Not Brunnen, Maybe Montreux, Maybe Lindau
Oct 13th, 2021, 10:22 PM
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Not Brunnen, Maybe Montreux, Maybe Lindau
What is that old saying? Man plans and God laughs.
I was supposed to be in Brunnen, on Lake Lucerne, today, Thursday, 14 October. I should have left my home on Tuesday to spend three nights enjoying the lake (Have I mentioned that I am an Alpine lake addict? I admit it.), comparing it to Lake Thun, and seeing old friends who live nearby. Instead, I am at home feeding my cat, jumping on the trampoline, and avoiding using the vacuum until necessary. What happened? Gee . . . Old age? Pandemic languishing? Plain old bad luck?
In 2018 I got food poisoning from a sad old sandwich sold in a bakery in Saanen, Switzerland; it left me vomiting and weak and unable to eat normally for about a week. Last May, I had an inner-ear infection that left me vomiting endlessly, weak, and unable to eat normally for about a week. I had to have a doctor come to the house and give me a shot at about midnight to stop the dry heaves. I can barely tell the two maladies apart, except for the length of time I was on my knees retching my guts out.
On Wednesday 6 Oct, I made an artichoke and parmesan gazette, which included eggs, and Thursday morning I was experiencing either food poisoning or an inner-ear infection – take your pick. Luckily I had some anti-nausea suppositories on hand as a result of the episode in May, but I literally could not stand up to walk to the cabinet to get them until past noon. Anyway. My stomach started to calm down Thursday afternoon, but I could only sip water and eat
These are from my balcony in Garmisch; they are not connected to this trip report. But if you got through my sad tale, you deserve to see something pretty.
teaspoons of yogurt for the rest of the day. The next day I advanced to cups of yogurt, but it took another day before I could eat solid food.
I wanted to cancel the whole trip. I wanted to curl up amidst my fluffy comforter on my cozy bed and stay there and eat. I thought and thought and thought about it. But because of my nephew’s projected two visits to Germany in 2022, I would not be able to get to Switzerland again until 2023, and I knew I would be almost grieving if I missed Montreux. So I cancelled only the first part of the trip, Brunnen, and left the rest, which is Montreux 15-27 Oct, and Lindau 27-30 Oct.
Suitcases. In the golden age of travel (which is a period you can define for yourself, and, yes, you can change its definition…), I could send my suitcase between Germany and Switzerland by rail. I would sign up and pay about 20€ at the Garmisch station, Hermes would collect the suitcase from my home, and five days later, I would collect it at the Swiss station. Easy peasy. Then the rates rose….. 40€. Then 50€. Still worth it. Then it was cancelled. Whaaaaa?? Seriously. The SBB and DB luggage pages urge you to use the German package service, DHL, as a substitute. Whatever. I’ll try it.
I told my host that I would be sending my suitcase through the mail and that it would take about five working days to arrive; he asked me to send it on Thursday or Friday, which would be more convenient for him. I had intended to carry a small case to Brunnen, the first stop, so I would have enough clothes on hand if the suitcase were delayed by a day or two, so no problem. As it happened, of course, I could not walk across the room on Thursday and could barely walk upright on Friday. So I sent the suitcase on Saturday, thinking five working days would get it to the apartment on the same day as my arrival there.
It is not great. I packed my stuff into a small, light duffel and went to a DHL office. The very sweet counter agent told me that it weighed 8 kilos and would cost 67€! She noted that it would be half that if it were a box to Switzerland, or half that to send the case within Germany. But sending a suitcase out of the EU incurred huge costs. Gee, wish they’d given a tip like that on the SBB/DB luggage pages. Nevertheless. I was too weak to run around scrounging boxes and tape, and I knew I would be very unhappy hauling a full-weight bag on the train (especially if this illness still lingered in my belly), so I just murmured, “yeah, no problem.” Then I went home to sleep some more.
So, I’m supposed to board my train at 08.00 tomorrow, Friday, and after changing in Innsbruck, Zürich, and Lausanne, should arrive in Montreux at 17.20. The trip wouldn’t necessarily be that long normally, but I add extra time for each change because trains can be 10 minutes late, and I really dislike running through train stations hauling even a light bag up and down stairs. So I’ll have 25 minutes in Innsbruck, 1h12 in Zürich (enough time to get some cash and food), and 15 minutes in Lausanne.
Well. We’ll see.
I was supposed to be in Brunnen, on Lake Lucerne, today, Thursday, 14 October. I should have left my home on Tuesday to spend three nights enjoying the lake (Have I mentioned that I am an Alpine lake addict? I admit it.), comparing it to Lake Thun, and seeing old friends who live nearby. Instead, I am at home feeding my cat, jumping on the trampoline, and avoiding using the vacuum until necessary. What happened? Gee . . . Old age? Pandemic languishing? Plain old bad luck?
In 2018 I got food poisoning from a sad old sandwich sold in a bakery in Saanen, Switzerland; it left me vomiting and weak and unable to eat normally for about a week. Last May, I had an inner-ear infection that left me vomiting endlessly, weak, and unable to eat normally for about a week. I had to have a doctor come to the house and give me a shot at about midnight to stop the dry heaves. I can barely tell the two maladies apart, except for the length of time I was on my knees retching my guts out.
On Wednesday 6 Oct, I made an artichoke and parmesan gazette, which included eggs, and Thursday morning I was experiencing either food poisoning or an inner-ear infection – take your pick. Luckily I had some anti-nausea suppositories on hand as a result of the episode in May, but I literally could not stand up to walk to the cabinet to get them until past noon. Anyway. My stomach started to calm down Thursday afternoon, but I could only sip water and eat
These are from my balcony in Garmisch; they are not connected to this trip report. But if you got through my sad tale, you deserve to see something pretty.
teaspoons of yogurt for the rest of the day. The next day I advanced to cups of yogurt, but it took another day before I could eat solid food.
I wanted to cancel the whole trip. I wanted to curl up amidst my fluffy comforter on my cozy bed and stay there and eat. I thought and thought and thought about it. But because of my nephew’s projected two visits to Germany in 2022, I would not be able to get to Switzerland again until 2023, and I knew I would be almost grieving if I missed Montreux. So I cancelled only the first part of the trip, Brunnen, and left the rest, which is Montreux 15-27 Oct, and Lindau 27-30 Oct.
Suitcases. In the golden age of travel (which is a period you can define for yourself, and, yes, you can change its definition…), I could send my suitcase between Germany and Switzerland by rail. I would sign up and pay about 20€ at the Garmisch station, Hermes would collect the suitcase from my home, and five days later, I would collect it at the Swiss station. Easy peasy. Then the rates rose….. 40€. Then 50€. Still worth it. Then it was cancelled. Whaaaaa?? Seriously. The SBB and DB luggage pages urge you to use the German package service, DHL, as a substitute. Whatever. I’ll try it.
I told my host that I would be sending my suitcase through the mail and that it would take about five working days to arrive; he asked me to send it on Thursday or Friday, which would be more convenient for him. I had intended to carry a small case to Brunnen, the first stop, so I would have enough clothes on hand if the suitcase were delayed by a day or two, so no problem. As it happened, of course, I could not walk across the room on Thursday and could barely walk upright on Friday. So I sent the suitcase on Saturday, thinking five working days would get it to the apartment on the same day as my arrival there.
It is not great. I packed my stuff into a small, light duffel and went to a DHL office. The very sweet counter agent told me that it weighed 8 kilos and would cost 67€! She noted that it would be half that if it were a box to Switzerland, or half that to send the case within Germany. But sending a suitcase out of the EU incurred huge costs. Gee, wish they’d given a tip like that on the SBB/DB luggage pages. Nevertheless. I was too weak to run around scrounging boxes and tape, and I knew I would be very unhappy hauling a full-weight bag on the train (especially if this illness still lingered in my belly), so I just murmured, “yeah, no problem.” Then I went home to sleep some more.
So, I’m supposed to board my train at 08.00 tomorrow, Friday, and after changing in Innsbruck, Zürich, and Lausanne, should arrive in Montreux at 17.20. The trip wouldn’t necessarily be that long normally, but I add extra time for each change because trains can be 10 minutes late, and I really dislike running through train stations hauling even a light bag up and down stairs. So I’ll have 25 minutes in Innsbruck, 1h12 in Zürich (enough time to get some cash and food), and 15 minutes in Lausanne.
Well. We’ll see.
Oct 13th, 2021, 11:09 PM
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Originally Posted by swandav2000
Hi kleeblatt!
Nice to see you! Of course! It's cold here in Garmisch, too!
s
Nice to see you! Of course! It's cold here in Garmisch, too!
s
Visp right now, where I will change to the train to Vevey. Weather looks a bit iffy next week so I am doing a clutch of day trips — Vevey, Murten, Bad Ragaz — in a row instead of spreading them out.
Oct 14th, 2021, 09:15 PM
#11
Oh swandav, what a start to a trip. I hope you recover quickly and have a wonderful well deserved stay in Switzerland.
It's cold here in the Engadine - 18 F when we set out on the Wasserweg yesterday. Cold and windy at the top. Were it not for the effort involved in climbing that endless hill and the eventual appearance of the sun we'd have frozen our bits off.
It's cold here in the Engadine - 18 F when we set out on the Wasserweg yesterday. Cold and windy at the top. Were it not for the effort involved in climbing that endless hill and the eventual appearance of the sun we'd have frozen our bits off.
Oct 15th, 2021, 10:07 AM
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Thanks so much, nonconformist2!
Hi Mel, and thanks! Is that a dash or a minus sign? Yes, it was about 7 C when I left Garmisch this morning, but it's HOT here in Montreux, just about 17 C. It's always warm/ish in Montreux.
s
Hi Mel, and thanks! Is that a dash or a minus sign? Yes, it was about 7 C when I left Garmisch this morning, but it's HOT here in Montreux, just about 17 C. It's always warm/ish in Montreux.
s
Oct 15th, 2021, 10:13 AM
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Well. Made it to Montreux. Now I remember why I don’t like 9-hour-long train rides.
In the future, I’ll be sure to include a nice Alpine lake stop enroute to break up the trip—and must remember not to get sick before the trip!
Everything went smoothly, and none of the trains were late. I arrived and splurged on a taxi to the apartment I’m renting, then I called the host, and he arrived to let me in within about five minutes.
I am following the progress of my suitcase on my DHL app. I sent the case last Saturday, and I was surprised to see that it was already in Zürich on Monday. And it’s still there. It has been sitting in Zurich for five working days….
But here are some photos from the train…
Leaving Garmisch
Countryside between Garmisch and Mittenwald
Mittenwald
I know it looks like mush... but it was delicious spinach spätzle with cheese sauce.
I adore train stations, and the underground shopping and dining. This is Zütich main station. Looks like Dunkin Donuts isn't pulling customers
Pulling into Bern
Can you see the hot-air balloon up there? Outside of Fribourg.
Hot-air again
First glimpse of the lake.
View from the apartment
In the future, I’ll be sure to include a nice Alpine lake stop enroute to break up the trip—and must remember not to get sick before the trip!
Everything went smoothly, and none of the trains were late. I arrived and splurged on a taxi to the apartment I’m renting, then I called the host, and he arrived to let me in within about five minutes.
I am following the progress of my suitcase on my DHL app. I sent the case last Saturday, and I was surprised to see that it was already in Zürich on Monday. And it’s still there. It has been sitting in Zurich for five working days….
But here are some photos from the train…
Leaving Garmisch
Countryside between Garmisch and Mittenwald
Mittenwald
I know it looks like mush... but it was delicious spinach spätzle with cheese sauce.
I adore train stations, and the underground shopping and dining. This is Zütich main station. Looks like Dunkin Donuts isn't pulling customers
Pulling into Bern
Can you see the hot-air balloon up there? Outside of Fribourg.
Hot-air again
First glimpse of the lake.
View from the apartment
Oct 15th, 2021, 07:54 PM
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Oh right Melnq8! That would be instant death....!
Adelaidean, I used to do that long ride so easily! And of course I used to also have to take an overnight plane, then a train. I've gotten soft. Do not envy you your own epic journeys to get to CH!
Thank you annh! I am eager to wander along the lake!
s
Adelaidean, I used to do that long ride so easily! And of course I used to also have to take an overnight plane, then a train. I've gotten soft. Do not envy you your own epic journeys to get to CH!
Thank you annh! I am eager to wander along the lake!
s
Oct 16th, 2021, 05:35 AM
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I’m not really happy with this apartment, despite the views. Before I rented, I asked about getting the Riviera Card (which makes all transport free between Villeneuve – Montreux – Glion – Vevey), and the host said he’d ask about it at the Tourism Office. So I booked it. But when I arrived, he said it was too much paperwork to provide the Card, so I wouldn’t get it…. even though he was charging me the 10% city tax that funds the card. I was furious, but unwilling to try to find other accommodation at that point. I will make a note on the review at booking dot com.
So my first priority this morning was to get transportation. I spent a few hours Friday evening and this morning googling options, and decided to get the VMCV Card (local bus network is VMCV), which one can load up and use to pay fares. But it’s not sold anywhere near me. So it was a wonderful walk next to the lake to the Forum, where I bought the Card. Then I hung out and hung around and decided to go up to the Old Town for lunch. I normally spend a day in the Old Town and Glion, but I hadn’t intended to do that today. But no other restaurant appealed, so UP it was. I also learned this morning that my favorite restaurant in Glion, Le Jaman, changed owners in Nov 2018, and that has quenched my desire for Glion (it seems far more gentrified than its former life as a rustic and bare Pinte).
I had fondue at the amazing Restaurant du Pont. The last time I was here, I had fondue about a gazillion times, searching for the best fondue, yet each one not quite perfect. This time, I hit spectacular right off the bat. Yayay.
Afterward, I walked back down, went grocery shopping, and the bus home. Walked about 6 km but felt like a marathon.
One note. I had coffee at Zurcher confiserie and lunch at the du Pont – both scanned my German Covid vaccination app before allowing entry, and both were happy.
I’m going to post the photos in two batches, one for the lake and one for the Old Town. Just too many.
Leaving the apartment building
Heading down to the lake
Looking back to the apartment
Every time I'm at the lake, every time, it stops me in my tracks and makes me happy.
Little dock at Territet
My cool sister and her cool friends used to hang out here. In 1968, it was a kiosk that sold cigarettes. Peter Stylvesants. I always tagged along, poor Lisa.
I don't know when they started with booths along the lake outside of the Christmas market
Outside of the Forum
Montreux -- Belle Epoque meets modernism
So my first priority this morning was to get transportation. I spent a few hours Friday evening and this morning googling options, and decided to get the VMCV Card (local bus network is VMCV), which one can load up and use to pay fares. But it’s not sold anywhere near me. So it was a wonderful walk next to the lake to the Forum, where I bought the Card. Then I hung out and hung around and decided to go up to the Old Town for lunch. I normally spend a day in the Old Town and Glion, but I hadn’t intended to do that today. But no other restaurant appealed, so UP it was. I also learned this morning that my favorite restaurant in Glion, Le Jaman, changed owners in Nov 2018, and that has quenched my desire for Glion (it seems far more gentrified than its former life as a rustic and bare Pinte).
I had fondue at the amazing Restaurant du Pont. The last time I was here, I had fondue about a gazillion times, searching for the best fondue, yet each one not quite perfect. This time, I hit spectacular right off the bat. Yayay.
Afterward, I walked back down, went grocery shopping, and the bus home. Walked about 6 km but felt like a marathon.
One note. I had coffee at Zurcher confiserie and lunch at the du Pont – both scanned my German Covid vaccination app before allowing entry, and both were happy.
I’m going to post the photos in two batches, one for the lake and one for the Old Town. Just too many.
Leaving the apartment building
Heading down to the lake
Looking back to the apartment
Every time I'm at the lake, every time, it stops me in my tracks and makes me happy.
Little dock at Territet
My cool sister and her cool friends used to hang out here. In 1968, it was a kiosk that sold cigarettes. Peter Stylvesants. I always tagged along, poor Lisa.
I don't know when they started with booths along the lake outside of the Christmas market
Outside of the Forum
Montreux -- Belle Epoque meets modernism
