Sights and Heights around Luzern

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

Our official Swiss trip tour has begun.

 

Our only full day in Luzern began with a overview walk by our tour guide, Goobi.  It covered much of what Cindy & I had already seen on the previous day, but of course with a Swiss flair in story telling.  

 

The walk climaxed at the Dying Lion monument with Goobi telling of how the loss of so many Swiss soldiers impacted the families in this area.  It was much more peaceful this morning, as the garden was intended to be, than when Cindy & I visited yesterday.

After lunch, we walked to the Lake Luzern waterfront to catch the ferry on the Steamship Weggis across the lake to village of Stansstad. It rained a bit as soon as we set sail, but we had wonderful views of the homes along the water, the hills and mountains, and the other boats plying the waters.

 

 

 

From Stansstad, we went to nearby Stans and boarded the funicular to reach the cable car to the Mount Stanserhorn station. The cable car is a new design, the CabriO, with a second, open air deck above the main enclosed cabin. This was by far the most popular deck on the cable car.  Feeling the wind, smelling the fresh air (and sometimes cows), and hearing the bells of the cattle was quite an experience.

 

 

 

We reached the station, 6000 feet above sea level, but the admiration of the great views had to wait as a thunderstorm moved in just after we did. We ate lunch there, waiting for the weather to clear, and it did pretty quickly.  Later, several of us climbed the path of the last 227 feet to the summit.  The views were awe-inspiring, and ample evidence of the Creator who gave us this beauty.

 

 

We took a longer but less steep path back to the cable car station for more great scenery and lots of wildflowers.  

 

 

 

Two signs along the route quoted two Psalms.  Psalm 66:5 & Psalm 111:2.  Very appropriate.

 

 

This evening, Cindy and I dined at a riverside cafe for a good meal of chicken and fish, then topped off with Toblerone mousse.

 

We were tired, but before bedtime, were entertained by s French horn street performer in the courtyard outside our room.  At 9 pm.  

Tomorrow, heading into central Switzerland.

Zurich to Luzern

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

This morning we boarded the train from Zurich to Luzern, just a quick 45 mins.  Beautiful scenery as we passed by lakes and pastureland.  

 

Our hotel is a short walk from the tran station, or should have been but for all the activities setting up for a festival this evening.  Supposed to be fireworks, too, over the lake this weekend.   With sunset not until after 9:30, that may be late.

We had lunch near the hotel and had a traditional Swiss dish, Rösti: Thick cut hash browns covered with slices of bacon, tomato, cheese, and a fried egg.  Quite good & filing.

We walked quite a bit afterwards, exploring the city's famous bridges, painted buildings, the old city wall & towers, and the must-see Luzern Lion statue.

Of the two famous wooden bridges - the Mill bridge and the Chapel bridge - I'd say the Mill Bridge was my favorite.  The original bridge was built in the 1400s and rebuilt after a flood in the 1500s.  The rebuilt bridge included a chapel for divine protection against future floods.  Seems to have worked, as this 450 year old reconstruction is still in original condition.  It is thought provoking to see and feel the original timbers and wonder how much has changed since these trees were first cut down and the wood shaped in the beams for the bridge.

 

The more famous Chapel bridge was almost totally destroyed by fire in 1993, but painstakingly restored to its older appearance.  A few charred beams and paintings on the bridge have been left to memorialize the fire.

 

We walked through the old city, and after Cindy did some shopping (and buying), we climbed up to the old city walls.  Several of the towers still are accessible, and climbed up those, as well (actually, I did two, Cindy one). The views from the walls of the city rooftops and mountains was great.

 

The tall clock tower still has a working pendulum clock keeping the time and ringing out the hour for the city.  

 

Our last visit was to the famous Lion statue, carved into the side of a cliff in a small park just north of the old city.  The lion is 33 feet long and 20 feet tall, and commemorates the sacrifice of over 600 Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution protecting the royal family one August day in 1792.  It is a sad but moving statue of a dying lion, fallen on his shield.  Far from home, these men gave their lives fighting to protect the lives of others.

 

Gardens & Chocolate

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

We spent this morning at the Zurich Botanical Gardens, enjoying our last full day (until next week) in Zurich.  Many types of plants & trees...and school groups.

 

 

It is a lovely morning here, and we are grateful for the wonderful weather.

This afternoon Cindy & I took the Sweet Zurich chocolate tour.  It was conducted by Christina, a London ex-pat living in Zurich, and her daughter Rebecca, who is a student in Dublin (how's that for a summer job).  

 

We were joined by a mother from California & her two kids, and a young couple from Pittsburgh.  We started at the Spungli store, famous for their chocolates, but more so for their Luxemburgli macaroons.  We each got to pick one, and that was not an easy choice (I picked salted caramel, Cindy had chocolate).

 

We next window stopped at a store with chocolates decorated like flowers (except for the Dom Perignon champagne truffles).

 

Our next tasting stop was a family run shop, Honold's.  Their specialty is truffles and hot chocolate.  Unlike the macaroons, we got to pick three.  Quite yummy and aromatic!  While there, Rebecca shared with us the history of chocolate and its introduction to European society.

 

Next, we entered "Chocolate Heaven", Aeschbach, another family chocolatier.  The specialties sampled here were truffles with cherry liquor flavored centers.  They also did amazing things with chocolate animals, containers made of chocolate, and chocolate postcards.

 

 

 

Next door was a candy shop, mainly gummi bear type candy, but far juicier.  The lemon and lime slices were like real fruit.  They make interesting presentations with their fruit candy, such as cheeseburgers with fries, pizza, and sushi (chopsticks included).

 

 

We switched to cupcakes at our next stop at a little local store. Good, with an interesting icing ingredient.  But we want more chocolate.

 

But first, another window shopping stop (featuring marzipan Snow White & Seven Dwarfs), then on to our last stop, which happened to be a place we have stopped at twice before.

 

Conditorei Schober has been around for a couple of centuries, and is famous for its hot chocolate (and their mocha is pretty good, too).  This warm liquid delight was our final tasting.

 

It was a wonderful & tasty afternoon, and we're grateful to God for the cocoa bean.

Strolling through Zurich

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

Our third day in Zurich, just strolling, shopping, a little eating. We started our walk down Neiderdofrstrasse, an old cobblestone pedestrian street through Zurich.  Too early for the lunch crowd, many of the cafes were already open for coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.  We stopped at a well known cafe, Conditorei Schober, for mocha (for me) and hot chocolate (for Cindy).  Tucked in a quiet courtyard, we watched the fellow shoppers and strollers along the street.  

 

We visited some of the old churches in the area (we will likely see these again next week with our group, so only stayed briefly).  Grossmunster, the heart of the Swiss Reformation movement in the 1500s, was built in the 11th-12th centuries.  Its twin towers are a Zurich landmark.  

 

 

Fraumunster is across the river and is home to beautiful Chagall stained glass windows.  Nearby they were doing archaeological digging, and it was fascinating to see the excavations uncovering 1000 year old graves and foundations. 

 

 

St. Peter's is the older of the Zurich churches and its huge clock faced tower dominates the old town.  

 

 

Heading back toward the hotel, we stopped at Lindenhof, a Roman era platform, now a park, overlooking Zurich & the Limmat.  A 2nd century roman tombstone of a young boy is at the edge of the park.  Lindenhof is a social gathering spot for outdoor chess, checkers, and boules.  We enjoyed watching both for a while.  

 

Before we finished our walk, we visited the Zurich Toy Museum which features primarily German & Swiss toys from the past 200 years.

 

It was a beautiful day for us, and a good day to enjoy Zurich.

Swiss water all around

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

One of my early international trips included a flight change in Zurich.  As we approached the airport, we circled Rhine Falls.  It was so amazing from above, I had always wanted to see it closer.  17 years later, Cindy & I took the trains from Zurich to  Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall to see the Rhine falls up close.  We took many pictures from the castle adjacent to the falls; and also from observation decks above, next to, and at the base of the falls. We and our cameras were drenched but survived. The sounds and sights of this waterfall, the largest in Europe, were thunderous and amazing.  We even spotted a rainbow below us in the mist.

 

 

 

We took a boat across the river below the falls. The river makes a 90° left here and across the water are panoramic views of the falls.  We had lunch here:  German sausage, bread and fries.  I had a can of purified river water from the Rhine.

 

 

After we ate we walked along the downstream bank of the river, then up several flights of stairs along the shore, gradually ascending to the top of the falls along the riverbank  pathway.  The railway we took to the falls passes under the castle and crosses the river just upstream from the falls.  We recrossed the river here and hiked the other back up the hill to the castle and train station where our excursion to the falls began.

 

 

This afternoon, after the return train trip to Rhine falls, we took a 90 minute ferry ride on Lake Zurich.  The ferry Uetliberg took us along the lake's west side, then crossed to the east side heading back while making 8 stops on the round trip.  It was a great relaxing day, watching the boats, homes, villages, vineyards, and people enjoying the great weather along the shore.

 

 

 

Thoughts at 60

60 years old.  When did this happen?  

It doesn’t seem so long ago that my Dad turned 60.  My first memory of realizing my Dad was looking old was when he was 60.  He was helping me move some boxes and furniture when I noticed - a little out of breath, hair disheveled, slightly red in the face.  I remember thinking, “Oh my.  My Dad looks old.”

And now here I am at 60.  When I look in the mirror, I don't see 60.  Yes, I see the gray hair, but I don’t see 60.  I certainly don’t feel 60 (though some of my joints might disagree).  

But here it is.  And along with it the acknowledgement that the world is not the same as it was when I was younger.  I see the parents walking their kids to the school bus stops.  These adults are about the same age as my children.  Many of my dear friends at church are the ages of my adult children or their spouses, and some even younger.  We play with the babies of friends we watched grow up when their parents and we were younger.

I am a granddad.  Yet when I see pictures of my grandparents when I was the age of my granddaughter, I have trouble picturing myself in their place.  Weren’t my grandparents old?  How come I’m not?  Then I look more closely at the pictures.  They weren’t old in the pictures.  Some didn’t even have gray hair, yet.  They are me, nearly 60 years ago.

What did I dream life would be like at 60?  I do not think I could have imagined the roads my life has taken, roads determined by my choices as well as the choices others made that impacted me.  However, how many of us live the life to 60 exactly the way we first dreamed it would be?  

Many of those I grew up with never made this far:  Mark, Joe Allen, Diane, Candy, just to recall a few.  

I am grateful for the friends I have had for many years, almost as long as I can remember:  Kathy, Nelson, Cassandra, Colleen, and many, many others.  I am grateful for the digital technology and social media that has allowed me to re-connect or reconcile with friends I might have had trouble finding without it:  Mark, Ann, Barbara, Cathy, Janet, and precious others.  

And many of my mentors when I was young are still around to encourage me:  Paul, Ann,  Rusty, Charles, Jeanette, Jack, and Don.  

I am joyful for my dear family - my wife, my children and their spouses, my granddaughter and the granddaughter on the way, my Dad, my sister, the cousins, aunt, and in-laws with me today whom I love with all of my heart.

I miss my family that are not here today, 

particularly my Mom.  She was always the first to call me each birthday.  I am grateful for the way they cared for me and guided me.  I hope, as part of the great cloud of witnesses watching, my life has been lived thus far in a way that makes them proud.

Once, during a hard time in my life, a trusted friend asked how I endured.  When I hesitated to reply, they gently reminded me to not forget my faith in my God and Savior.  I could not have reached this age and where I am today without my faith in and gratitude to my Lord and Savior who has brought me this far and blessed me far more than I deserve on my own.

I am grateful for 60.

 

Beating the Swiss Jet-lag

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

We arrived in Zurich late morning. After a refreshing stop at the arrivals lounge at the airport for a shower and light lunch, we headed into Zurich by high-speed train. Our hotel is not far from the train station on the Limmat River, swiftly flowing from Lake Zurich and beautifully lined with with large trees. From our room we can see the city and the still snow-capped mountains in the distance. 

 

To help cope with the jet-lag, we went over to the Zurich Zoo. The idea was to be out in the fresh air and sunshine as much as possible for a while. However, as implausible as it seems, everywhere we walked felt like we were going up hill. Seriously, at some point you would think you have to start down. 

 Anyway, we loved watching the animals, but even more so watching the children watching the animals. The zoo is a blend of old style animal enclosure, but appear to be rapidly expanding and upgrading their habitats. One of the newest sections is the elephant enclosure, designed with outdoor and indoor areas. One large Indian elephant, maybe quite proud of his massive tusks, seemed to relish jabbing a younger one in the backside. There would be a howl of protest, then they would return to roaming about and eating, with one perhaps keeping a closer eye on what was going on behind him. 

 

It was a good day, enjoying God's creation - the beautiful layout of the zoo and the creatures within, and watching the parents and children as they also enjoyed the day. 

Getting over the holiday hump

2014 Christmas thoughts:

Yesterday I saw a note on Facebook from a friend that this was the 10th anniversary of her Mom's death.  Another friend just lost his wife to a 5 year battle with cancer.  A longtime friend and fellow traveler is coming home after brain surgery on a cancerous tumor.  Their outlook is uncertain.  

I really do understand how hard the holidays can be.  Even in the midst of the season of, what should be for Christians, overwhelming joy & gratitude.  Many years ago my life as I knew it disappeared on the eve of Thanksgiving.  I spent December that year trying to save my sanity, and was without the ones I loved the most for the first time ever on Christmas.  In 1991 my grandfather died on New Years Eve.  In 2003, my Mom died at only 68 in the first week of November.  Six years later, my wife's Dad died one day from the anniversary of my Mom's death.  A year later two days before Christmas, my mother-in-law fell suffering a severe head trauma (she survived that but passed 3 months later from unexpected complications).  Others I am very close to have suffered this time of year - jailed, hospitalized, separation, death - and I have suffered with them.  

Thanksgiving & Christmas can be hard.  It is easy for me to descend into the dark memories.  But our faith in Jesus and His promise that this life's tragedies are not the end has sustained me.  





Thanks to the Promise of Christmas; faith, joy, and hope scatters the darkness.  God bless you and pour out on you a Very Merry Christmas.

Belfast - Choices & Consequences

This past summer my wife and I made a long anticipated trip to Ireland, visiting both countries on the island - the UK province of Northern Ireland and the larger Republic of Ireland.

There was some concern if we would even be able to make the trip due to last-second cold feet by the management of my employer. Good blessings prevailed when they realized someone was going to have to pay for the trip cancellation and neither our trip insurance nor employer wished to cover the loss. Our blessings were multiplied with our daughter, son-in-law, and 4 month old (at that time) granddaughter staying with us for the week just before we left.

We arrived at the Belfast airport early on a Sunday morning, and within 20 minutes of landing we were in the taxi heading for town. Our taxi driver provided us with our first taste of the Irish way of conversing:
   - Us - “Are you from around here”? 
   - Driver – “No, I’m from a little town just north of here”
     (Note – less than 5 miles distant)

Being so early, our hotel room was not ready, so we had a second breakfast at the hotel (first was on the plane) and headed out to explore. The hotel is very close to the Titanic Quarter of town - the area where the offices and shipyards of the company that built the Titanic, Harland & Wolff, are located.

The Titanic Quarter includes an impressive, multi-story museum (as tall as the hull of the Titanic once stood) that tells the story of the lives that built the ship and the human side of the tragedy. But we didn’t spend too much time there because in the Titanic Quarter you can walk amongst and touch the actual offices, shipyard, dry-docks, and other buildings and vessels that were there when Titanic was designed, built, and set sail.


We took a historical, guided walking tour where we peered into the Harland & Wolff drawing rooms where the ship was designed and walked the length of the shipyard where her hull was built and first floated (at the time Titanic was built, Harland & Wolff was the largest shipyard in the world). We saw the massive dry-dock where Titanic and her two sister ships were finished. One of my highlights was touching the great iron dry-dock doors which had been submerged for most of the last century yet still sturdy and impressive today. And lastly I boarded the S.S. Nomadic – the actual tender that ferried passengers, including Margaret “Molly” Brown from the French port of Cherbourg to Titanic just four days before Titanic’s final night. Nomadic has been restored and looks just as she likely looked to the passengers on that spring day 102 years ago. She even sits in same dock where she was built. The restoration included in the 1st class Lounge, a Loo complete with a genuine Thomas Crapper working toilet. And “Yes”, it worked.

While the company which owned Titanic, White Star Line, was of English/American ownership and the crew that sailed the famous ship was nearly all of English nationality, Titanic was built in Ireland by the Irish. For many years Belfast did little to advertise its connection to the great ship – perhaps from shame, perhaps from shock, perhaps embarrassment. It was only after 70 or so years that Belfast seemed to acknowledge its role in the building of history’s most famous and tragic ship. And the building of the Titanic was a role the Irish took pride in. They say in Belfast, “She was fine when she left us.”

In many ways, the reluctance of the Irish for so many years to honor their role in the story of Titanic reminds me of the consequences we all face from decisions we make each day. Usually our poor choices directly lead to harmful, perhaps even tragic consequences. But more often, we are left wondering if the suffering we see around us or to us is from our own choices, or a cascade of many poor choices of which only a few are caused by us.

There are unintended consequences to choices we make. We have to live with that. But we also have to choose how we live with the consequences forced on us by others.

It is true that Titanic could’ve been built better. It is also true its crew could have sailed slower or taken a different course while sailing through high-risk weather and sea conditions. Which decision led most to the deaths of more than 1500 souls?

The Irish in Belfast have chosen to no longer hide from their past but to embrace the good in what they built. The Irish acknowledge that while the ship had flaws, the decisions and work completed in Belfast did not alone sink the Titanic – others made choices that had more significant and direct impact. They have acknowledged their past and have chosen not to bear the shame or guilt brought on by others.

I have made and likely will make decisions with unintended consequences. And I will also live with the consequences caused by the choices of others. My choice will be to acknowledge where I am wrong, seek mercy, and freely give mercy to others.