OMG - what a country....

So, here I am in what must trulzy be one of the most beautiful places on the planet - Switzerland is everything they say and more - including what most be the best looking guys I have seen anywhere - this place is just total eye-candy land!!

So we landed in Lausanne, no passport control and thought - what are we going to do. Well, actually, Craig had already txted me and suggested that we go to Bern and have a look there and then meander to Lucerne (or Luzern as it's called here). So that's what we did.

And this country just started it's whole trip of blowing me away.

The service has been amazing, the train system ontime and easy to follow, the people gorgeous, the food wonderful, it's fabulously expensive (well, some things are - like $1 to havea pee in a mcloo in a train station but then other things aren't - there are sales on here at the moment and clothes are reasonably priced - and so much choice like in France - or I saw a swatch which I quite liked for only $89 today) and the countryside just like a postcard.

We arrived in Bern and it was raining - but no worries. Dropped our bags off in the left luggage (which they don't have in France anymore - go Switzerland) and then to the Information Centre where I got directions to this statute that Craig suggested we go see - ask to see the picture but all very, umm, disturbing I guess. Bern though is just beautiful - if you can imagine the footpaths outside the shops is under the first floor so it's out of the rain and the shopping, the food, the buildings - it is all just beautiful. A magical wander around Bern and then on the train to Luzern - remember that's how it's spelt here.

The countryside is just stunning, stunning stunning!

And then arriving at Luzerne and there was Craig. Wow! He is looking fantastic, has been gyming a lot and this mountain air so agrees with him. It was just most excellent to see him though - it's hard to believe that it's been 5 1/2 years since he left NZ. And in many ways it was just like it was last week that I spoke with him.

On the train to Stansstad where he lives, catching up with all the news, and then just getting blown away again where he lives - it's really a mountain wonderland - think Queenstown.

Then it was Marcel - he is still really good looking and it was like it was only last week that we were last talking. And I met the cats - Paris and Caruso whom I'm sure didn't quite know what to do with all these people in their house. And a lovely house it is! So we got settled in, lots of talking and Craig and Marcel (Maesi) had planned a super surprise of champagne and fondue - their hospitality has been astounding and I'm not sure how I can ever repay it.

So, lot of talking and eating and it was just great - oh, did I mention the Swiss chocolate that Craig gave us when we met in Luzern - I'm telling you my waist is so growing....

Today it was up and on the train to St Gallen - and this one was up through mountain passes. It was like a postcard. The fields looked like they had been mowed, the houses were beautiful and pristine, the cows had bells on them - everything was just like you see in a postcard. I'm told that it's all very carefully created here - and partly driven by the wealth; we have no idea of money in NZ - apparently 1 in 25 people here are millionaires. Craig has seen people scrubbing the curbs - money is used to keep everything postcard like. Having said that, apparently taxes are low albeit very complicated but it's userpays for everything - no ringing up for a tax certificate, or a certificate from your local canton (kind've district) saying you've got no debts - you can get it but you need to pay for it. Oh, and why the certificate? Apparently when you shift you need permission of the canton you're moving in to - and each canton is responsible for it's own immigration (the politics and governance are "interesting" compared in NZ so thereotically if Craig moves the canton he moves too could refuse to give him residency/work permit which would mean he couldn't move. Apparently it's more thereotical than actual. Go figure. Of course, Craig needs to be here for 12 years to get citizenship and, although a permanent resident and a taxpayer, he can't vote. Again, go figure.

But, I digress. The views on the way to St. Gallen were topnotch. Sorry I can't post up photos but if they turn out, they should look great!!

St Gallen is, again, very pretty and we found the old town and the UNESCO World Heritage site - a church. Pah I thought - until I walked into it - talk about **** me with a giant barge pole - I have never seen anything like it - just so wow!! The photos will so not do it justice.

Oh, and I should mention that the guys here are so good looking - go to the cantonal bank in St. Gallen closest to the railway station - you'll know what I mean. :)

Then another train (all perfectly on time) on to Romanshorn which is on Lake Constance - and I've got those names horribly wrong - but the lake isn't really a lake, it's just a rather wide part of the Rhine and on the other side is Germany. It's a pretty town, a wonderful walk along the water (my sister went into the town having earlier asked about the sea - go figure; bad geography but does show how big the Rhine is). Then a train back to Zurich, a look around the station (with it's indoor market), a walk down bahnhofstrasse which Craig reckons is probably the best shopping street in the world (only saw a part of it and it's pretty fab), then a to-die for hot chocolate and back on the train to Luzern (Nic accidentally borrowing an umbrella off some guy - eek!!) with more cake things (yummy but can't remember what they're called!!). Then back to Craig and Marcel's (after an interesting discussion on economics and NZ, politics, the world etc) where I met Marcel's cousin who has an oral english test tomorrow so he was getting the rhythm of the language from us - he he with our kiwi accents - and tonight worst (I think - sausage) and rosti. We started with melon and parma ham - which is a common entree in this part of the world, melon to start - just yummy! Followed by good coffee and tiramasu. I'm telling you Craig and Marcel are just spoiling us to death - ideas please how to repay them!!

And tomorrow more adventures. Hopefully the weather will clear (today when we got up it was, outside, like being in Queenstown - crispy cold - and inside totally warm, they know how to make houses here - I can see why people complain about the houses in NZ. Although, having said that, it does get down to minus 20 degrees here in winter! No wind though, unlike Wellington. :) Yep, I've heard the weather is crap there.

So, tomorrow maybe up Mt Pilatus and dinner in Luzern. See, I'm telling you, totally spoilt.

And Switzerland really does rock. Find me a man here will you. Oh, ok, so I'm already here and should do my own finding!! But there is so much choice....

Love ya and later...