Luzern

My second destination on my Swiss adventure was the beautiful Lucerne, located south of Zurich and sprawling grandly around a dazzling blue lake surrounded by the hazy Alps.

Within seconds of exiting the bustling train station, I fell madly in love with the charming city and stunning lake and mountains surrounding it. I was speechless as I took in the sprawling blue water, silhouetted peaks, and inviting metropolis. After spending a few awe-stricken moments gaping at the scene in front of me, I navigated the local public transport system and heaved my heavy backpack onto the next bus to my hostel.

Hostels are pretty much a hit or miss situation for us backpackers on the road, and mine in Lucerne was luckily (mostly) a hit. Located less than 10 minutes from the main downtown/lake area by bus, and filled with kind Swiss receptionists, working wifi and a free breakfast buffet each morning, there wasn't much I could complain about. After dumping my stuff in the 20-women dorm room I would be staying in for the next 2 nights, I set off to explore the city.

My first reaction to Lucerne had indeed not been an overreaction. With every turn I took down an unknown alley I found cute shops and cobblestone streets, delicious ice cream stands, and people from all over the world strolling through the streets. A river flows through the middle of the city, lined with chic restaurants and fancy hotels, and filled with dozens of pure white swans, who swim around and wait eagerly for tourists to throw them spare food. An old bridge runs across part of the river, and hundreds of tourists flock across it to snap pictures of the ancient paintings and engravings inside.

I eventually wound up down by the lake, where I always feel at home, and enjoyed a refreshing swim in the clear blue water as the sun beat down in intense heat. Since arriving in Switzerland it has been consistently hot and sunny, and swimming in the natural bodies of water has become a sought out activity each day. (The heat did, however, make sleeping in a stuffy dorm room with 19 other women quite an experience and leading to some very restless nights in the hostel). I was in complete awe as I swam in Lake Lucerne, submerging myself in the cool water with the alps surrounding me on almost every side. People strolled by the lakeside, enjoying evening picnics and drinks with friends, adorably dressed Swiss children running around in the setting sun, and everyone thoroughly content in the moment. As I mentioned in my last blogpost, the Swiss definitely know how to relax and enjoy life.

The rest of my time in Lucerne flew by far too quickly. I enjoyed bar hopping and exploring the city by bike one night with a local guy that I met, exploring old parts of the city as well as the hip newer areas where young people gather to socialize in the evenings. I ate too many caprese sandwiches than probably is healthy, swam often in the lake, and even ventured out to a nearby town, where I got extremely lost but made my time worthwhile after seeing the breathtaking view from a cable car ride up into the Alps. Every minute I was happier than the last, and I have found that Switzerland is very quickly becoming one of my favorite countries in the world. I am already in love with the simplicity and cleanliness that seems to be consistent among all things Swiss- whether it is city buildings, trendy apartments, mountain homes, or even the way the people (men, women and children alike) dress. It all seems so intentional, and I appreciate how much pride the people of Switzerland seem to take in the appearance of things. It certainly makes exploring the lovely country easy on the eyes.

After a fun filled and memorable couple of days in Switzerland's city of lights, I bid the delightful city farewell and took the now familiar Swiss train to the smaller, but no less beautiful, city of Interlaken.

More posts about that to come soon. Meanwhile, I will be sleeping while all of you on the other side of the world continue on with your busy days. Enjoy life, everyone, and thank you for reading!