Part I

The problem with writing these entries, after a long time not writing, is that there’s too much to explain. Because of my overmagnifying, OCD/ADHD brain, I think for you to get a really good picture of what I’m talking about, I would need to explain several truths that have been a lifetime in the making. One, besides the nature of my distractable and yet sometimes hyper focussed brain, is the nature of my marriage. It’s an example of co-dependence in which I am very aware I rely too much on my husband when it comes to planning things. He likes to plan! Why not let him be happy? But then I end up following him around like a lost sheep. What we do next, Popi? Me hungry Popi. Me tired. How much longer we going to walk, Mr. Jim?

Another thing is our tendency to be interested in things that probably only old people would find interesting. Thus the reliance on Rick Steve’s travel itineraries. But he has some great ideas! I like them!

Also, the fact that I’m sober today. It is not easy refraining from drinking alcohol when you know you will probably never be in Switzerland again in your life, or anywhere else for that matter when you travel far.

But a number of these factors led to some funny things, things that are at least funny to me. And I want you to laugh at them, at me, at us. Because they’re funny! Or so I think. So instead of telling you every watch shop or cow we saw in Switzerland, I will focus on the funny things and events that led to maybe some self discoveries.

So we got off the plane in Zurich’s lovely airport at about 3 pm on a beautiful Saturday. Our plan was to take a train first to Lucerne, a medieval town to the south in what is still German speaking Switzerland. (We did not go to French speaking Switzerland for reasons of planning so if you thought you were going to hear about the cheese making, you’re out of luck.)

We took a few trains from Zurich to get to Lucerne, south about two hours away. I don’t remember much of this because I was tired, disoriented, and focussed on lugging my suitcase and backpack up and down escalators and stairs on the trains. Because of Jim’s good planning, we got on the right trains and carriages. I had no idea where I was going. I realized this must change. I knew the plan but, left to my own devices, I would have gotten lost.

Lucerne is a beautiful town, most of its charm and medieval buildings preserved due to its neutrality during WWII–they didn’t get bombed. (While travelling, I read most of a book called Swiss Watching by Diccon Bewes. The book is already a little dated, but explains a lot about the culture(s) of Switzerland, a land where at least three languages (French, German, and Italian) are spoken.) We arrived at the train station, found the exit, and lugged our stuff to Hotel Goldener Stern not too far away, passing the main attraction of the town on our way–the rebuilt medieval bridge, thatched like a tiki hut.

I’ll stop here for today because this is getting boring and rote. I will complete Part II of What is there to do in Lucerne? next, and hopefully get to some chuckles.