May 13 - Our return train adventure!

And our adventure coming home - Freiburg, Germany to Lugano, Switzerland

I had booked a great connection coming home - only one change of trains in Basel and total travel time from Freiburg to Lugano - 4 1/2 hours. We were fortunate that Rick was feeling better. On the train out of Basel we were told that the previous evening there had been a train derailment by Erstfeld, Switzerland (north of the San Gottardo tunnel), and that we'd have to maneuver between changing to other trains and even a bus to circumvent the accident area.

Then, on this same train out of Basel, we suddenly stop. There was a technical problem - although with the field of cows next to the train I thought there might be a cow on the track! (I don't think that was the case.) 

We finally continued with a 20 minute delay, but of course arrived at Arth-Goldau late and missed the local train connection to Flülen, where we were to take a bus. That meant waiting there 1 hour for the next train. While waiting, we met another American couple who were a bit confused about what was happening. As they were also going to Lugano, we stayed together. 

We finally get on the local train to Flülen. On that train there was an announcement about the bus that would take us to Goshenen, where we would again continue south by train. Between the conductor's accent and use of words "in Flülen you will take a coach to Goshenen" our American travelers thought he said "in Flülen you will take a goat to Goshenen"! Oh boy did we laugh! I wouldn't be surprised if the Swiss train used goats or whatever needed to get their passengers where they needed to go! 

Now, because our earlier train was late, by the time we took this train to Flülen, the next train, (from Zurich or Basel) had arrived and we had double the people! When we arrived in Flülen, there was a line of buses for all. Because of this disturbance of the trains, there was extra traffic on the highway towards Goshenen, and as usual, the vehicles were lined up for a number of kilometers waiting to get through the San Gottardo tunnel. The bus drivers knew about this, so they avoided the highway and for a long way we took the small, local road through this fantastic valley! I consider this a treat! 

Once in Goshenen, the train was so packed that the only seats we could find were in first class. By this time no tickets were being checked - they just wanted to get everyone where they were going. So a first class end to our trip and arrival in Lugano only two hours later than originally planned. 

A day to remember!