We are back from our whirlwind vacation in Europe – Switzerland and Italy. In a mere 9 days, we visited London, Zurich, Lucerne, Mt. Pilatus, Seelsburg, Florence, Verona, Venice, Bellagio, Lake Como, San Gimagnano, Assisi, and glorious Rome. Up at 6 or 7 every morning, and walking all day until sometimes after midnight before falling into bed.
It is said that in Italy, for many years they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love; they had five hundred years of democracy and peace and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.
The view in Switzerland is spectacular, however not unlike Alberta, with the exception that the homes and hotels are quaint, whereas the Canadian structures are very modern. Many of the homes are akin to cuckoo clocks, and the people inside, resemble the colorful wooden figures that come out on demand every hour. Switzerland is a large, lumpy, solid rock, with a metre of snow on it. It is steep. By that I mean everything is a hill, or a mountain. Just outside Lucerne is Mount Pilatus. Ever wanted to shout from a 7,000-foot mountaintop? Then Mt. Pilatus is for you. Breathtaking views notwithstanding, I needed to catch my breath after riding on an incredible steep gondola, a thrilling ride that started at the mountain’s base to the mountain’s summit—a sweeping panoramic delight. Mount Pilatus is definitely something to shout about. The Alps are spectacular, and beyond the Alps, lies Italy.
Venice was not dirty as I had heard, instead it is a beautiful city, half fairy tale and half tourist trap. I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs; A palace and a prison both in plain view. It is a city of contrasts and contradictions. And, by the way, they really do have streets of water, and gondolas. The real surprise though, is that the gondoliers do not sing!
Rome was, and will continue to be, my favorite European city; full of works of the masters, who were in their 20s when creating many of their sculptures, paintings, and churches. Italians were eating with a fork and knife when North Americans were still eating each other!
You truly cannot feel history until you visit Rome. I walked on streets that were in place when Jesus was alive. I stood in the Coliseum where gladiators fought for their lives 2000 years ago. I saw where Ceasar was murdered, and where is body laid in mourning. Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel are awe inspiring. This is a spiritual place, and many, including me, were deeply moved.
Rome also has its gypsies and street vendors, who were persistent in their effort to sell you their wares. Bargaining is a way of life, and we had a lot of fun trying to get the best deal possible on purses, scarves, etc.
Every day was filled with gelatos, pastas, pizzas. When in Rome…