Free time in Lucerne

 

Free time in Lucerne

 

Today we had some free time as we decided not to go on the optional excursions.  This meant that we got to sleep in (for once) and also gave us time to explore Lucerne on foot and revisit some places. As you can see from the photos it was a lovely sunny day in Lucerne and the first time in days that I haven't worn a beanie :)

 

 

A lot of the buildings are decorated in great detail - this building is in one of the squares in the old part of the city.

Another photo of the Chapel bridge - some of the bridge burnt down about 20 years ago and it has been restored to its former glory.

Last time we were in Lucerne, we walked along some of the old city wall. However, it was very icy and slippery so we didn't get to complete it. This time we walked along the entire length that is accessible to the public and saw all nine of the towers.

 

Two of the towers are currently undergoing restoration - this is tbe most westerly tower.

Often the towers are very close to existing buildings and a couple of them are on private property.

 

 

 

View from one of the most easterly towers looking back over Lake Lucerne towards Mt Rigi.

Now the challenge is to try and fit everything into our cases for the trip to London tomorrow xxx

 

Day 6 Innsbruck to Lucerne via Zurich

Day 6 Innsbruck to Lucerne via Zurich

Another cold early start to the day - loved Innsbruck and it is definitely on the bucket list for a return trip.  A little foggy as we left but turned into another bright clear day.  Lots of road tunnels on the journey with a side trek into Lichtenstein on the way through.  We saw lots of snow on trees - wunderbar :)

We stopped at lunch time to visit the Christmas markets in the Zurich railway station - love the Swarovski Christmas tree....

When we arrived we did a cruise on Lake Lucerne - again stunning scenery!

 

Then a trip to the Lion Monument which commemorates the members of the Swiss Guard who were killed in Paris during the French Revolution

Some photos of Lucerne at dusk and early evening

 

This was a giant Advent calendar in the windows of the building

 

Chapel Bridge - beautiful

We are looking forward to spending the day tomorrow roaming the streets of Lucerne and also visiting the towers along the old city wall.

 

 

Day 5 Munich to Innsbruck including Neuschwanstein Castle

 

Day 5 Munich to Innsbruck including Neuschwanstein Castle

Today we left Munich bright and early to travel to Innsbruck via Mad Ludwig's Castle (the one that the castle in Disneyland is modelled on. The weather was cold and foggy when we left Munich although the fog soon cleared and it was a bright sunny day with little wind.  It took about 90 minute to reach the village at the bottom of the hill. Some of the group went up to the castle in horse drawn carriages while others walked up.  The views were breathtaking and the castle interior was incredible (no photos allowed unfortunately)

.We travelled to Innsbruck this afternoon and arrived in time to have a quick walk through the city and also a visit to the Christmas markets :)

Day 4 Munich - Dachau Memorial Site

Day 4 Munich -Dachau Memorial site

It was with some trepidation that we set off for a tour of the Dachau memorial site.  Dachau is on the outskirts of Munich and during Hitler's time was a "model concentration labour camp" where a large number of prisoners were used as  slave labour for the German war effort.  Although mass killings did not take place there, the starvation rations  ensured that the sick and weak died in their thousands. Today little remains of the original camp and most of the buildings are reconstructions to show the conditions endured by the inmates.

It was a very cold morning but as I stood there in the cold, I couldn't imagine how the prisoners survived with  few clothes, one blanket and no heating  in the barracks!
http://gogermany.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=gogermany&cdn=travel&tm=28&gps=399_9_876_392&f=10&tt=11&bt=2&bts=2&zu=http%3A//www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/english.html

 Railway siding for arrivals - this used to be on the other side of the fence but was moved into the memorial site

 

Labour sets you free!

 

Looks bleak in winter - I cannot imagine how anyone survived this camp given the conditions

Day 3 Vienna to Salzburg and Munich

Day 3 Vienna to Salzburg and Munich

Day three saw us leave Vienna at 8 am for the trip to Munich via Salzburg. The weather was very cold and it was foggy for most of the trip to Salzburg which was disappointing. Salzburg was a very pretty city with a fortress perched high on the hill above the old part of town. Its main claim to fame was that the Sound of Music was filmed there in the 1960s.  After doing a walking tour of the city, we then went to the Christmas markets before spending another couple of hours in the coach driving to Munich.  A long day as we arrived in Munich about 8 pm :(

 

Vienna (again)

Vienna (again)

We enjoyed our couple of extra days in Vienna before joining our second trip - although it was not all plain sailing for me.  Unfortunately Monday night I had a severe case of food poisoning which has left me feeling washed out.  

Nevertheless, yesterday afternoon we joined our Trafalgar tour and went out for a welcome dinner (for me that was a bread roll and salad) before  being driven around the centre of the city to see all of the lights. :)

We had a chance to take a few more photos of Vienna including the Hofburg Palace:

St Stephan's Dom

Today we played I Spy

I spy with my little eye something beginning with s....

First there was the magnificent Schonbrunn Palace, home to the Hapsburgs until they backed the losing side during WW1 and the Austrian empire was disbanded.  Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos inside so here are a few from the exterior to give you a taste:

 

 

And the truly magnificent part of Schonbrunn Palace was squirrels :)  I have now seen red AND black squirrels and dare I say it they are cuter than the grey ones!