My trip began with me waking Nate and Brooke up at 3:30am so they could take me to base so I could catch the bus, which was leaving at 4:00. I had a backpack with a camelback of water, a blanket, and a pillow, and was ready to go!
A few hours later, we crossed the border into Switzerland. I slept the whole way through Germany. A couple hours later, we were in Lucerne! In this part of Switzerland, they speak a dialect of German, so between the little German I know and their little English, we figured everything out.
We picked up our city tour guide and then drove out to the famous "Dying Lion" monument that is right outside of the main part of the town. This beautiful relief carved in a wall of sandstone represents the Swiss mercenaries who died protecting King Louis XVI of France when his palace was attacked during the French Revolution.
It looks like the outline of the relief is a pig. haha.
Our tour guide in front of the famous Chapel Bridge.
The entrance to the bridge, which was built in the 1300s!!
View of the Alps from the bridge.
Paintings in the bridge from the 1600s. So awesome!
So pretty!
A huge hotel on the hill.
The watch tower at the end of the bridge.
The Jesuit Church was so pretty... very different than other Catholic churches we've seen around Europe.
The Reuss River
The Mill Bridge... or Spreuerbrücke, built in 1408... crossing the Reuss River.
This is where I sat and had lunch. Everything in Switzerland is really expensive... except for water. It's free. They have dozens of these fountains everywhere, and people just drink straight out of them or fill up water bottles. It's so funny. They filter lake water and people just go for it!
Swans everywhere.
The weather had been beautiful all day, right up until we were going to take the boat out on the lake. Then it poured.
Even though it was raining, the lake with the mountains surrounding it was so beautiful.
It was pouring down rain, but a couple other girls and I braved the weather and sat up top so that we could get better pictures.
If we were going to be soaking wet, at least we had beer.
Rain was getting in the beer. No good.
Of course when we get close to the dock, the sun comes out.
Of COURSE it's sunny now!!
I'm so glad I got the change to visit Switzerland. I had such a great time... and all of the countryside that I got to see was so beautiful. Next Saturday, I'm going to Brugge, Belgium... and then on Sunday, Nate, Brooke, and I are going on a Rhine River cruise. Then Monday, I head back to Indy. I can't believe it's almost over...
Well, til next time,
Annie
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