My First Solo Trip: Part Four of the Swiss Adventure- Discovering Basel

I began the day slightly gutted as I should have woken up earlier. I had wanted to make it up another mountain before my journey to Basel Euro airport. Thing was my flight departed at around 5pm and the journey to Basel alone was 2 hours. No point risking it... I decided to go with my original plan of having a wander around Basel before I left to catch my flight home. I have to admit I didn't quite feel ready to be leaving Switzerland (but am I ever really ready to leave?) Seriously though, I hadn't seen half of what I had hoped to... though thinking about it I had squeezed in a lot over the past couple of days and my purse was looking increasingly sad haha. 

I checked out of Lion Lodge and had a final walk through Luzern, taking pictures along the way to commemorate my last day in this inspirational city. 

After my 2 hour train journey I arrived in Basel. It was bitter sweet as I still had a new city to explore but I only had a few hours to do it in and I am one to take my time. I find it usually takes around 2-3 days to begin to feel at home in a city- and get a jist of how things work. I didn't have 2-3 days so I decided to hop on a tram and hope for the best. If I remember correctly it was the #1 Tram that lead from the Banhof into the city centre. We passed lots of elegant old buildings with new spring flowers hanging from balconies everywhere. There was this elogance to the city that I hadn't felt in Luzern... slightly more modern and trendy whilst it retained it's old architecture and feel.

I soon felt lost as I hadn't a clue where I was actually heading and by the time I thought I had arrived in the 'city centre' I was just amongst tall cement buildings. I was slightly disappointed as there was no real obvious town centre. I had clearly got on the wrong tram or entered a district less upbeat and more city slicker. 

After a while of wandering I became more relaxed and began to take in my surroundings.

It wasn't long before I came across the Kunstmuseum Basel Hauptbau (there is three branches in Basel) where I then spent the rest of the afternoon. Entry was free thanks to my trusty Swiss Pass (click to read about whether I think it's worth the purchase!) though I was gutted as it was 'no photography allowed' however I met one nice security guard that allowed me to sneak a piccy!

Basel was a nice city, but it didn't hit my high expectations that Luzern had built up. If I had possibly spent more time there I feel I would have been able to explore deeper and gain a better insight into the overall vibe. I mean I didnt even get to visit the river Rhein!!

Interesting contrast of old vs. new

I hope to visit again at some point although it most definitely won't be the only stop on my journey through Switzerland.

Peace&Love,
Willow

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My First Solo Trip: Part Three of the Swiss Adventure- Cross Country and Back in Time to Make Friends

I began the day by being very uncertain about whether I should visit Mt. Schilthorn or not as I would be left with almost no money and also it was raining in Luzern. I decided to just go anyway as I had heard the train journey was very picturesque and the Bernese Oberlands were just spectacular, but it was raining for the whole journey.

After making the decision to visit, but incase it was too rainy and cloudy I would do some more sight seeing in Luzern first (as the rain was very light). I made my way on foot to Luzern's famous Lion Monument to begin with- after getting lost (this place was so easy to find and I have no idea how I missed the turn). The Lion Monument, designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen commemorates the fallen Swiss Guards who were brutally massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution. The monument, measuring 10 meters in length and 6 meters in height was notably praised by Mark Twain as 'the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world'. It was very beautiful to look at and the ambiance of the garden in which it lies brought on a moment of reflection. The movements we become a part of, the things we fight for in life, the people we are willing to hurt in the name of a cause, the hope that lies within so many, this monument represents so much more than just loss of lives, but rather complete social reformation and the cost that societies -past, present and future- set so high in order for a nation to be free.

My next stop was the Church of Saint. Leodegar that I found to be tall and grand, without being too obnoxious. I of course lit a candle for my wonderful mother. 

Candle for my Mumma

Finally after some wandering and strolling I decided to catch the train at 12:05 to Interlaken and therefore had an hour to experience one of Luzern's famous museums. I decided to go to the one conveniently located next to the train station; Kunstmuseum Luzern. Looking back I do regret not leaving myself an entire day to really explore Luzern as the galleries and museums were really of a high standard. I had free admission thanks to my Swiss Pass (click to read about whether I believe it is worth it), and was so impressed with the installations. I've done my fair share of galleries and museums in London but I do still class myself as a novice, however the Kunstmuseum in Luzern was something quite alluring. Every installation I found thought provoking, amusing, fun or just pleasing to the eye. I often became a part of the art and now in heinsight, should have spent longer in the museums and lesser time on the trains. The joy of heinsight- you will only know once it's too late.

 I did have a lovely train journey though and arrived at Interlaken 2 hours later, but seemed to be raining even harder than when I had got on the train. I connected to the WiFi, had a moan to Vinny about the weather (as us Brits do) then asked for advice on what to do from the man working at the station. He laughed at my misfortune and suggested that I visit Bern as there was lots of lovely shops to visit and 'it is of course the capital!'

A train was leaving in 5 minutes and so I made haste, ensuring I hopped on the correct train, and that was it, I was spending my afternoon in the Swiss capital! 

Arriving in Bern, I was slightly confused. Needless to say I walked in circles, and eventually just followed the direction of the trams which proved to be a good decision as I soon found myself strolling among the bustling city centre.

Bern Train Station

The Clock Tower

I wandered around for a few hours, taking pictures and admiring the views (although I must admit, Luzern beats Bern by miles... beauty wise.) I bought some cheese at a Fromagerie and soon found myself in a chocolate shop- Läderach!

Läderach Chocolate!

Bern's Natural History Museum

As Switzerland is a bilingual (is that the word?) country I found myself trying my hardest to be polite and speak in the native language, which in Luzern was German however in Bern they speak both! I am much more confident in French and was delighted when I found people responding to me in French, though it felt at times rather confusing, especially as I was travelling cross country!

Federal Palace of Switzerland

After some shopping and sight seeing, I decided to go for a meal in a nice restaurant. I had wanted to eat at a traditional Swiss place for a while but wasn't willing to pay the extortionate prices in Luzern, so Bern seemed like a better idea. 

Diary Entry from the Restaurant;

I am in a great little restaurant in the center of Bern called Le Mazat. I came for a Cheese Fondue but decided to get their famous 'Rotzi'- Swiss Cheese and Black Pepper, instead. 

Worst mistake. It was not great. 

I started off writing this entry before my food came and here I am regretting my decision majorly! That was literally the worst 19.50 CHF I have spent! I should have just saved the money and attempted Mt. Schilthorn tomorrow. 

Let me briefly explain what exactly a Rotzi is as I didn't include it in my entry... So think a large round clay bowl filled with finely sliced new potatoes and a lot of cheese and a little bit of butter. Heart attack worthy? Yes. Makes you feel like a baby cow? Yes. Tasty in any way... well the first 3 mouthfuls weren't bad but it then very quickly begins to taste like a bad jacket potato. They did have other fillings like ham and chicken etc but the waiter was quite rude and didn't seem to interested when I asked him on his opinion, so I just went for the 'safe' option. Sigh.

I feel so bad as a lovely American couple came in and saw what I had ordered and thought it looked delicious. They asked my opinion and the staff were standing right near me so I nodded and said 'it's quite tasty'. Why did I lie? The poor buggars then both ordered the exact same thing as me!! Well I hope they like bland food otherwise they will think I have a screw missing.

I finished up as I try not to waste food and then paid my bill and left. I spent about an hour more as the shops and markets were closing looking around to see if I had missed anywhere although I began to feel quite lost. Bern wasn't the easiest place to navigate around and so I therefore decided to head home before it got too dark.

The train journey was relaxing and by the time I got to the hostel I had kind of recharged my batteries. I signed into the WiFi for a while and updated Vinny on my day, whilst posting a couple Instagram snaps, then figured it was a Friday night so why should I stay in if I wasn't tired? I was on an adventure after all- my first solo one at that! I went up to my room and put on a bit of mascara, picked up my ID and headed out. On my way I saw the two girls that were also sleeping in my dorm. They were both from Argentina and backpacking around Europe. I asked them if they were interested in finding a bar or club but I was looked at like I was crazy, so I was off by myself.

Diary Entry from Friday night; 

I wandered about for ages, Luzern feels very safe, even at night and eventually came across a park where I picked up some random WiFi from a nearby bar called MAX's. There were benches in the park but they were all wet so I decided to head closer to the bar where there was outdoor seating. The music was thumping for a Friday night and I sat, snap chatting, afraid to go in as I was completely alone! I hardly go into bars by myself in London... but then again, 'nobody knows me here'. I eventually plucked up the courage and showed my ID to the bouncer whom I chatted with a little then proceeded inside. 

The Swiss are known to be cold people, but like anyone, with a drink in their system they open up and become friendly. I ordered my usual Gin & Tonic then went to find a seat. I sat on a bar stool alone with my phone glued to my hand, stirring and sipping on my drink. I bopped awkwardly to the music and sat around for about 10 minutes until two girls came next to me to order a round of drinks. I smiled then carried on staring at my phone but the girl directly next to me picked up a leaf of peppermint and whilst giggling, dropped it into my glass. In laughed as I understood it was done in a friendly joking way and she then grabbed a straw and added it in. I laughed again as 
I could see she was a little tipsy and she then started speaking to me in German. I said in my best German accent, 'nein, English?' To which she replied, 'a little!' From there she introduced me to her friend she was standing with and we briefly chatted till she invited me over to the table where they were sat. There was about 5 of them to begin with but slowly more and more friends and friends of friends arrived to join the party. By the end of the night there was 9 of us! We spent the night drinking a crazy drink with a long name ending in 'Meister' which I was told got you f#*ked up, talking about our different but not so different (if you get me) lives and generally having a good time. Her name was Tamara and her best friend (who's name I'm trying to remember) were so so welcoming and kind to me, plus they were both absolute beauties. Then there was Tamara's good friend who was going out with her best friend, and then Michael or Miri who was super funny and kept telling me about his black girlfriend and how much he loved curly hair, and my hair... and my face! Hahaha! There was then heaps of others that would come and go and by the end of the night, after I had practiced meine Deutsch, we decided to all start heading home. Marcus, one of the guys that had come slightly later and I  had been getting along well and were chatting about our complicated love lives. I was going to walk back with the girls but they decided to get a cab as they were quite drunk and so I walked with Miri and Marcus. Marcus pulled out some ganja and invited me to join them for a quick sesh, so I thought ayyy, why not? I assume they were planning a quick session but ended up taking forrrrever to roll the damn thing. Two Austrian guys also came and joined us, now in the park and at this point I was tired and wanted to go home- but I had waited so long... what difference would another 10 minutes make? We didn't smoke nearly enough to have any kind of effect but still it was cool to think I had smoked in Switzerland. The two guys- Marcus and Miri, ended up walking me as far as the lake and from there it was only another 6 or 7 minutes. They wanted to roll again but there was no way I was waiting for what would turn into 45 minutes for them so I set off alone.  There was no buses running as it was about 3AM but I did actually feel rather safe. I kept my wits about me though and power walked my way back to the hostel. Once in I was straight to bed! Ahhhhhhh.

The Friday night in Luzern had taught me a lot. Not only was I a confident and open young woman, but when I put my mind to it... I could achieve anything! Even making friends in a bar full of Swiss people!

Peace&Love,

Willow

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SWISS PASS- Worth the Dollar?

A common question that pops up when one visits Switzerland is: Shall I purchase a Swiss Pass?
My answer usually would be YES... as it really is worth it. However this does mostly depend on what you plan on getting up to throughout the duration of your stay. If like me you are on a budget trip to Switzerland, (yes it can happen) then I would recommend carefully planning what you wish to do whilst there along with the costs whether it be entrance fees, gondola rides, bus or boat tickets or simply a train ride. It all adds up and that is exactly why it needs to be taken into consideration if you are concerned about getting your money's worth. If you aren't too concerned then save yourself the stress and just buy one haha! It will definitely save you hassle and you can use it to get in for free to museums and galleries across the country. 

On a tram in Basel

The Youth (16-26) Swiss Pass for 2nd class use cost me 221CHF for 4 days. A full price list can be found here: https://www.swiss-pass.ch/swiss-pass/
This allowed me free access to all the museums and art galleries I visited as well as free use of the entire transport system (bus, boat trains and trams) and the entire journey up Mt. Rigi. It discounted my return journey up & back down Mt. Titlis by 50%, that being from Titlis Valley to the top of Mt. Titlis by gondola and revolving cable car. Usually this would of cost me 92CHF bust instead it cost me 47CHF. It also would of included (for free) journeys up Mt. Pilatus and various other destinations and attractions across Switzerland, including the Glacier express!!! but sadly I didn't plan carefully enough. The fact is the Swiss transport system is fast, efficient and what some call a work of art and for it to maintain customer satisfaction they have to charge unsatisfactory ticket prices. If I were to add up the cost of everything, the Swiss Pass most definitely done me justice.

There are other options for freedom of movement in Switzerland, but with slightly different regulations, such as the Tell Pass (for travel exclusively around central Switzerland) or the Swiss Half Fare Card. Check out these links below which take you to various passes dependent on the region you wish to explore and do your research!

Best of the best: http://www.myswissalps.com/

https://www.swiss-pass.ch/
http://www.tellpass.ch/en/
http://www.regionalpass-berneroberland.ch/en 
https://www.jungfrau.ch/shop/en/tickets/bergbahn/angebote/jungfraujoch-top-of-europe/jungfrau-travel-pass-3-days
http://erlebniscard.ch/index.php/en/
https://www.swissrailways.com/en/products/regionalalpspass
https://www.graubuenden.ch/en/


Here is a rough version of my itinerary... it went a little something like this;
(Every time I use transport I will put it in Green to indicate how frequent my use was)

WED 17th MAY
Land in Basel Euro Airport
Bus to Basel Town Center
Chill in town center
Train from Basel to Luzern
Bus from Luzern station to Luzern Hostel
Walk back into town & have a wander
Bus back to hostel 
Settle for the night & Sleep!

THURS 18th MAY
Awake nice and early & breakfast!
Bus to Luzern train station
Train from Luzern to Engelberg 
Bus from Engelberg station to the base of Mt. Titlis (Titlis valley station)
Gondola from Titlis Valley up to Trübsee 
Gondola from Trübsee up to Stand
Revolving Cable Car from Stand up to Titlis
Enjoy the top of Mt. Titlis for around 4 hours & lunch!
Revolving Cable Car from Titlis down to Stand
Gondola from Stand down to Trübsee 
Gondola from Trübsee down to Titlis Valley
Scenic walk through the meadows from Titlis Valley back to Engelberg train station
Train from Engelberg to Luzern
Decide what to do next...
Boat from Luzern to Vitznau (originally was going to be a round trip but then realised if I went up to the top of Mt. Rigi I could make it back in time for the last cogwheel train down to Vitznau)
Cogwheel train up to Rigi Kulm (the top!)
Spent around 15 minutes at the top enjoying the view and taking pictures
Cogwheel train back down to Vitznau
Met a friendly traveler on his way to Luzern, we went to catch the bus together and soon decided to hop off and take a dip in the lake!
Swimming in Lake Luzern & relaxing under the moonlight (watch my vlog about this)
Bus to a random train station, praying I hadn't missed the last train
Train back to Luzern
Grabbed some food
Bus back to Luzern hostel
Sleep!

FRI 19th MAY
Awake early-ish & breakfast!
Walk to the Lion monument and get lost- of course- spend some time taking pics
Walk into town stopping at sights and taking pics
Bus from one part of town to the station
Decide to catch the later train and check out the Luzern Art Museum
Grab some Lunch
Train to Interlaken Ost (planning on going up Mt. Schilthorn but the rain was too heavy)
Train from Interlaken Ost to Bern (no rain yay!)
Tram from Bern station into Bern town center
Spend the afternoon exploring Bern, shopping & taking pictures
Tram around the city (went a little further a field)
Dinner at a nice restaurant
Tram back to the station
Train from Bern to Luzern
Bus from Luzern station to Luzern hostel
Chilled at the hostel then get ready to head back out
Bus to the town center
Walk around and eventually find Max's bar!
Spend the evening making friends, drinking and having fun
Walk back to the hostel as the buses are finished (long walk)
Sleep!

SAT 20th MAY
Awake bright and early for check out & Breakfast
Bus to the town center
One last wander around Luzern
Train from Luzern to Basel
Tram from Basel train station to Basel city center
Spend the afternoon wandering around Basel & lunch!
Tram to Basel Art Gallery 
Tram back to the train station
Bus from the train station to the Euro Airport
Fly back to London!

Peace&Love,
Willow

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