Up and packed up around 10am. So happy the owner said we didn't have to be out by 9am and that we could basically stay as long as we like today seeing they don't have another booking. Very generous of them and sure takes the pressure off 4 adults sharing one bathroom!

Off into town to have a look at the Matterhorn museum only to find that it's not open until 2pm today . Bother. Oh well, we decided to instead search for a replacement cable for Jill's laptop and do a little souvenir shopping. Jeff bought his usual souvenir (a tee shirt) and molested a giant sausage. Those two things are not related but yes, there is photographic evidence. Meanwhile I much more sedately bought the glass Matterhorn snowglobe I was drooling over yesterday. That'll be my souvenir of Switzerland instead of buying lots of little bits and pieces (ie crap).

Went back to our favourite rude named bakery and bought some rolls for lunch (translation = cakes) then back to the apartment to eat them.

About quarter to 12 we decided to attempt to catch the 12:37pm train to Lucerne. Hmmmm could be interesting walking with 4 suitcases, a laptop case, 3 backpacks and 2 carry on bags plus handbags! We left about 5 past and thank goodness it's mostly downhill to the train station otherwise we would have had no hope. We made it there 12 minutes before the train was due to leave and went to buy tickets while Jeff stayed on the platform with all the bags. Despite nearly being thwarted by only one counter which was tied up with a tourist arguing over a 5 CHF difference in her ticket price compared to online prices (I mean REALLY!) we did manage to buy our tickets and pile into the train with about 2 minutes to spare. Phew.

Our connection in Visp had a reasonably comfortable 12 minute change time so that one was relatively easy ... even for Bev. Then in Bern we only had a 6 minute change time, and had to get over 4 platforms. Armed with information on platforms, which side the train doors would open on and where the ramps are we all leaped from the train and took off like a bunch of greyhounds (cough, cough). Even Bev was getting up to a trot as we ran through the underpass and huffed our way up to the other platform and onto our last train 1 minute before it pulled away from the platform. Thank goodness there were ramps!  

 Jeff was dealing with his and Bev's main cases but even then I doubt we would have made it if we'd had to tackle stairs as well. Lucky this trip wasn't in Italy and quite happy to say this is the last time we have to wrangle suitcases on and off trains. And lucky too as Bev's case which started as the lightest is now easily the heaviest. All I'll say is she's going to have a lot of keepsakes from this trip!

So now we are only about 20mins from our next destination - Lucerne. None of us have been here before so it'll be a new experience for all of us.

After causing alarm on every taxi drivers face at the thought of trying to fit 4 adults plus all their luggage into one sedan, we decided to walk over to our hotel. It's actually not that far from the station and all flat. Easy peasy.

We all have our own rooms in Lucerne (yay!) and Jill is in a different hotel though it's nice and close to us . Bev's room even has a little balcony with a view of the river. Awwww. Ours has a view of the Chinese restaurant in the back laneway. Tres' romantic!

Raining a little but that won't stop us from seeing the sights and finding chocolate shops! First on the list is the famous covered bridge - the Kapellbrucke (Chapel bridge). Even in the rain the bridge really is very pretty with the bright lichen on the shingled roof and all the flower boxes lining the sides. We went for a stroll over it taking photos of the bridge and the many white swans in the river. Hard to avoid getting selfie sticks or photo bombers in the shot though (Jeff!).

Next we found a chic little chocolate shop where ladybug, beetle and giant hedgehog chocolates seemed to be a speciality. Mmmmm I'll have a bag of chocolate roaches please. Weird people these Swiss ... of course that didn't deter Jeff & Jill who soon purchased (and quickly devoured) a bag of mixed truffles.

More walking along the river in the rain admiring the many bridges that cross it. Lovely iron work on some of them and another covered bridge further downstream. The flow rate is very high and the water is a beautiful green colour. That's not sarcasm, it actually is beautiful! Something like 22,400 square kms drains into the lake here so it's not surprising that the current is so swift.

Found a nice warm Italian restaurant with a view of the river for din dins. Warm, nice tasty food and friendly staff. A nice introduction to Lucerne.

Home to our respective hotels / rooms where I rapidly passed out for about 3hrs. Guess I'm a little tired!

Goodnight Captain Kapell!