Travels with a new friend – Stogan Stories

Switzerland is expensive. Like image a thing, say, a bottle of water, now imagine a crazy expensive cost for that thing, say, $5. Now double it. That’s Switzerland in a nutshell. It’s a beautiful place, but I don’t understand how anyone can afford to live there. That said, there comes a point where, if you’re going to spend time there, you need to just buy what you need and not look at the numbers.

After my failed attempt to go for the gold, I took the train to Basel to reunite with an old friend – Miranda. Basel was… sleepy and German – Unsurprisingly.

Many shops were closed, but that could have been because we are traveling in low season and also on a Sunday. Needless to say, we spent the day walking the old town, eating in a gift shop and pining for the upcoming Christmas market. We came, we saw, we left.

The gift shop where we had first dinner.

The creative presentation for second dinner.

The obligatory local craft beer tasting.

And Hippy Santa blowing bubbles with his dogs, just because.

Our next stop was Lucern and Mount Pilatus with its extremely long cable car and amazing views at 2000m height. I’d read about its famous cogwheel train before leaving Canada, but sadly, it was closed for the season.

The aforementioned cable car – about 40 mins to the 2000m high Mount Pilatus

We also had time to see some sights closer to see level…

Accidentally went the wrong way on the bus and cried with a lion.

We took photos on a cool medieval bridge!

We took photos of taking photos of a cool medieval bridge!

We took a funicular to a fancy hotel and drank free water!

We went to a Christmas market and took photos!

We found a mug to add to our cottage collection!

And we met a new friend. We were introduced at the Christmas market and clicked instantly. We decided that we should travel together for the rest of the trip!

Don’t be so quick to judge her. She’s air dried, smoked and has a colourful character. We’ve been making special accommodations for her to travel with us and I can’t wait to introduce her to some lucky folks back home!

Sue likes to play hide and seek! So cheeky!

We all travelled together to Chur so that we could catch the Bernina Express – a train that goes over the top of the Alps!

Our hotel was a prison until 2020, but obviously some of it dates much further back!

There was an escape attempt while we were there!

It was quite empty due to it being low season.

We came across what we thought was a few friends putting on concert in a park.

But later discovered that they use these horns to keep dogs away.

We promptly left the dog haters in Chur on a scenic train!

I used the AR to augment the train experience with Miranda.

The train went overtop of the alps which made for beautiful scenery.

Someone almost got left behind… for serious!

It was a ride filled with ups and down and twirly whirlies. Very cool!

And the much anticipated free lunch in Italy did not disappoint!

You heard that right, free lunch! Switzerland was / is VERY expensive. I didn’t give you the play by play but our final purchase, two small bottles of water and a coffee was $30. THIRTY. Needless to say the free lunch in Tirano was both appreciated and very welcome! It also wasn’t a giant sausage, which seems to be the most common meal in Germany and Switzerland. I was happy for the change.

Anyways, onwards and upwards! Miranda, Sue and I are looking forward enjoying much pizza and Italian! Bene!

Ciao for now!

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