Northern Italy and Switzerland
For awhile it looked like my sixth (!) trip to Europe might not happen due to either volcanic ash or the British Airways strike. Sure enough, the ash cloud decided to blow over London at the exact time I was supposed to fly there, shutting down Heathrow. I did finally make it to Zurich, just a few hours later than I was supposed to.
Switzerland was really cute, but also really expensive! I was expecting that going in, but $24 for a burger just does not seem reasonable. Fortunately I wasn't there for that long. I spent one day in Zurich and another day exploring Lucerne and going to the top of Mount Pilatus. The mountains and lakes in Switzerland were so beautiful, even in lousy weather. It was cold and rainy most of the time I was there, but it was still fun.
Next I took the train to Milan. Compared to Switzerland, the weather in Italy was broiling. In Milan I saw some amazing things such as Leonardo's Last Supper, Monumental Cemetery, and the Duomo, which is probably my favorite of all the cathedrals I have seen in Europe. I also spent a day in Mantova visiting palaces and eating great food. On my last night in Italy, Milan beat Munich in the European soccer championship, which is apparently a huge deal. I guess there were fireworks that night, but I must have slept through them, haha.
In Zurich I went to the Kunsthaus art museum and a church with gorgeous stained glass windows by Marc Chagall.
Lucerne was so picturesque. I took a cogwheel train to the top of the mountain in the background.
The top of Mount Pilatus looked like this.
It was obviously freezing up there.
This was the view from the top, which I'm sure is even more impressive on a clear day.
Lucerne had lots of interesting painted buildings like this.
I really liked this one.
I saw this ad outside of a Swiss McDonald's. The McBarn looked disgusting, but I loved the name!
The Duomo in Milan. Unlike most cathedrals I have been to, it was equally beautiful on the inside.
I took an elevator to the top of the Duomo, which was awesome. I wish Notre Dame had had an elevator!
At Sforza Castle in Milan.
Monumental Cemetery in Milan.
The sculptures in this cemetery were incredible.
A gardening statue.
This one reminded me of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
I enjoyed this cemetery even more than Pere Lachaise in Paris, since there was more sculpture and it wasn't as maze-like.
It was like an outdoor museum.
I flew over the Alps on the way home. It was nice to see Switzerland, but I have no desire to go back again. Italy, on the other hand, will always have more places I want to visit.
Switzerland was really cute, but also really expensive! I was expecting that going in, but $24 for a burger just does not seem reasonable. Fortunately I wasn't there for that long. I spent one day in Zurich and another day exploring Lucerne and going to the top of Mount Pilatus. The mountains and lakes in Switzerland were so beautiful, even in lousy weather. It was cold and rainy most of the time I was there, but it was still fun.
Next I took the train to Milan. Compared to Switzerland, the weather in Italy was broiling. In Milan I saw some amazing things such as Leonardo's Last Supper, Monumental Cemetery, and the Duomo, which is probably my favorite of all the cathedrals I have seen in Europe. I also spent a day in Mantova visiting palaces and eating great food. On my last night in Italy, Milan beat Munich in the European soccer championship, which is apparently a huge deal. I guess there were fireworks that night, but I must have slept through them, haha.
In Zurich I went to the Kunsthaus art museum and a church with gorgeous stained glass windows by Marc Chagall.
Lucerne was so picturesque. I took a cogwheel train to the top of the mountain in the background.
The top of Mount Pilatus looked like this.
It was obviously freezing up there.
This was the view from the top, which I'm sure is even more impressive on a clear day.
Lucerne had lots of interesting painted buildings like this.
I really liked this one.
I saw this ad outside of a Swiss McDonald's. The McBarn looked disgusting, but I loved the name!
The Duomo in Milan. Unlike most cathedrals I have been to, it was equally beautiful on the inside.
I took an elevator to the top of the Duomo, which was awesome. I wish Notre Dame had had an elevator!
At Sforza Castle in Milan.
Monumental Cemetery in Milan.
The sculptures in this cemetery were incredible.
A gardening statue.
This one reminded me of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
I enjoyed this cemetery even more than Pere Lachaise in Paris, since there was more sculpture and it wasn't as maze-like.
It was like an outdoor museum.
I flew over the Alps on the way home. It was nice to see Switzerland, but I have no desire to go back again. Italy, on the other hand, will always have more places I want to visit.