Europe 2013–Day 11

September 2nd – Basel, Lucerne

Weather – mostly sunny and warm.

Margaret-Ann and John were awake early in Basel, ate breakfast, checked out of the hotel, walked to the train station and boarded the train at 8:04 a.m. An hour later they got off the train in Lucerne.

They crossed the street and dropped off their luggage at the Waldstätterhof Hotel, then immediately returned to the train station and purchased tickets from the tourist office for a 9:45 a.m. two-hour walking tour of the old town. Both Margaret-Ann and John enjoy the walking tours… learning a little bit of the history of the area and, of course, discovering the major attractions up close – like Lucerne’s famous Kapellbrücke and Wasserturm (Chapel Bridge and Water Tower) across the Reuss River, and the Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument).

After the walking tour they had lunch (a great pizza at a nice little restaurant), then continued exploring the old town by themselves. They ended up walking across the top of the Museggmauer (Musegg Wall - the old fortress wall and its nine towers at the far end of town) before heading back to the hotel to actually check in.

Later in the afternoon Margaret-Ann and John walked back across the Reuss River to the Gletschergarten (Glacier Garden) museum -- very interesting -- and on the way back picked up yogurt, cheese, crackers and wine and had a wonderfully relaxing dinner in their hotel room before turning in for the night.

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