Luzern, Switzerland

  "Way down the street there is lad in his place.  He opens the door he's got that look on his face and he asks you where you've been and you tell him you've seen and you talk about anything."  - Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty

It's odd waking up in a different  country every couple of days. Just as you are getting settled with the language, the system, the many knobs in the shower, the public transportation...you up and go. I would suck as a rockstar.

Our hotel in Luzern is ultra modern. It holds the city's happening penthouse bar/club and, our bathrooms, according to some, have no doors.  This seems to be a radical concept among many in the group and not easily embraced.   I personally love the extra long vanity space and minimalist feel. Oh, and our bathroom did have a door. However, it did lack a bidet.  But such is life, you adapt. You make changes.  You keep moving. 

"....But you know he'll always keep moving.  You know he's never gonna stop moving...."

Luzern stops moving early. Or maybe we forgot that it was Thursday when we arrived and the partying was on Friday.  Who knows.  I, for sure, I'm not certain what day is what.  

I find it chilly (big surprise- the island girl is cold) and the people are a bit standoffish. Hmm. I hear the voice in my head remind me of its origins.  Not as warming, literally and figuratively, as the Amalfi coast but beautiful in its own way.  And so I place another layer of clothing and warm my spirits with Cappuccino as my fellow travelers load up on exquisite chocolates.  

Ahhhh....the chocolates. Small loans are needed to fund these delights.    I hear them speak of  nibbling cautiously so as to not overdo themselves and find the need to take out a second mortgage to afford their newfound cravings. The chocolatier counters beckon shoppers from the winding lanes of shops making them lose all focus on their intended shopping.  Mesmerized they are drawn to the stores; very much like old sailors lured by Sirens perched on rocks.  Only the strong manage to walk away while those lured by the intoxicating smell tell of their costs down the line.   Mereille has purchased a few morsels as a gift and is protecting them with her life; opting not to pack them for fear of crushing the delectables, she carries them in her carry on bag.  She checks them nightly and admires their colors and richness.   When she starts calling it My Precious I'll worry.   My suite mate is awesome though, I don't have full fear just yet.

When on holiday there is indeed great abandon.  There is the justification of the spending, the eating, the partying, the...you name it.  It's as if the soul says 'about time you got me out of that box you call a life and took me where I could be free'. And I'm not so sure that it is really spoken as much as it is screamed. 'Show me the world and I will show you how you fit in it' it (the soul) says.  'Take me to a peak and I will show you freedom and a feel of lightness that brings you to your knees.' it continues.  And you do as it says, and as it happens, you are indeed freed. My spirit soared on Mt Pilatus.  I couldn't help but wish to fly.

Luzern is pretty.  But, it's a Stepford Wife-like place.  It's too perfect. Too clean. Too everything and something.  And for some odd reason, I found that older people were missing from the scene. Weird huh? Honestly. I don't think we saw old people anywhere. We decided that the older generation just didn't exist in the city but maybe at the foothills. If that. We weren't sure. We just didn't see anyone over 45.  If I were a travel agent booking tours, I would bill the place as Cougar Buffet. Ha!

While some  opted to complain over the costs of things, others chose to experience what the city offered.  Crisp air, beautiful scenery, incredible chocolate, and, of course, our happening rooftop and penthouse bar. Our journey over the pass was but a taste of the magic of Mt Pilatus and our knees weakened as we inched up  7k feet above sea level for a view above the clouds.  

No, I didn't purchase chocolate in Luzern but, my ears still hear the sing song of the cow bells in the mountains.  A smile emerges as I recall the feats overcome by those afraid of heights (Sandra), the 'ouch' of water, the celebration of spotting Ibex in the wild, and the wanna-be-cave Canuk who made standing in the clouds a fun and silly experience.  These are  memories that will never be forgotten.   Inspirations that can't be packed in my suitcase or melt in my hands, but surely, will always be with me and helped quench the thirst of my spirit.

I find myself traveling with a variety of people (none of which I knew) and in the last few days I couldn't help but somewhat understand why foreign countries despise, aside from political issues, the presence of Americans. My observations may offend a few that read this but, perhaps it's because they have behaved in a similar fashion and can see themselves in what I have observed.  

The Ugly Traveling American..

1. Has little to no courtesy or manners. Rarely says please and hardly says thank you. And for some reason, doesn't seem interested in learning how to say these words in a foreign language either.

2.  Does not understand that foreign countries have rules and ways about them that we should strive to follow since we are the guest. No matter how silly one finds them to be. 

If the Swiss say ONLY cross at orange walk ways, don't cause a traffic tie up by jumping out willy nillly.

3.  Finds it ok to say "well, that's just a stupid thing these people do and they don't seem very bright anyway"  and believe they don't understand you. 

Here is a shocker, most Europeans speak more than one language. English is like chump change in their language repertoire. 

4. Thinks a small quaint restaurant with other diners is the place for them to test the acoustics with loud speak and with no consideration for others. Not every place is Golden Corral folks.

5.  Does not always understand that things are done differently in other places and its ok that they are.  Just adapt. You'll be home soon to go back to your ways. 

6.  Feels the need to complain repeatedly.

7.  Is fearful of the unknown and yet, doesn't usually take a few minutes to read a little about what they don't know in order for it to not be so frightening. 

8.  Has no clue how expensive life really is outside of the land of plenty.  That ice is not always available, refills are foreign, things are cooked when you order them, and sometimes your chosen dish runs out and it's ok - just order something else.

9.  Forgets that there are other people on holiday too and they too spent money to get there.  Be patient on tours, let others listen when you don't care about a painting, statue, historical hole in a wall or excavation point.  Eventually the tour will get to your point of interest and the rest of us won't care about it either but won't disrupt your learning. 

While I know these are just my observations, and they could be true of any group or nationality, I am only referencing those examples that played out around me. 

It's a long way to Paris - 6 hours from Luzern - and it's raining.  It's a good day to sleep on the coach.  I figured this would be a good time to get those observations out of my system.   Supposedly the French have a reputation for being rude, I believe after what I have seen, they may just be misunderstood.