Time to catch upon Lucerne. We had a great train ride from Como to Lucerne after the drama of getting on the wrong train and a bum steer from a non English speaking conductor... corrective action and an early exit to fortunately pick up the right train at the next stop. The most lovely several hours ensued with valley after valley of picture post card scenes. The swiss seemed to have copied most of their village layouts from chocolate box lids... efficient but unimaginitive...

Flora Hotel had a great location with the Chapel Bridge in site at the end of the street. A great walking tour gave us our orientation and we lunched on some traditional Swiss Chinese food.

Our second day was spent on a loop into the Alps walking through the Aar gorge cut by a river of glacial milk. A great walk to the valley at the other end. On for a walk on the Rhone glacier and eventually looping back to Lucerne for dinner by the river.

Over the stay I had my first training swim in Lake Lucerne at a swimming wharf set up for the public to use a base. I swam 50 minutes and managed to dodge the local Swiss dog paddlers.

Final day and one of the best was the Golden Mount Pilatus Loop. James Bond style cable car up to a mountain in the clouds.... cog wheel railway down at 48 degree incline and steam boat back to Lucerne.

Memories of Lucerne will be the class and style of the people, their courtesy and the lovely River with the graceful swans ...white against the green river and the grand buildings all around