Love those fall colors! Wish we had larch trees here in Colorado, but a bit too dry I guess. We are having a blast of true winter weather now, which I presume you know. Safe travels and thanks for the TR.

Hi Nelson -

Arrived in Denver late Saturday night, spent the night in an area hotel and then drove back home yesterday. That blast of winter hit us in the face the minute we stepped off Light Rail and walked to our car - that wind was fierce, felt a bit under dressed!

We're back home now - 18 F here this morning when we jumped out of bed at 3:50 am. Let the jet lag begin.

It's been snowing here at 8,500 feet all morning.

'View from bus to Samnaun', refers to a photo taken from the bus on the way to Samnaun".

neckervd - gotcha.

Fantastic photos again, Mel. You really lucked out with the weather in Scuol! And the timing for the golden larch trees was perfect.

I'd argue that there is no "capuned out" at all. Never. ;-) (this plate looks yummy, of course)

Malans ... yes, the whole area north of Chur, called "Bündner Herrschaft" is well worth exploring for a couple of days. Fall would be excellent - it's a wine region! Just be aware that Maienfeld is overrun with tours hunting for Heidi's cabin - but you can easily avoid those. As I mentioned in a different thread, a few kilometres away are the famous spa town Bad Ragaz, with Tamina gorge and historic spa Bad Pfäfers (a splurge for a day in the public spa in Bad Ragaz would be a nice treat), Sargans with castle and cute Werdenberg with medieval wooden houses and small castle. You can easily day trip into Prättigau valley and the beautiful side valleys (St. Antönien!) and hike there or above Bad Ragaz (gondolas). Lake Walensee with car-free Quinten would be another highly recommended excursion.

Oh dear. I'm barely home and you've already got me thinking about next time:)

So Mel, where is 'next time'? Can we start preparing to read your next trip report?

So glad you had such a good trip. For people like us - love travelling but can no longer do the long haul flights and jump on and off trains - it's almost as good as being away with you. Thanks again for your interesting stories and fabulous photos.

Why thank you marg. The long haul flights are definitely a PITA but less so than when we lived in your neck of the woods. Don't get me started on the airlines.

Next time is Germany and Austria in about six weeks. I'm taking my 19 year old niece. Then possibly Portugal and Spain in Feb/March (assuming I can get my s*** together and plan it).

As for Switzerland....we really enjoyed visiting in October, even with the bugs and school holidays, so maybe same time next year. We shall see.

DUESSELDORF - SCUOL BY OVERNIGHT TRAIN Duesseldorf - Innsbruck
2 berth sleeping car cabin with washbasin, plus breakfast for 2 pax: 280 EUR
Duesseldorf dp 20.54 - Innsbruck ar 9.14, dp 9.48 - Landeck 10.31/10.55 - Martina - Scuol posta ar 12.23
Timetable valid until Oct 25th 2020
SCUOL - DUESSELDORF - BY OVERNIGHT TRAIN Innsbruck - Duesseldorf
Scuol dp 17.30 - Innsbruck dp 20.44 - Duesseldorf ar 8.42

Yes, the trip is over, but not the TR. Will try to finish the last bits today.

Adelaidean - if there's a will neckervd will find a way! If he's willing, I think I'll consult him before my next trip to Switzerland - it will no doubt make for a much more efficient trip.

And I need to pick your brains about Italy at some point.

May be you are interested to hear how I would have gone from Scuol to Erlenbach ZH:
Scuol-Tarasp dp 9.41 - Landquart ar 11.10, change to track 3, dp 11.25 - Ziegelbrücke ar 11.58, change to the Rapperswil bound train waiting at the same platform, dp 12.02 - Rapperswil ar 12.27, 300 meter walk to the boat's pier, drink or small lunch at the open terrace of Restaurant La Scala just in front of the harbour, dp by Lake Zürich boat (with board restaurant) at 13.30 - Erlenbach ar 14.52.

neckervd - I figured you'd have a better way. Would you have done that with luggage?

October 25 –

We’d turned the heat down as far as possible and slept with the windows open so we could hear the waterfall; and so we could breathe. Over-heated accommodation seems to be a recurring theme in Switzerland.

Best shower of the trip! The apartment had no window coverings, we felt a bit exposed. No neighbors nearby, but a car did pull in during the night and light the place up, so the driver might have gotten an eyeful.

After some research, we bought a 9 zone day pass via the SBB app – 43.60 CHF for two, half fare. It covered all we planned to do, but did not extend as far as Zurich; we had little interest in Zurich and doubted we had time anyway.

We walked to a promising bakery that I’d noticed the night before; it was full, a good sign, but there was no place to sit, so we retreated to the bakery by the station, which was deserted (and for good reason); two mediocre coffees, an eclair and a cheese Brioche that sat in my stomach like lead, 16.40 CHF.

Then it was off to explore “the town of roses” on the upper end of Lake Zurich. We caught a train to Meilen and then connected to a train to Rapperswil. Grapevines dotted the hillside to our left, the leaves a mix of green and yellow, very pretty.

We’d considered staying in Rapperswil; getting to the airport would have meant an extra train change and a longer journey. But, if I had it to do over again, that’s exactly what I’d do.

A Friday Market was taking place on the main square – vendors selling food, locals shopping, kids playing.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...71b27fccce.jpg
Rapperswil
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...fe8b0db6a7.jpg
Rapperswil

We poked through the medieval old town, walked up to the castle, wandered through the cemetery, and took in the slightly obscured views across the lake. What a gorgeous place. We wanted to visit the church, but people were clustered around the entrance for what we suspected was a funeral (the church bells were going nuts).

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b6e7d3497b.jpg
Rapperswil
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8bf59fbe37.jpg
Raperswill

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...632b34f2fc.jpg
Rapperswil

We walked alongside the lake, watched the swans, and having stumbled upon the Information office, popped in for help in locating the wooden bridge, which we then walked across (Switzerland’s longest wooden bridge).
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...74a153a246.jpg
Rapperswil

I’d consulted Google that morning to see if Rapperswil had any Indian restaurants; I found one. We eventually located the House of Spice, where we both ordered their Mittag Thali, very good, although lacking a bit on chili – 50 CHF with a beer and mineral water.

I’d have liked to spend more time in Rapperswil, but we were due in Bilten for the Läderach Schoggi Erlebnis at 3:30; we were on a schedule, so back to the Bahnhof.

We took two more trains (our first experience with the Voralpen-Express) and a bus, finally deposited in the industrial town of Bilten, where we then walked eight minutes to the Läderach factory, arriving 30 minutes before the tour, a hazard of public transport.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f9eee3a376.jpg

A hassle? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Why, yes, yes I would.

Our tour guide Daniel was great, a wealth of knowledge; the rambunctious youngsters on the tour not-so-much. And of course there were samples – warm chocolate by the spoonful. Wunderbar.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5edd017612.jpg

We also had the opportunity to purchase bulk sized bags of what I suspect were factory seconds. I was more than happy to oblige.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a870a5be51.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b85e836d28.jpg

I think we’ve now covered most of the chocolate tours in Switzerland – Lindt, Cailler, Läderach. If I’ve missed any, please let me know!

Then we backtracked – taking one bus and four trains back to Erlenbach. It’d been a long day, some 10 hours.

And then this – an email from my nemesis, United, advising they’d changed aircraft and therefore our carefully selected seats, booked six months prior, had changed. We were now seated in different rows, me in the dreaded middle seat. We did some checking, the aircraft hadn’t changed. What the?

October 26 –

We were up with the birds, hoping to get to the airport early enough to sort out the seating issue; the day as gloomy as our moods.

Overnight United had sent each of us five more e-mails, each one advising of a different flight departure time – due to a mechanical related delay on the incoming plane. We’d been given five different departure times. Here we go again.

The latest e-mail showed a delay of over two hours. I didn’t trust that they wouldn’t change it again, so we stuck to our original plan and left for the airport early.

We caught a train to Zurich Airport, 4.40 CHF each, half fare, 31 minute journey, arriving several hours before our flight.

Many other passengers had done the same; the agents were scrambling to re-route those who would miss their connecting flights due to the delay; and to add insult to injury the baggage conveyor belt was broken; these folks were in for a chaotic day.

Our check-in agent was a gem; very patient and helpful. She managed to get us seated together, no middle seat! It took her some 40 minutes and the help of a supervisor, but we were more than willing to wait. She told us her job was never dull, as every day was different. I’ll bet.

Evidently, when our departing flight from Denver was delayed and we were put on an earlier flight, our single flight reservation had been divided into two separate booking numbers, not linking us to one another. The aircraft had been changed, and then changed back to the original aircraft. The agent seemed as baffled as we were.

But, all’s well that ends well.

Our very early arrival paid off. And gave us over three hours to spend in the posh Swiss Lounge – hot food made to order, a full bar, canisters of Swiss chocolate and gummy bears, and a Whisky Club. Oh my.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e35f655514.jpg
Swiss lounge
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7ca3077e56.jpg
Swiss lounge
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3898556d7f.jpg
Swiss lounge
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...83b4369df8.jpg
Swiss lounge

Despite the pre-flight angst on both ends of the trip, the flights went well (and the flight from Zurich to Dulles wasn’t full, so the seat change was even more of a mystery). We had plenty of time to make our connection in Dulles, and we arrived in Denver exhausted, but intact.

We spent the night in a hotel near Denver International Airport, waking to ice, snow and temps of 24 F the next morning.

A lazy morning, a chile relleno fix, and a two hour drive later we were home. Minutes before an ice storm hit. Good timing…for a change.

----------------------------------

"neckervd - I figured you'd have a better way. Would you have done that with luggage?"

Of course: the distance at Landquart would have been exactly the same whereas the few steps at Ziegelbruecke and Rapperswil would have been easier and shorter than the walk from track 8 to track 44 at Zurich main station

"I think we’ve now covered most of the chocolate tours in Switzerland – Lindt, Cailler, Läderach. If I’ve missed any, please let me know"!

https://chezcamillebloch.ch/en/

https://funkychocolateclub.com/

I was more concerned with the "drink or small lunch at the open terrace of Restaurant La Scala just in front of the harbour, dp by Lake Zürich boat". You've piqued my curiosity though and I'm going to see how much that would have cost vs our Super Saver ticket. It would have increased the uphill walk to the apartment somewhat (as the boat dock is at the bottom of the hill). but definitely food for thought.

Oh no....Camille Bloch. I love their liqueur filled chocolate bars. I don't see any tours offered in English, unfortunately.

Haven't heard of Funky Chocolate - must investigate.

Thank you neckervd.

" It would have increased the uphill walk to the apartment somewhat (as the boat dock is at the bottom of the hill) "

I suppose you know that there is a kind of "Citybus" from the railway station all along the Forchstrasse to Kappelistrasse, Waldstrasse, Balpweg/Chapfstrasse and Trottgatter. You could have taken the bus leaving Erlenbach Bahnhof at 14.33.

neckervd -

You have the advantage of being local and knowing these things, we don't.

We just checked the routing again via both the SBB app and the online version and neither one gave us the options you provided, even when we tried to incorporate an intermediate stop. The SBB app doesn't even provide a 'via' option. It's just not that straightforward for visitors who don't have your extensive knowledge.

We didn't know there was a boat dock at Erlenbach until we walked down to it.

I've just crunched the numbers on the train/bus transport.

We spent 377.70 CHF each in transportation at half fare. With the cost of the Half Fare Card (120 CHF) we each spent a total of 497 CHF in transportation.

Subtract the cost of the Half Fare Card (120 CHF each) and you can see that we more than broke even, with a savings of 257.70 CHF each.

Which apartment are you referring to Adelaidean?

Adelaidean -

It's on Tru Sura (of which there are two branches, one above, one below, the apartment was on the upper branch).

Before we booked, we asked for the address and found it on Google maps. I'd be happy to send you the address if you'd like. It's below the main road. We were afraid noise from the road would be a problem, but no issues with the windows closed. Not sure if that would be the case in summer as I personally would need the windows open all the time.

Fabulous trip and fabulous report. There were so many wonderful places you were able to experience. Thank you for writing and sharing your time there with us.

Thank you Trophywife!

no cardiac arrest getting the milk

I hear you. I seem incapable of booking places that are easy:)

Against my better judgement I just added up the grocery store receipts from our self-catering, on the off chance it helps future visitors with budgeting - 459 CHF.

That covered about 20 days of cooked breakfasts (of the remaining five days, three were spent in a hotel which included breakfast and the last two in Erlenbach we didn't bother to cook breakfast), almost as many make-shift dinners, and of course assorted beer, wine, Prosecco, snacks, gummy bears and chocolate; about 21 CHF per day.