Europe, 2024 Zurich Days 7 – 10

I ended my last post with a message about heading off to Greece, sadly the global IT outage caused by Crowdstrike had different plans for us! After packing our bags and boarding the train to Zurich’s airport we overheard a family talking about an IT outage. I could see Obi’s tech brain quickly at work as he searched the world wide web for news of the events. Yes, flights were being cancelled and planes grounded but not all of them and so we were hopeful. When we looked at the departure board at the airport, Athens was still a go and so we pushed onward. Only to very quickly realize something major was happening. The line to check in was extremely long – longer than what you would expect and there were TV crews around filming and interviewing people. While on line we started to hear announcements about all USA bound passengers to please get off the line and were shuttled into a different holding area. We slowly snaked through the line and about an hour later made it to the check in. By this time, we had 45 minutes to check our bags, clear security and reach the gate. The agent took our passports to check us in and couldn’t find our flight. She called a manager and they realized our flight was cancelled! We quickly saw our dreams of Limnos withering away. We were directed to another line for folks with cancelled flights through Swiss Airlines. This line had probably about 200 (or more) people on it…as we waited we contacted our booking site only to learn that all of the alternative flight options to Limnos at this time would have costed a large sum of extra money, and the timing to fly was highly inconvenient (through the night or legs of the trip which were 23 hrs long). So – we cancelled our plans and returned to the Airbnb. Limnos, I am coming…just not yet! After some internet searching we booked a stay at a mountain resort outside Lucerne. Lucerne is a 55 minute or so train ride from Zurich. Given what time of the day it was by now, we decided to leave Saturday morning.

Lucerne is a pleasant town with some impressive historical sights. We wandered through a farmers market which we stumbled upon and picked up some classic pastries and fruit for breakfast. Eating by the river witch sticky hands, watching tourists and locals merge at the market stands. The site I was most moved by was the Lion of Lucerne which is a rock relief sculpture. The monument was completed in 1821 and commemorates fallen Swiss soldiers killed during the French Revolution. The monument is free to tourists and is protected by Switzerland, though is costly to maintain. It is a striking sculpture as it sits set into the massive rock face wall. We also enjoyed a one hour long boat tour with an English audio guide in the Lucerne Lake. We marveled at the lake side villas while listening to the legends of Mount Pilatus looming overhead (a dragon lives there!). We also learned that this mountain’s name was falsely rumored after Pontius Pilate. However, the mountain actually got it’s name from the Latin word for hat or cap, pileus because the clouds sit a top the mountain peak like a hat (or at least the locals say that when the clouds sit on top like a hat it will be a good weather day, but when the clouds drape down along the sides into the valley, rain is coming). We had a day with clouds like a hat – so lucky us!

After touring Lucerne and departing with delicious street side pretzels from the Pretzel König (King) we were on the second part of the journey to the mountain resort at Melchsee-Frutt. We took a train, to a bus and finally a gondola up – way up into the mountain range. Riding these gondolas feels like you enter a whole new world. From down on the street into the clouds you go. We were both quickly impressed with the setting and found ourselves immedaitly humbled by the looming alps and snow capped peaks. The resort sits on the edge of a lake, Melchsee which has a lovely walking path around it and connects to another nearby lake about 4 km away. From this area are also many hiking trails. The resort was home to a lovely spa with a sauna, steam room and pool. On the first day we had a few hours of daylight left and walked together around the lake, finding our bearings and enjoying the luscious sights.

On this first walk we found ourselves at part of the trail with a few large and magnificent cows. They were blocking the trail and mooing along. We were at a gate and it almost seemed like they wanted us to open and let them pass. As we waited another couple came by and confidently gently nudged them aside and so we thought we could do the same – but when we passed through the gate the cows instead turned around and walked ahead of us. They were trail blazing and leading us along the path. It was thrilling to trail behind them and we were unsure if they would let us pass. Finally at a same point, I clapped my hands and mimicked what I hear the German farmers say and voila, the cows decided to head off the trail and started to sprint down the lake. It was such a site to be seen. Never have I ever seen cows run so fast and look so happy. They all have bells – some large round bells which make deep hallow ringing sounds and others with smaller shapely bells that make higher pitched chimes. Together the cows really are the bell choir of the Alps.

On Sunday we had grand plans to do a big hike together but the weather had another idea – rain, rain, rain. We studied the Swiss weather app, stalled our departure and hiked during the window with no rain projections. As many of you know, Obi, is not an avid nature lover like me. He appreciates beautiful sites but hiking for hours in the heat – and especially up is not his cup of tea. I said “I prefer going up instead of going down.” His reply, “I prefer staying level.” Oh he makes me laugh. He did suggest joining me on this hike – so I was beyond happy. I love hiking with him – and so off we went. Prepared for what might come and we thankfully got two ponchos from the hotel reception. Yes, we left all our rain gear in Zurich ignorantly imagining only sunny days ahead. The trail head was sneaky to find – but once we located it’s start, we were off. One step at a time we climbed and met another couple on the same route. I was and am very proud of Obi – and he was happy his running this past year paid off as he managed very well climbing. The trail went along the edge of a valley to the ridge line of a mountain – and then a small trek to the summit. The rain held off the whole time and we managed to make it back to the hotel as the sun broke through the clouds.

We had Nutella style sandwiches courtesy of the breakfast buffet :), Obi showered and settled in to watch his F1 race. I headed to the spa for a second round of delights. Sauna, steam room, cold shower and repeat. Then some time in the pool with it’s water massage jets and a cup of tea on the outside terrace with the view of a lifetime. We ended the day with an hour in the game room. The resort has a room with a two lane bowling alley. The balls are small, hand sized and much lighter than a traditional bowling ball and the pins are attached to strings which are used to pull up and automatically reset the pins. As you know Obi and I are very competitive with each other and have a spreadsheet in which we track points. The last time we bowled Obi kicked my behind and earned a point – so I was not willing to risk another point on the line. I regretted that decision fast because I won every round and with each game we played (a total of three) my score improved! Obi was in shock – hahaha! We then played three games of foosball. I think given Obi’s emotional state (coming off the blowing annihilation)- he was not as focused, and so I capitalized on his weakened mind – and I won the first game! He won the next two and found his stride again – but wow, we couldn’t stop laughing at the turn of events.

Monday morning was another rainy day, so after a workout at the hotel gym, we had breakfast and then I did a final walk around the lake – snapped a few more photos of wild alpine flowers with their rain drops perfectly pillowed on their petals – said good by to the Melchsee and took the gondola ride back down. We are back in Zurich – Obi will head to work tomorrow and I out to the mountains for another hike. Till then.