To start with: travelling by train in Switzerland is a pleasure. The routes often lead through beautiful landscapes, the connections are right and the service on the train and at the station is friendly. So I was all the sadder when I had to cancel my beloved GA, the general season ticket that allowed me to travel everywhere by train, bus, tram and boat, before our trip.
I admit, it's not worth it for a GA, one summer is just one summer and not a whole year. But day cards sometimes have to be. My first day ticket took me and my girlfriend - Gerd took his mum, aunt and uncle with him on a separate ride - right across Switzerland.
In the morning we set off in the direction of Thun. Here we let the typically Aare-green Aare rush past us. Enjoying espresso and café-freddo in the best "if-you're-travelling" weather. And look out over the snow-covered Alps of the Bernese Oberland. Spring at last! Because those at home have been eagerly awaiting it, spring. We, tanned as we winter refugees are, have kindly brought it with us.
"Where to now?" Yes, good question. A day pass like this is both a curse and a blessing: so much choice, so many options. By paddle steamer across Lake Thun to Spiez? Or by train to Zweisimmen for a panoramic trip to Montreux on the Golden Pass Express? Or over the Brüning to Lucerne?
We decide quickly, my dear friend thirsts for the French language (she phrases it a little differently, but I'd rather not reproduce that word for word here). And Lake Geneva. I still don't know any French, but Lake Geneva is always worth a visit. So it's an excellent destination for an excursion.
We are already on the train to Zweisimmen, shortly afterwards on the Golden Pass Express. And we get an unplanned surprise & present: every now and then, it's not the normal train that runs, but the Belle Epoque Edition carriages. "A setting worthy of the Orient Express, making the journey between Montreux and Zweisimmen a unique experience". (Quote Mob website: https://mob.ch/activity/goldenpass-belle-epoque/?lang=de)
We take a seat in our panoramic chairs, unpack our picnic and I my knitting needles and off we go over mountains, through gorges and valleys. Laughing, we remember a long ago hike in absolute fog right here in the area. Today the sun is shining, bathing the mountains in a magical light, and we are beaming like honey-cake horses.
Arriving in Montreux, we continue by boat. An hour on Lake Geneva, or as they say here: Lac Leman, hairdos tousled, heads lifted and hearts full of joy.
In Vevey - probably known to most only as the headquarters of Nestlé - we board the train again, which takes us comfortably along the sun-drenched vineyards back to Bern.
Did we have time to chat today? Oh yes, and how! Was it another "among friends" day? Oh yes, our, in this case my, friendship memory has become a little fuller again. Not full by a long shot, but fuller. Thank you, my dear, for this dream day.
Merci for "travelling with us
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Dear Heike,
What a dream trip I was allowed to be on here. And I was also with my dearest friend Freddy. Thank you 😊
I also particularly like the language, the way you write.
Kind regards from Erfurt
Sabine
Dear Sabine!
Yes, it really was a dream trip! Simply mega! And thank you for the compliment! I just love writing too ❣️
Best wishes!