As mentioned in our previous post, when we crossed the border, we were stopped only to make sure we paid our toll costs/road tax while in Switzerland. What you purchase at this stop is actually a vignette, or as we like to say, window bling for Bijou. It’s a pretty red one, so it looks good on her!
The vignette allows us to use most major Swiss roadways and tunnels and it cost 40 Swiss francs (CHF). That’s roughly $37. Best of all, it is good for one year. We paid with a credit card because Switzerland never changed over to the euro. We needed to find an ATM to get some Swiss francs, which is hands down the most beautiful money I have ever seen. And believe me when I say if you come to Switzerland, you will need a lot of it.
Switzerland is a beautiful country. Soon after we crossed the border the massive craggy mountains appeared, the rolling hillsides got steeper and more green, as though they were covered in carpet. The lakes are a stunning turquois and streams tumble from the mountains heavy with glacial silt. And yes, the cows really do wear giant bells that ring out across the fields. It is about as idyllic a scene as you might imagine.
Campgrounds here are not cheap and I am on a mission to save where we can so that when we do want to stay somewhere expensive we will have done our best to mitigate the costs when averaged. We had selected one in Lucerne that was near the lake and town that cost over 50 CHF per night. Since we arrived so late in the day, we drove a bit further to an overnight stop that was supposed to cost 15 CHF, but no one showed up to collect the money, so it turned out to be a freebie.
Early the next day we moved to the spendy place. We only had one day in Lucerne so we wanted to be as close as possible to the town. Since we were right on the lake we decided to walk the few kilometers into the heart of the city rather than ride our bikes. It was a lovely walk and after exploring and sharing a delicious fish stew for lunch, we hopped the ferry back to Bijou, which gave us a chance to see the town from the water. Lucerne is lovely from just about any perspective and we really enjoyed our day there. Traveling north to chase the sun paid off as we had a gorgeous, sunny day.
On our second full day in Switzerland we traveled about 40 kilometers into the mountains to the ski village of Engleberg situated in the Uri Alps. It was here, in 1970, that I learned to snow ski when my family was visiting for the Christmas holidays. At the time, my older sister, Judy, was attending boarding school in Versoix just outside Geneva, and my younger sister Shannon was just nine months old. I recall Judy and I packing Shannon onto a sled and trudging her through the snowy village along the little river. At one point she tossed her favorite doll overboard into a snowbank and though Judy and I retraced our steps searching for said doll, it was never to be seen again. I think Shannon still holds a grudge to this day.
Also spending Christmas in Engleberg that year was the Canadian Olympic Ski jumping team. That was a lot of eye candy for a young teen, but that aside, we had a blast watching them jump and getting to learn more about the sport.
So with those memories intact, I was eager to return to Engleberg and the weather made it all the more attractive. Steven and I rode our bikes into town for a visit then headed up the mountain paths for a nice long ride. It was just beautiful!
We were fortunate to be able to use our discount ACSI camping card there and so enjoyed a reasonably priced campsite. Unfortunately, to reach it we had to cross a very narrow bridge. I did just fine until the last foot or so when the concrete bridge footing expanded ever so slightly, which caused it to scrape across Bijou’s front tire fender. Bijou’s first boo-boo! I was sick about it, but there was nothing I could do. Fortunately the damage is located on just one piece, so maybe just that little section can be replaced. I don’t know yet. We were able to cross the bridge upon our departure without further mishaps.
For having only been in the country for two days, we had already covered a lot of ground, and we are just getting started! Stay tuned as we head to Interlaken and higher into the Alps!
NEXT UP: Interlaken & UP!
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Sometime you just want to yodel!
When I go sailing with you, I am going to yodel. Be prepared.
Cleanest country I’ve ever been in, reminds me of the Mormon towns in Utah – but cleaner!
So clean, in fact, that we’re not entirely sure how to get rid of our rubbish. Steven says, “we are going to have to Shawshank the shit out of our trash to get rid of it.” LOL. This is why I love him. 🙂
Switzerland never belong to the EU that why they don’t use euro’s 😄
Yes, that is correct. Good clarification!
I’ve always wanted to go to Switzerland. I’m so glad you’re posting so I can follow. Gorgeous!
It’s a beautiful place to visit, as you can see. Maybe if you get to visit here next year you can include Switzerland!
The scenery is absolutely stunning! Bummer about the Swiss pin striping on Bijou though. ☹️
Safe travels!
Yeah, that pin striping isn’t gonna buff out. 🙁 Poor Bijou.
Such stunning views!!! I can smell the clean fresh air from the pics. That mini Porsche is a cutie. Hopefully some of the scrapes will rub off being from the concrete post and not taking off your paint. I’m guessing you didn’t find the doll this visit???
LOL, no doll. The funny thing is that we had another one already wrapped and under the tree for her. But the one she lost was yellow and the new one was pink and she wasn’t having any of it. Oh, well. We tried.
Spectacular photos and as always, entertaining and informative writing. So glad you let me come along with you!
Thanks so much! Always good to have a ramblin’ rat along for the ride! 🙂
I came across your blog by chance and have found it a great read, thank you. We are effectively stuck in the UK at present so are very envious watching your journey across Europe, the pictures are stunning, which doesn’t help us locked up in damp England. You may not be aware of the UK’s situation with our forthcoming Brexit situation but from January we will only be able to travel in Europe for 90 days in any 180. I would of imagined that yourselves are restricted to these timings already, are you in possession of any special visa or documentation that is allowing you to travel for such an extended period? Many motorhomers in the UK were used to spending months on end in Europe now this privilege is about to be withdrawn many of us are searching for ways to get round the problem, if you have any tips we would all like to know them.
Thank you so much for your kind words about our blog. We are very much aware of the situation in the UK, in fact, we spent “Brexit Eve” with several Brits in Morocco and also traveled in Morocco with the Motoroamers, Myles and Karen. We follow them as they’ve returned to the UK and look to move forward after Brexit. As for how we manage, I was lucky (some say smart) enough to marry an Irishman, so I basically follow him around. I would follow him even if he wasn’t Irish, but don’t tell him that. 🙂
I remember hiking in Switzerland and encountering cows with big bells on the trails. It added something interesting to the soundscape. It’s fun sitting here in Florida tagging along with you in Europe and reliving memories from oh-so-long-ago.
So sorry about Bijou’s booboo. But you know, with all of the narrow streets you’ve driven while in Europe, it’s amazing this is the first scrape you’ve gotten. Still, I’m sorry it happened. 🙁
I love that they name their cows and the name is written on the cowbell. I would totally name all my cows, too! Yeah, Bijou’s boo-boo isn’t gonna buff out. 🙁
Such a beautiful place. I loved riding our bikes from Grindelwald to Interlaken and Thun and taking the train back up after watching the Tour de Switzerland car race. So many good memories. Looking forward to the next chapter.
Grindelwald to Interlaken would be a brake-burner of a route, but fun! We had a great time in this area, next blog! 🙂
I never tire of your posts! Thank you so much for posting so those of us who can’t travel personally can travel along with you!
Thanks for your kind thoughts, Donna! We so appreciate readers who let us know they are enjoying our posts. I’m glad you can, at least for the time being, follow along and live vicariously. Someday soon, we hope, everyone will be able to travel again. Fingers crossed.