As
many of my family and friends know, my life although often tried to plan,
usually has a mind of its own and leads me in tangents, most of which turn out
very well indeed.
A
couple of months ago, my eldest son asked if he could use the mountain
apartment the first week in August. I replied in the positive and even offered
the car as it is easier to get around although if one has to there is a
train. Then about a month ago he learned
that he wasn’t going to be able to take the first week in August: how was the
last week in July?
Not
a problem as meanwhile I had an accumulation of odds and ends of appointments.
At
that point he no longer wanted the car – his back is still giving him problems
and the train is better for being able to move around.
Fast
forward to just a couple of weeks ago: my lovely Syrian friends from Paris
asked if they could visit the first week of August – a resounding yes on my
part. There is the 1st of August, then they will produce their
marvelous Syrian and grill meal the 3rd and so it goes. My summer
house guest, R., will also be here for her last week – where has the time gone?
Anyway
when another good friend no longer needed to go to Northern Switzerland for the
day today, I bought the train ticket thinking to give my son a great gift, but
no, meanwhile he preferred a car so rented one as I could no longer offer him
mine.
Thus
is was that two days ago I started seriously considering what I wanted to do
today with this train ticket and for some reason, which I couldn’t explain at
the time, my mind said “go have lunch in Lucerne”.
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| As Seneca said: hurry and live well: remember that each day is a life in itself. |
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| Terminus - Lucerne - please get off |
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| Lucerne's famous wooden bridge - in all its summer glory |
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| detail of the wooden bridge |
Which
is what I did. Caught the direct train and thought to choose a different restaurant,
but having checked out several ended up back at one that holds fond memories
“Le Lapin” – introduced to me by one of my best friends who grew up not far
from Lucerne and with whom I had the privilege of eating there whilst visiting
her a few years back during their period of “returning home”. They have since
returned to the neighborhood so I see them more often, still good memories.
I
also went out to the Hans Erni Museum – something that I had been meaning to do
for several years now: more good memories at it is in the same compound as the
Museum of Transportation – a favorite of the family. Although I didn’t find
another lithograph to purchase (we do have Pythagoras on the wall – bought there
when they first opened) I enjoyed refreshing my memory as to his talent.
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| mural outside the Hans Erni Museum |
Somewhere
along the way I realized why I had been pulled towards Lucerne as my choice
today: my favorite aunt – and second mother – would have turned 95 today! It
was during her first trip to Europe that she saw Lucerne and bought me my first
watch – a Swiss watch. Who could have known that I would eventually study in
France then return to Switzerland and become Swiss all these years later?
Cosmic wanderings indeed with an added bonus: it wasn't as hot in Lucerne as currently in Geneva.
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| Lake Lucerne |
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| Lake Lucerne |
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