Apologies for the break in transmission...
... and so early on, too - that's not a good sign. There was a distinct lack of internet cafes in Switzerland. The one option we did have, in the youth hostel in Bern, charged 15 francs per hour (around $AU15 or around 8GBP!!) I tried it, it ate my money, it threw away my words.
So a brief recap - we took a sleeper train from Cologne to Innsbruck in Austria. Sleepers are nice, but you do find that you slide up the bed every time the train goes round a bend. Innsbruck was beautiful, nestled in the mountains, and with churches filled with outrageously baroque art.
After one night in Innsbruck we trained to Zurich, which I liked straight away. We arrived into evening mist, and the dim yellow lights and busy atmosphere gave the place a romantic tinge. Spent some time in the art gallery, and walking around the streets where the shops look frighteningly expensive - a good place to live if you have money.
The next day to Bern, where we somehow managed to go for a run along the River Aaargh, obtain our Chinese visas from the embassy, and find some essential supplies for our onward journey all before lunchtime. Is that Swiss effiency, or were we just lucky?
Then on Friday to Zermatt, beneath the Matterhorn, of which we had a full view from our hotel room. We took a ski lift up for a closer look, unfortunately didn't ski ourselves, but the slopes were really busy - it must get so crowded in the winter.
From there we went into a tunnel, and came out in Italy. We spent a night in Milan, which had a great big city buzz, then took a train to Florence where we've been doing our laundry and sending home Christmas presents. I hear there's an art gallery here somewhere.
It is so nice to travel at this time of year - the autumn leaves are beautiful, the weather's not too cold, and the crowds are manageable. And accommodation is really easy too - we've just been turning up and finding it once we arrive at the train station. Our only complaint is our luggage is so heavy - we dare not get rid of our many warm clothes for fear of Siberia, yet to come.
So a brief recap - we took a sleeper train from Cologne to Innsbruck in Austria. Sleepers are nice, but you do find that you slide up the bed every time the train goes round a bend. Innsbruck was beautiful, nestled in the mountains, and with churches filled with outrageously baroque art.
After one night in Innsbruck we trained to Zurich, which I liked straight away. We arrived into evening mist, and the dim yellow lights and busy atmosphere gave the place a romantic tinge. Spent some time in the art gallery, and walking around the streets where the shops look frighteningly expensive - a good place to live if you have money.
The next day to Bern, where we somehow managed to go for a run along the River Aaargh, obtain our Chinese visas from the embassy, and find some essential supplies for our onward journey all before lunchtime. Is that Swiss effiency, or were we just lucky?
Then on Friday to Zermatt, beneath the Matterhorn, of which we had a full view from our hotel room. We took a ski lift up for a closer look, unfortunately didn't ski ourselves, but the slopes were really busy - it must get so crowded in the winter.
From there we went into a tunnel, and came out in Italy. We spent a night in Milan, which had a great big city buzz, then took a train to Florence where we've been doing our laundry and sending home Christmas presents. I hear there's an art gallery here somewhere.
It is so nice to travel at this time of year - the autumn leaves are beautiful, the weather's not too cold, and the crowds are manageable. And accommodation is really easy too - we've just been turning up and finding it once we arrive at the train station. Our only complaint is our luggage is so heavy - we dare not get rid of our many warm clothes for fear of Siberia, yet to come.
posted by Wednesdays at 8:55 AM
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