Hi
Just a quick post to let you know that we spent two days in a small town called Marghera just 10 mins max outside of Venice by train. This is a sleepy little town considering its proximity to Venice. It is only a 5 min walk to the station so it is ideal for seeing the sites of Venice without the Venice price tag for accommodation.
I have been to Venice about 10 years ago in the colder months and did not like it as it was dirty and very unpleasant so I tried to go back with an open mind. Day one we caught the water buses to Murano Island where it is famous for glass and there are many many glass shops but it was a pretty island and the waterways seem to have cleaned up. Spent a very long day doing the waterways as well as San Marco Piazza the main attraction along with Rialto Bridge didn't leave Venice till after 9pm.
Next day was not as energetic but we managed to walk for miles all over and to buy a few things. When leaving I am still of the opinion that you either love or are not impressed with Venice and I am still of the later even though it is one of those places in the world that if you get the opportunity it has to be seen.
After our time in Venice we had a very long day of driving(wasn't looking forward to this) across the top of Italy and into Switzerland. So off we headed.
After 5 hours we ran into some very heavy traffic just inside the Swiss boarder so it was time to have a break for lunch so pulled over into one of their autostrata stops as at this stage the traffic was virtually at a stand still.
About to leave and sitting in car I decided to fill in time as we could not move everything in total gridlock. So I suggested to Mez maybe we play cards?? but instead I got my book out and jotted down the following for the blog.
'sitting in car waiting in a queue to get back to the main road not moving and everyone on the highway is out of their cars having a chat. Apparently there is a major tunnel 8 ks ahead and it is like Mt Blanc where they only let a few cars through at a time so that there is a good distance between them. It is starting to rain and at this stage we will not get to Interlaken till very late. It is now 2.30 and have been on the road since 8.30 this morning.
Well we have moved nearly 100 m and it is now 3.10. Stopped again. I think at this rate we will get there tomorrow. Apparently this is not unusual for this to happen especially as some of the provinces finish their holiday break much like getting back into Sydney after the Xmas holidays except 100 or even 1000 times worse.
Comment from Mez"welcome to Switzerland have seen the same bit of countryside for the past 1.5 hours."
This would turn you off going on holidays. By the way I am the driver and have had all this time to jot this down. Looks like we are about to move better go.'
Well finally got through the 17k tunnel and then had to turn off the autostrata and head to the Susteen Pass. We thought we had been on high roads before but nothing has come close to this Pass. 50ks of very mountainous terrain. We were that high that the mountains that we could virtually reach out and touch were permanent snow capped glaziers.
I also thought that I had seen the most picturesque countryside in Tuscany but nothing in the world compares with Switzerland it is just breathtaking in the mountains. Enormous cliff faces with waterfalls cascading down to villages that meander through the valleys of these enormous mountains.
We finally arrived at the B&B called Finel at a little after 7pm had been on the road for 10 and a half hours. The last part of the trip to find this B&B was up another mountain on a road just wide enough for one car but our destination was worth it. This B&B is situated on the side of the mountain with panoramic views of Lake Interlaken and the winter ski fields across the lake on the neighbouring mountains.
'High on a hill was a lonely goatherd- no that's Mez and Ann
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo'
The B&B was this lovely wooden Swiss cottage with exposed beams made of the thickest tree trunks holding up a thatched roof- just gorgeous.
We stayed for 2 nights and ventured to a place in the mountains, by train, that has ten different waterfalls being sauced by 3 glacial rivers but all this is inside the mountain. Walking up the many steps inside the mountain the roar of the water was deafening at times. This place was unbelievable. To get to the station this day we had to head through the woods-as they call them, and down the side of the mountain don't know what we were thinking but we also had to trek back at the end of the day- exhausting.
Finel B&B was an experience and then we headed to Lucerne - a beautiful city on the lake its like they are permanently trying out for the tidy most picturesque town award.
Staying about 3 ks out of town has been lovely( every thing in town is for the rich and famous) as we can easily access the city by bus. Have been for walks around old town in the main part of Lucerne and also in the hills!!! around here.
My angst for heights reared its ugly head yesterday when we ventured to a place called Mt Pilatus but it was worth every minute. To get there it was a 45min paddle boat trip across the lake, a 40 min cog railway trip up the mountain at a 49degree angle( and if your not sure if that is steep or not let me tell you it was frightening) a look around the top of the mountain-7000ft up and also walked up tracks once there followed by a 30min trip down the other side of the mountain by cable car and lastly- on flat land(thank god) a bus ride back to Lucerne. What a day- not to be missed.
Switzerland so far has been very impressive but it is also very expensive to live here. They seem to be a very fit nation probably due to the fact that they ride bikes and hike everywhere and there is not much flat land, either up hill or down- very impressed.
Heading to Zurich tomorrow for a day and then into Germany- the land of some of mine and Mez's ancestors.
Hope you are all coping with the cold still really warm here even in Switzerland(imagined due to the altitude it would be cooler) even went for a swim in Lake Lucerne today and had to lay in the shade-too hot.
Wanted to add so many more pics but internet so slow it takes ages to add just one.
look after yourselves
love Ann
Just a quick post to let you know that we spent two days in a small town called Marghera just 10 mins max outside of Venice by train. This is a sleepy little town considering its proximity to Venice. It is only a 5 min walk to the station so it is ideal for seeing the sites of Venice without the Venice price tag for accommodation.
I have been to Venice about 10 years ago in the colder months and did not like it as it was dirty and very unpleasant so I tried to go back with an open mind. Day one we caught the water buses to Murano Island where it is famous for glass and there are many many glass shops but it was a pretty island and the waterways seem to have cleaned up. Spent a very long day doing the waterways as well as San Marco Piazza the main attraction along with Rialto Bridge didn't leave Venice till after 9pm.
Next day was not as energetic but we managed to walk for miles all over and to buy a few things. When leaving I am still of the opinion that you either love or are not impressed with Venice and I am still of the later even though it is one of those places in the world that if you get the opportunity it has to be seen.
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| Us on one of the many quaint bridges that give you access to all parts of Venice |
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| The waterways only means of delivering all goods |
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| The famous Rialto Bridge which is covered in shops |
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| Ambulance Venetian Style |
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| Behind Mez one of the many restaurants that line the Piazza San Marco(main piazza) with their own orchestra - not for the budget conscious. |
After our time in Venice we had a very long day of driving(wasn't looking forward to this) across the top of Italy and into Switzerland. So off we headed.
After 5 hours we ran into some very heavy traffic just inside the Swiss boarder so it was time to have a break for lunch so pulled over into one of their autostrata stops as at this stage the traffic was virtually at a stand still.
About to leave and sitting in car I decided to fill in time as we could not move everything in total gridlock. So I suggested to Mez maybe we play cards?? but instead I got my book out and jotted down the following for the blog.
'sitting in car waiting in a queue to get back to the main road not moving and everyone on the highway is out of their cars having a chat. Apparently there is a major tunnel 8 ks ahead and it is like Mt Blanc where they only let a few cars through at a time so that there is a good distance between them. It is starting to rain and at this stage we will not get to Interlaken till very late. It is now 2.30 and have been on the road since 8.30 this morning.
Well we have moved nearly 100 m and it is now 3.10. Stopped again. I think at this rate we will get there tomorrow. Apparently this is not unusual for this to happen especially as some of the provinces finish their holiday break much like getting back into Sydney after the Xmas holidays except 100 or even 1000 times worse.
Comment from Mez"welcome to Switzerland have seen the same bit of countryside for the past 1.5 hours."
This would turn you off going on holidays. By the way I am the driver and have had all this time to jot this down. Looks like we are about to move better go.'
Well finally got through the 17k tunnel and then had to turn off the autostrata and head to the Susteen Pass. We thought we had been on high roads before but nothing has come close to this Pass. 50ks of very mountainous terrain. We were that high that the mountains that we could virtually reach out and touch were permanent snow capped glaziers.
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| Snow capped mountains ahead |
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| One of the many pics of the Susteen Pass |
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| Had to have one stop on the road |
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| A beautiful glacial lake with the snow above it |
I also thought that I had seen the most picturesque countryside in Tuscany but nothing in the world compares with Switzerland it is just breathtaking in the mountains. Enormous cliff faces with waterfalls cascading down to villages that meander through the valleys of these enormous mountains.
We finally arrived at the B&B called Finel at a little after 7pm had been on the road for 10 and a half hours. The last part of the trip to find this B&B was up another mountain on a road just wide enough for one car but our destination was worth it. This B&B is situated on the side of the mountain with panoramic views of Lake Interlaken and the winter ski fields across the lake on the neighbouring mountains.
'High on a hill was a lonely goatherd- no that's Mez and Ann
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo'
The B&B was this lovely wooden Swiss cottage with exposed beams made of the thickest tree trunks holding up a thatched roof- just gorgeous.
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| This is the hall just outside the rooms at either end it is open to the elements and everything is made of wood. |
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| View from front of B&B to village below-Mez has better pics but havent had time to download them. |
We stayed for 2 nights and ventured to a place in the mountains, by train, that has ten different waterfalls being sauced by 3 glacial rivers but all this is inside the mountain. Walking up the many steps inside the mountain the roar of the water was deafening at times. This place was unbelievable. To get to the station this day we had to head through the woods-as they call them, and down the side of the mountain don't know what we were thinking but we also had to trek back at the end of the day- exhausting.
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| View of the B&B from the path down to the village |
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| our walk through the woods reason pic is cloudy is that we were walking through mist |
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| one of the many pics that we took of these falls- would love to add more but it takes so long to add a pic as the internet speed is very slow but not complaining it is better than none. |
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| Mez on one of the outside edges of this amazing mountain |
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| Mez inside the mountain the roar of the water was deafening. |
Finel B&B was an experience and then we headed to Lucerne - a beautiful city on the lake its like they are permanently trying out for the tidy most picturesque town award.
Staying about 3 ks out of town has been lovely( every thing in town is for the rich and famous) as we can easily access the city by bus. Have been for walks around old town in the main part of Lucerne and also in the hills!!! around here.
My angst for heights reared its ugly head yesterday when we ventured to a place called Mt Pilatus but it was worth every minute. To get there it was a 45min paddle boat trip across the lake, a 40 min cog railway trip up the mountain at a 49degree angle( and if your not sure if that is steep or not let me tell you it was frightening) a look around the top of the mountain-7000ft up and also walked up tracks once there followed by a 30min trip down the other side of the mountain by cable car and lastly- on flat land(thank god) a bus ride back to Lucerne. What a day- not to be missed.
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| lake, village and surrounding ski fields thousands of feet above sea level between Interlaken and Lucerne-just beautiful |
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| Mez and Chapel Bridge(ancient-very historic) |
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| Sunset from room |
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| Lucerne from boat trip to Mt Pilatus |
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| Mez on boat with Mt Pilatus in background |
Switzerland so far has been very impressive but it is also very expensive to live here. They seem to be a very fit nation probably due to the fact that they ride bikes and hike everywhere and there is not much flat land, either up hill or down- very impressed.
Heading to Zurich tomorrow for a day and then into Germany- the land of some of mine and Mez's ancestors.
Hope you are all coping with the cold still really warm here even in Switzerland(imagined due to the altitude it would be cooler) even went for a swim in Lake Lucerne today and had to lay in the shade-too hot.
Wanted to add so many more pics but internet so slow it takes ages to add just one.
look after yourselves
love Ann
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