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"Chocolate, Cowbells & Cable Cars" July 2005
Planes,
trains, motorcoaches, boats, cable cars, gondolas, lake steamer, funicular, cog
wheel train and ferry were our modes of transport. We were 62 singles with 124
bags who came, who saw, who conquered Switzerland & Italy. Aside from the
traffic delays of high holiday season, it went without a hitch. No lost
passports and no one lost. It was a whirlwind vacation but my theory has always
been "carpe diem per dollar", that is to squeeze in all experiences possible enroute of any journey. After all, travel is intensified living as we attempt to
absorb the maximum thrills per minute. (When I compare this to my “Suzy’s
Taste of Europe” trip 11 years ago, this was easy. We then did 6 countries in 7
days, like The Amazing Race.)
In
charming Lucerne, we were led on a walking tour of Old Town followed
by a welcome dinner of Swiss fondue. There was a folklore show which provided us
the opportunity to blow an alpine horn. At the end of the evening was a yodeling
contest where the bold wailed out like dying cows into the mic. We enjoyed a
real alpine adventure up to and over the 7000’ Mt. Pilatus which legend says is
infested with dragons. From here we boarded a paddle steamer and sailed across a
crystal lake to meet our motorcoach in Fluelen.
Our driver, Peter was super-human as he transported us 7 days over narrow
mountain roads in our Super-Size-It double-decker bus with a luggage trailer hitched in tow! At times local farmers
would peer out chalet windows in awe of such a feat. We stopped to visit the
Merlot Del Ticino Winery set in cliffside vineyards. So simple, so pure. The
family owners stated we were their largest group ever. As we imbibed on 3 fine
vintages, Peter spends a half hour trying to turn the coach around with help
from dozen locals. Finally we arrive in Lugano. Is it Switzerland or Italy? You
Google it. We unpack for 3 glorious nights at Hotel De La Paix.
If it’s Tuesday, must be Italy. We set out to tour the lush lake district which
sprawls dreamlike as a watercolor painting. This is the “Rio of the Old
Continent.”
In Tremezzo we view the famous Villa Carlotta Gardens and water taxi over to
elegant Bellagio. The town has fallen asleep for it’s 3 hour siesta. Nothing to
do but “manga” so I amble up the cobbled streets for my third pistachio gelato
of the day. A shopping stop is scheduled in Como. Some women don’t even glance
at the mirrored lake lined with palm trees. As if on steroids, they march
forward armed with Euros, Swiss francs and a MasterCard. Their motto on this 2
hour marathon is “if the shoe fits, charge it.” Our day ends with a visit to
Alprose Chocolate Factory. The tour is disappointing, but offers good buys on
sweets.
Our evenings are totally free and we disperse in mini-groups to discover the
best local cafes. Seafood is ultra fresh here but on my budget in this land of a
weak dollar, I settle each night for Pizza Margarita, paper thin with slabs of
buffalo mozzarella. On Wednesday, half the group defects to explore the region
on their own. Some do nature trails, boating, Mt. Bre, the fishing villages and
even Milan in a day. A few others lounge poolside at our hotel sunning like lizards . We are
graced with perfect weather up to departure. The other half of the group join me
with our wonderful guide Isabelle. (She has an obsession with George Clooney
whose villa faces Lake Como.) We begin at the Ponte Tressa market where
Europeans flock for bargains, but depart early as it resembles a giant garage
sale. We ferry from Lavino along with our monster bus across Lake Maggiore to
Intra and then drive to Stressa. Now here’s a place I’d like to linger for its
Mediterranean feel. From here, some visit the Borromean Islands.
Time to check out and head to Switzerland on one of the worlds most diverse rail
journeys. The Bernina Express corkscrews its way up and over the Alps with a
Kodak moment at every turn. We pass 3 glaciers and Lake Bianco named for its
"glacial milk.” In 3 hours we arrive “on top of the world” to glitzy St. Moritz.
Our hotel was upgraded to the 5* Hotel Kempenski Grand, according to our driver
“the finest hotel in Switzerland.” We quietly enter the chandeliered lobby in
T-shirts and denim shorts as if we too are part of the rich and famous. This is
as elegant as it gets. I don’t want to leave my suite with its marbled tub and
feathered duvet. The designer boutiques in town are closed now. We scatter on
nature trails towards the lake. For dinner, some splurge at the hotels world
class restaurant on fresh lamb enveloped in herbed crepes and deserts of spun
sugar. Twenty of us enjoy an outdoor BBQ of organic local products. Later I take
advantage of the complimentary spa with a swim and 4 treatment rooms.
I’ve always said that if I was forced to trade my passport with another country,
I’d choose Switzerland. Even the cows with their bells are happy here. It’s the
purest air and purest food. It’s the efficiency. Like the Boy Scouts, Swiss
count neatness, punctuality, cleanliness and hard work as virtues. It’s the
serenity in the verdant hills where one feels safe. And it’s the beauty in the
rugged geography of rocks, bubbling brooks, clean lakes and snow capped
mountains.
The highlight for me was our morning excursion by 2 gondolas ascending to
a lone restaurant 9000’ high. Here we are greeted with a private champagne
toast on a sun drenched
terrace. Some of us hiked down through the Ice Palace, a grotto-like cave in
sheer ice. The majesty of this mountain humbled me. (See
"On top of the world" photo.)
Peter must drive us to Zurich over a seemingly insurmountable mountain pass
before reaching the highway. In 27 years, he’s driven tour buses over 3 million
kilometers and tells me he hates driving this road. We pass cows mating and
villages with populations of 12. After a lunch stop in Heidiland, we arrive
safely in Zurich. It’s raining now as if Mother Nature mimics the sadness of our
departure. I overnight here with a solid 9 hours sleep and reminisce another
journey well done. Perhaps I’ll repeat it again in a future September during the festival
of cows in costume which come down from the mountains to make cheese.
Every AFS trip is vastly different. I concern myself with my groups over the
destination and extremely impressed with the politeness and the fortitude of
this one. They were clueless to the daily movements that had to be precision
timed to the accuracy of a Swiss Swatch. Through the hills and valleys of this
particular journey, they kept up like true travel pro’s and win the AFS award of
my most on time group ever. For some, it was their first trip abroad. I learn
most from them as I look at the sights through their passionate and inquisitive
eyes. Through the years I’ve been so blessed with good clients who can appreciate
different cultures as they follow me around the world. I hope we will make an
effort to stay in touch. Friendship is the most prized souvenir any trip can
provide.
Adventures for Singles is the original singles travel company for the
international group traveler. We specialize in travel for singles,
post to travel blogs or singles travel blogs regularly with Suzy's trip
journals. Though Adventures For Singles is not primarily about
dating, it does happen and we've have had 17 marriages directly related
to our single vacations. Our goal is to provide an
affordable, quality vacations for adult singles. Singles travel
packages, single travel, adventure travel destinations for singles
describes what we do. We always are looking to add single male
travelers to our groups and singles cruises
