Switzerland

Today's update comes from one of my fav trains... we're on the TGV Lyria heading to Paris. I've only been on once before - with my sister last year! I enjoyed the speed of the train and the buffet car.

The views are not as immense as yesterday however. 

Yesterday was quite the day! I was a little anxious about actually getting to Zurich with the whole engineering works situation. We had seats booked to Milan, I'd picked up the coach reservation at Venice station and that was sorted but I was still unsure about the leg from Chiasso to Zurich. I didn't let the panic get to me though and figured we'd hatch a plan.

We left Venice early which meant the temperature wasn't too bad. The streets were quite deserted and the early morning sun reflected beautifully on the buildings and canals creating some amazing photographs.

The train taking us up to Milan was a Fressiarosa, an Italian high speed. I have been on one before - when I went to Lake Garda 14 years ago! So you can imagine how emotional I was when we passed through Desanzano station en route. Lake Garda was my first ever solo holiday and I'd planned the journey from Bergamo airport down to my resort in Limone meticulously. 14 years later I am putting together itineraries for 2 weeks zig-zagging across the whole continent. 

Like all good European high speed trains there is a cafe bar situated in a carriage somewhere. We didn't have much time to get breakfast so I popped down to get Laurie and I some croissants and myself a coffee. 

They didn't have any croissants so I bought some other bits, but I picked up a cappuccino. As I walked back through the carriages to ours I walked past a family holding a toddler, I am not kidding I literally just cleared their area by a matter of centimetres when I heard the unmistakable sound of someone being sick and I turned to see the kid had projectile vomited all over the corridor where I had just walked. Thank fuck for that!!! Imagine being covered in diced carrots for another couple more hours!!! As I walked past the toilet for that carriage, there was vomit pebbledashed all up the door to it as well. That kid obviously weren't well. I thanked my lucky stars we weren't sat near them either. The smell.

To be honest I did throw up on an Italian woman once when I was in Egypt en route to the pyramids. So it would have been a little bit of karma.

The rest of the journey went relatively smoothly. I did have a double seat to myself but an Italian guy got on. He was faffing about with his suitcase trying to find a space for it, handing a nearby passenger's musical instrument with not much care. She wasn't happy.  I suggested he put his case under the seat but he said it wouldn't fit. I knew it would. I just let him stress it was his issue.

When we got off he did offer to get mine and Laurie's bags down so he redeemed himself there.

As we got off, we walked through Milano station. I'd heard it was a really beautiful one and it lived up to expectations. The paintings on the ceiling were beautiful. We asked a member of staff for directions to the rail replacement buses and headed out. It wasn't the easiest to find but we spotted two buses with TrenItalia logos in their windows and headed over. We had about half hour so looked up where to get a coffee and snack. We spotted a restaurant but I'd also googled mapped the area and realised there was an Aldi nearby. We decided we'd take it in turns to go grab some snacks. It wasn't quite as close as expected so once me and Laurie had chosen our bits we hot stepped it back and handed the baton to Emma. I went to stand in the queue with all the bags ready to load on. It started moving and we loaded stuff onto the back bus. Laurie and I jumped on and went to bagsy Emma a seat. I then went to go back off the bus so I could get her back on with a ticket. The guy in the high viz seemed confused as to why I was getting off and I explained I was just waiting for my friend. He seemed annoyed and said they would be closing the doors in 5 mins, even though we had ten minutes to departure time. I called Emma and told her to hurry - disappointingly she had her bits on the belt ready to pay. I wasn't sure whether they would wait or not and that would be a tricky sitch trying to get her up to Switzerland somehow. She ditched the food and rushed back. Of course we then didn't set off for another 15 mins whilst other people were still faffing about.

At least the bus was only just under an hour and we also passed Lake Como just before we came into Chiasso. The view was amazing.

The original train we were going to get was leaving at 14:05 from Chiasso but we were unable to find reservations for it - I assumed it was full. We could have got on and risked sitting on the floor or being moved from

different seats - but there was another option. We chose to take two local trains up to Zurich, changing in a place called Lugano. It meant we would arrive half an hour later but it did mean we could enjoy the journey and be a little more comfortable.

The first leg of the trip saw us sit behind a group of teenagers. The most annoying teenagers. Loud and stupid and annoying. Thank god we were only on here for half hour! As we neared Lugano, I was a bit worried that we'd miss our connection which was due to leave only 4 minutes after we arrived in. We did our usual pace down the platform run and were relieved when we got to the other side in time. Looking up at the board however it looked like ours wasn't coming in yet - or at all.

A train did pull in and I asked someone if it was going to Zurich and he said no. Another passenger confirmed that the train was cancelled but the next was only 20 mins away. When we got on that we found some seats and it was nice and air-conditioned! Result.

That journey was one of the most scenic of the trip. The beautiful lakes and mountains of Switzerland just filled my heart with joy! I loved it. I can't wait to come back and see more of this country and spend a little longer here. Whilst travelling on this leg, Laurie and I were also keeping an eye on the Bradford City score! The carriage was quiet and he shouted out really loudly, "HUMPHRIES HAS SCORED!!!!!" We were both buzzing about that!! It's so annoying when you can't watch on your phone or listen on the radio! You just wait for text messages or app announcements. Soon after half time, Bobby Pointon scored another so we were in a very good mood! I can't wait to go back and watch a live match!

When we pulled into Zurich we didn't have too far to walk from the station. The temp was slightly cooler than Italy but still very warm! I'd already thought about finding somewhere to go for a late afternoon dip! It's very popular in Zurich is wild swimming. Everyone goes after work. Some people even use rivers in Switzerland to commute. The current of the rivers is strong enough to just glide you along so you take your belongings in a waterproof bag and either go to the office or come home from

The office (depending which way the current goes) via the river!!! 

Emma and Laurie fancied chilling in the room so I left them to it and headed up to a place I'd found on Google. It was a relatively safe spot because it's contained like a lido and you won't be drifted off to sea or wherever. As I got closer there was such a buzz about. People were sunbathing or jumping in, swimming, swinging from ropes, diving off boards. All along the river.

It was hard to work out how to get in my bit but I found it. It's a free facility with lifeguards and changing areas. You leave your stuff on the side upstairs, go down the steps to the river or jump off the board and the current takes you about 100 metres. Then at the other end, there's like a cage that stops you going downstream. You have to be pretty on it to grab the steps though as you can crash into them with a bit of a bang.

The water was so refreshing after the heat and the current was lots of fun. The first time I did actually swim but on my second go I decided to just lie back and relax. In the end I had 5 little goes, heading down the steps either floating or swimming to the other end, climbing up the ladder and walking back through to the other side. I didn't put my things in a locker as I didn't have change with me but there were people hanging around chilling where I left my stuff so I assumed it would be ok. It was.

I really enjoyed that experience. It wasn't something I planned on doing. A bit spur of the moment but I am really glad I did. It's something I won't get an opportunity to do for a long time I expect. 

Walking back to the room there was such a good buzz in the air. With it being Saturday night this meant everyone was out having drinks. It would have been great to indulge but like I said, travel fatigue has really set in now.

Last nights sleep was tough. Our hotel was situated in a busy party area and there was a thudding base beat vibrating through our room. I felt like I was on an 18-30s holiday. 

There was no air con in the room and the fan wasn't that great. With windows open there was a slight breeze in the air but the noise was unbearable. Even with ear plugs it made me sick. I think I've a bit of the old ADHD sound sensitivity going on to be fair.

So basically it was a trip to the shower for a late night cool down.

The night was warm and loud and probably for the first time this trip, I had interrupted sleep. Some others staying on our floor came back in the middle of the night being loud. Doors banging, music blaring, stupid screaming. I thought, "just you bastards wait until I am up at six..."

The thought of payback kept me going every time I woke up again because of the heat! At 6am my alarm went and so the noise began. Over to the bathroom, BANG, back to the room BANG. "LAURIE!!! GET DRESSSSSSSED". Ha.

As we left the room I gave the doors a few more bangs for good measure.