A last ditch effort to make sure that everything was covered from family to paying bills. Of course I needed travel funds on hand and banks notified of plans. According to my dealer AKA Verizon the device was prepped and ready for international travel. Now I could move to my least favorite part of traveling, packing.

To pack or not to pack?

Packing is my travel torture. After each trip I promise that next time I will pack smarter and lighter. I zeroed in on black as a theme but I still managed to pack too many clothes. Particularly on a overseas trip you must leave room for new purchases. If your suitcase is already crammed it’s hard to add anything. Unless your plan consists of wearing old clothes that you then leave scattered all over Europe.

Grill Man insisted that we carry on our suitcases. Yet even a 21 inch Swiss Gear case with spinners and a backpack has its limits. Yes, Mimi has spinners. Before you purchase a fancy bag online for 4x’s the price visit TJ Maxx for a variety of options. After you suffer through packing at least you may move to the next part of airport and travel adventures.

4, 975 miles later we arrived in Zurich Switzerland. After winding our way from plane through customs we settled into a coffee shop to wait for our friends, UK and Little Italy. Luckily I had Euros left over from the last journey that I knew I would swap for coffee and Swiss Francs.

Grill Man and I enjoyed taking a breather while sipping Kaffe-Creme which is espresso with cream added. Quickly we learned to order double espresso with cream, one small shot of espresso will not suffice. Not to mention, after an overseas flight it helps to gird your loins with caffeine before navigating the train station and luggage.

Please go to customer service for assistance with train ticket purchase. An angel flies in the station but between the language barriers and ticket choices it is easier speaking with customer service. Unless you feel like an educated world traveler by all means use the vending machines to buy tickets. With the ticket machine using in country currency is much faster than using a credit card. Otherwise, you may find yourself at the front of a long line of grumbling Swiss over the travel challenged Americans.

Central Plaza Hotel delivers

Train delivered us to the central part of Zurich which is located within a short walking distance to Central Plaza Hotel. Central Plaza Hotel staff offered excellent customer service. Hotel offers a hearty breakfast and wide array of options enough to please even Grill Man. Remember to book direct with hotel and it may save you money and provide other advantages.

While in Zurich please stop by the Central Plaza Hotel and say hello to Tobias AKA Toby. It’s possible that Toby is the happiest bartender in Zurich. Humor is delivered in fine form along with your handcrafted cocktail. Piano Man will tickle the ivories and sing songs from the USA as Toby quenches your thirst.

Zuri Fasct and why you should go

After our inaugural welcome to Zurich beverage we ventured smack dab in the middle of Zuri Fascht. Festival occurs every three years on the first weekend of July. Zuri Fascht origins date back to 1951 when Zurich celebrated its 600th year of joining the Swiss Confederation. Zurich Fest is the largest party that you have never ever heard of. Next Zuri Fascht is July 1-2, 2022.

Zuri Fascht attendance hit 2,500,000 people in 2019. What 2,500,000 people? At times, depending on the event or your location it was easy enough to get away from the horde of humanity. Zurich clearly understands how to manage and spread out the events around the city and Limmat River. Our group was in awe of the sights, sounds and ability to walk away from the action by detouring down a tiny street tucked away here or there.

Festival has something for everyone although the people watching is enough to entertain. Multiple bands and DJ’s playing from different locations around the city. In addition to restaurants, over 300 food booths offering tempting treats from all over the world. Of course, we were never thirsty with many popup vendors to choose from offering cocktails of all variations, wine and beer.

Day drinking may or may not lead to night dancing. You will have to be the judge. Zuri Fascht will amaze you with the range of events from high wire acrobatics acts over the river to air shows with Airbus Super Puma Helicopters and PC-7 Pilatus tandem airplanes. Fireworks lit up the night skies to signal days end. Truly there is something for everyone.

Starting out in Zurich during a festival kicked our vacation off with a startling bang. Zurich on its own is not to be ignored. Zurich is drenched in Old World History and modern influences all over the city. Bahnhofstrasse is a shopping wonder. Click the link for a street map to show you stores that you may want to visit from Cartier, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, Omega and even H & M. For your chocolate fix go to Max Chocolatier and “experience chocolate for the first time.“

Once the shopping is satisfied or as a rainy day excursion, visit Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum Zurich). Neo-Gothic Castle and building houses exhibits a great overview of Switzerland’s history and art. Remember to ask a docent for details about the illusion that surrounds William Tell and the apple. Squeeze in a visit to the museum on the beginning of your travels in Switzerland. We enjoyed the museums grand introduction which added insight for our journey.

Travel instead of Lattes

Of course, traveling has always been one of my favorite diversions. Certainly my lineage includes an explorer who traveled the world seeking treasures and spices. Discovering how different cultures live, work, eat, and enjoy life is a gift. I believe that most people consider traveling as a luxury. Certainly funding is a crucial part of travel.

However, I think we should change our perspective to include traveling as part of our education and life experience. In our world we could do without less purchases of $5 lattes or the latest fad “It” item and save for travel. Travel opens your senses and touches your heart in a way that only it may offer.

Our trip in Switzerland started in Zurich with friends. 15 days later I would fly home after a trip that included planes, boats, ferries, buses, trains, cable cars and rotating gondolas. Traveling overseas is not a short trip and takes a fair amount of effort. Returning home is always the sweetest part of the journey.

Very soon after I returned home I found myself missing the Swiss while jet-lagged and hoarding chocolate. During my adventure I purchased sweet treats of chocolate to share with my friends and family. It has been challenging saving the chocolate until I could gift it to the recipient. Grill Man and I have a nightly little voice that demands chocolate and it has been a struggle.

Look for more adventures in Switzerland.

Love from Mimi’s Kitchen.

Lagniappe: Visit H. Schwarzenbach while in Zurich. A lovely specialty shop that has been open for over 100 years offering treats to tempt you.

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