Frankfurt & Switzerland

Oh my, how I have been busy! I am writing this while in Rome; Roma--the eternal city, the city of seven hills ... and so on. Today is day 17 of our journey.

Frankfurt

We only had one night in Frankfurt, so similarly to our two hours in Belgium, we made it count by eating our way through our limited time in Germany.  Leaving Amsterdam, we travelled to Germany, making only a few pit stops on the way.  The day consisted of mostly travel, so when we got ot Frankfurt in the early evening hours, we were READY to eat and strech our legs once more.  Taking one of the trams into an older, preserved part of town--a part that survived the bombings in WWII--we ate at an authentic German restaurant.  It was replete with wood carvings, steins all over, stuffed and preserved animals, and locals. It gave me a feeling of nostalgia.  After our meal, we retired back to the hotel for one last drink and sleep at last.

Me in the older square in Frankfurt.

A glimpse of the decor in the restaurant.

Me and my liter of beer, as the Germans do.

 

The next morning we left for Switzerland.  On the way, we drove through the black forest and made several stops in the German and Swiss countryside.  Our first stop was in a small German town where we had lunch and the opportunity to climb a scenic hill in the black forest along side the highway.  It was incredibly fun! Of note, the town boasted of the largest cuckoo clock in ... somewhere.  Europe, I belive.

The top of the hill with a gazeebo that we climbed up to.

 

Me on top of the hill with the train and mountain in the background.

That famed largest cuckoo clock.

Our next stop was for scenic purposes only.  We stopped at the Rhine river falls in Switzerland on the way to our hotel in the sleepy town of Eggiwil (eggy-ville) outside of Lucerne, Switzerland.  The falls were goregeous, absolutely incredible! The water comes from glaciers--as well as flows through several other European contries-- and is quite cold, but crystal clear.  

The falls from below.

Right next to the falls.

Selfie-ing at the top of the falls.

  Switzerland

 After the Rhine River Falls, we had about a two hour drive to our small, boutique hotel in Eggiwil.  We had purchased some items at a grocery store soon after we left the falls in order to have something to eat for dinner, due to the late our of our arrival in such a small town.  Once at the small hotel--my room being at the top of many floors of winding staircases lugging my bags-- most of the group joined together outside to dine al fresco at the several outdoor tables and chairs just as the sun was setting.  Many people drank the wine and other spirits they had purchased, I did not because once again I am sick.  After eating my food and sharing a few laughs, I went to bed as the "party" went on without me.

The next morning we drove into Lucerne and saw some of the most beautiful things!!  I FINALLY, after staring at its image on pinterest for nearly two years, got to see the Lowendenkmal--the dying lion monument that was carved into the side of a mountain about two hundred years ago.

Me at Lowendenkmal.

They dying Lion.

After the dying lion monument, we went the the Kapelbruke--chapel bridge--which is a mideval bridge across a river leading into lake Lucerne.

Kapelbruke

Some of the original Mideval paintings from the bridge.

  Next, we had some free time and lunch before ... :;dun dun da daaaa::, taking a boat ride over lake Lucerne before hopping a VERY STEEP train railway up to the top of Mt. Pilatus.  Mt. Pilatus is so-named because it is said that Pontious Pilot was burried at the top, although it is not a confirmed fact.  On top of the mountain was STUNNING.  It was a whispy, semi-foggy day at the top.  When we first arrived off of the 44-48 degree incline railway, it was clear skies, but we could see some cloud cover rolling in.  After twenty minutes or so the fog cleared away and we were once again left with stunning views, so we climbed the back side of the mountain. INCREDIBLE. 

On the boat! Loving the view.

I was thinking that this was too pretty to be real.

On the train on the way up.

On one path on the edge.

Freaking out by the edge!

I'm in a cloud!

View from the back of the mountain.

Inside the mountain in the cave, looking out.

Chillin in a mountain.

LOVING THIS!!

Look mom! I'm on the edge with no guardrail!

 

  As you can see, I had a great time.  That night in our hotel was similar to the first.  The next day we departed bright and early for Italia!!

More later!

Cheers! -T