On May 4 Rick coached the Lugano Lakers senior team in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. The town has 2 names, because it is truly a bilingual city - French and German. I rode with the team on the bus and we arrived in Biel/Bienne at noon. There was some time before the game began, so I took off to explore the city for a bit. Since I didn't really know what to expect or where to go in the city, I didn't see the best parts (so no pictures there). But on the way back to the field, I went the wrong way on the bus, so instead of a 10 minute ride back, I took the LONG way and it took 50 minutes! Now, this wasn't so bad after all, since it gave me an overview of the city and it was quite nice! I plan to visit again another year!
Unfortunately the Lakers lost - by quite a bit - don't even know the score. (there were no score boards so it's hard to know!)
After the game Rick and I took a bus to the Biel/Bienne station and then the train to Zurich. For anyone with a smartphone, I highly recommend the Swiss train/bus system app - SBB. I punched in where we wanted to go and purchased our tickets right from the app - for our bus and train! It's wonderful!
On Monday we met our dear Swiss friends, Urs and Brigitte. They just moved back to Switzerland after living in Chicago for 2 years. They had just visited us in Lugano, and now it was our turn to see where they lived - in Wetzikon, near Zurich.
The first place we went together was the Üetliberg - a lookout point on a mountaintop a bit southwest of Zurich.
The Alps were fairly clear in the distance, but unfortunately they look much further in my photos. They were really impressive and felt much, much closer in real life!
I'm zooming in here, but I'd say this is what the Alps looked like form our viewpoint. The lake on the left is Lake Zurich
Rick, Brigitte, & Urs on the Üetliberg
Rick and I on the Üetliberg
Looking south into another valley
We then took the train back down to Zurich and a different train to Rapperswil, which is about 30 minutes down the lake. From the train we saw this view of commuting in Zurich - a packed bike parking lot! There had to have been hundreds of bikes packed in. Can't imagine what it's like with everyone trying to unlock their bikes at the same time!
There is a castle above the town of Rapperswil - from where we took this picture.
Rooftops of Rapperswil
Rapperswil
Rapperswil
Leaving Rapperswil by boat to go back to Zurich.
Now, in Zurich there is a great ticket plan for the day. With my iPhone app I purchased 2, 9o'clock passes for 25 francs each. (with a 1/2 price subscription it is of course only 12.50!)
This ticket is for EVERYTHING transportation in and around the greater Zurich area, including the boat! You must begin using this ticket after 9am and it's good until 5am the next day.
The boat stops at several towns and takes 2 hours to get back to Zurich. If we had just paid separate for the boat, it would have been 33.50. Our ticket included trains and cable cars and all.
Sailing away from Rapperswil.
Further from Rapperswil
Scenes along the shores of Lake Zurich
Leaving the town of Küsnacht. Next stop: Zurich
Here is the boat we took, which is the newest in the fleet on Lake Zurich. It was very nice and comfortable, with a restaurant and bar on board. The full circle around the lake takes 4 hours. Actually, there is another part of the lake which is separated by a land barrier. To do the entire lake requires a transfer to another boat and takes 7 hours. Our pass did not include the further part of the lake.
Rick near the boat docks in Zurich
Evening walk through the old section of Zurich. Actually, the old center is very large and encompasses both sides of the river which leads to the lake. Both sections are wonderful and charming. This is the east side, which has many little unique shops and tons of restaurants. On the west side of the river are all the very expensive stores! Wonderful window shopping for me. We LOVE Zurich! It has the absolute best public transportation system in the world - just be careful crossing the street and watch for streetcars!
On Tuesday, May 6, Rick and I met our friends for lunch. He has made a best friend - Adriano, son of Nadia. Adriano was happy as a clam all during lunch and fascinated with Rick!
Our group picture! Rick, Nadia and Adriano, me, and our friend Dani, who works for Swiss International. Nadia's husband Phillip was working and could not join us. Dani's girlfriend Carmen was also working and was absent. We ate lunch outside at a typical Swiss German restaurant. Our interpreters helped us choose a delicious meal!
Nadia and Adriano on their way home through the east side old center.
Tuesday afternoon Rick and I took the train back to Lugano. I never tire of that train ride, which is one of the most beautiful in Switzerland. I can never sleep or read - I just jump back and forth from one side of the train to the other to see the incredible views. The most special is on the north side of the San Gottard tunnel - the train makes a number of tunnel loops around the town of Wassen, so you get about 5 different idyllic views of their church up on a rock in the center of the valley.
I didn't take pictures because I've done that so many times before - I just wanted to relax and enjoy!
So I'm putting my funny R-rated photos at the end of this blog day!
On our way to Wetzikon (we went there first thing in the morning for coffee with Brigitte and Urs at their new home).
I just found the name of the next town quite funny! Bubikon! Hmm...I wonder if they have a Hooters there!
As we are boarding our boat in Rapperswil, I did a double take when I saw the boat!! What? Is this a boat with a penis??
Apparently when the boat was built, it was too heavy and was damaging the wharves. They added this penis-looking thing later to keep the boat higher in the water! And did they have to paint it that color??
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