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Touring Switzerland (July 4-14 2024)

So many good things to say about Switzerland. I would like to say, for the people who don’t know me, I was borne and raised in France on the other side of the Swiss border of Geneva. So I have been many time to Geneva, but, this trip was my first on to inland Switzerland….
* Clean, very clean country.
* Safe and politically stable.
* Rich country with high quality precision industries (especially watches…)
* The Swiss Alpes are absolutely amazing.
* The highways are cheap, 40€ for 1 year. It is nothing compare to France.
* Good and calm atmosphere, feel good to live in Switzerland.
A small, but lovely country!
One, just one negative comment about Switzerland.
It is So, So Expensive!!!!! No cheap places, no cheap restaurants….

Mt Pilatus

You have different was to reach the top of Mt Pilatus:
1) you can hike…… good luck……
2) you can take the cable car
3) you can take the train
4) the best option, for me, is what I did, go one way with the cable car or train and come back by the other. By doing that you have view on both side of the mountains and it is so nice.
The view, at the top, if you have good weather, is absolutely fantastic. You have a view on the whole Swiss Alpes.
It is good idea to book your ride a few days earlier, so you won’t have to queue at the ticket station.
The train is pretty high technology to be able to climb a steep slope, safely……
The package, train from Luzern, gondola, Pilatus train, and bus back to Luzern is very convenient, but cost 90€….

Luzern
Such a nice city!! I loved it! Too bad I spent only 5 hrs there. Need to go back….

Gruyere
All the Cheese lovers know about Gruyere. The Gruyere cheese comes from the city of Gruyere in Switzerland. And, I was lucky enough to visit a Gruyere factory. But, unfortunately, they make the cheese only in the morning, so, no activities in the afternoon.

Yvoire, Haute Savoie, France
While in Switzerland, decided to take a short boat ride from Nyon to Yvoire, France.
Yvoire is a small medieval city, saw it already a couple time, but, was good to see it again

Interlaken / Harder Kulm

A must to do in Interlaken, take the funicular to go to Harder Kulm. Just for the view, the view, the view!!
And you will understand why the town was named Interlaken (between lakes in English)
Still looking….. When you are in the funicular, don’t think the cable can brake…….

From Lauterbrunnen to Schilthorn

Based on my good Swiss friend Phil, we decided to reach Mt Schilthorn to take:
* The cable car for Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp.
* Take the train from Grutschalp to Murren.
* Take the cable car from Murren to the Birg.
* And finally take the cable car from the Birg to the Schilthorn.
* And coming back the same way.
All the ways the view is fantastic (if it is not cloudy….)
If I have to do it again, I will walk along the train track between Murren and Grutschap. It looks an easy and pleasant hike.

As you can see on the photo at the top, we were in the clouds. Could not see the whole panorama…. so sad…. because by good weather, the view is amazing!
Cost 160€ per person for the round trip as indicated.

Zurich

Spent a afternoon walking in Zurich. Mainly in the old town, and the lake / river connection. Very vey nice.
Zurich, due to its number of banks, is the 6th world largest finance place in the world. So, a lot of rich people leave in Zurich and they drive luxury cars!! It is like Monaco, luxury cars everywhere…..
The old town, is like all the other Swiss old towns, clean, lot of lowers, very pleasant to walk through.

Did not have enough time to have a boat cruise around the lake from Zurich.
Zurich is very, very, very Expensive, one of the most expensive city in the world. In Singapore, at least you can find street food, but, in Zurich food / restaurants are so expensive!!!! 22€ for a salad cry

Vaduz, Capital of Liechenstein

Spent only 2 hr in Vaduz, but it is enough. Not much to see or do in Vaduz. The royal castle is not open to the public, so….. take a few photos from the outside, and you are done with Vaduz…..

Rapperswil
Lovely town at the end of Zurich’s lake.
From here you can reach Zurich by train in 1/2 hr or by boat in 2hr for the same price. 35€ one way…
I do recommend the Moxy hotel in Rappeswil