Train to somewhere…

Train to nowhere – travelling for me is often simply going with the flow. And that can be metaphorically or physically given that we certainly have enough rivers and lakes.

I bought myself 20 “day” cards on the Swiss train system for my birthday last year and am really enjoying the joys of “getting up and going” when the mood hits.

Last Saturday I finally made it to Basel (have been saying that I would for several months now, but something – or rather several someones – more interesting came up and I never managed.)

Dame Helvetia overlooking the Rhine in Basel

View of the alps from above the Bern train station Jan 11, 2020

Tuesday I accompanied my younger son on the day out, which I had given him as a Christmas present: a gloriously sunny day, we left at 8 a.m. and returned at 8 p.m. having spent only about 2 and a half hours on foot in all that time. So beautiful that we kept doing loops. Original goal – Lucerne – where I showed him some of the sites and where we ate in Tibits, the new vegetarian restaurant chain that has taken over most of the major train stations. It was so lovely that instead of back-tracking we did a loop to Interlaken so managed to see many of the famous mountain peaks all in one day. Were happily tired but still had a last bite in our local restaurant to round off the day.

Welcome to Lucerne

The old wooden bridge in Lucerne

The lakes on the loop from Lucerne to Interlaken

The same view of the alps from above the Bern train station Jan 14, 2020

Always have a brolley in one's bag as...

Edinburgh and Scotland are known for their “mists”.

Day two of the Scottish adventure.

 

It was very amusing this morning when I stepped out in search of breakfast. One minute nothing, next rain, three minutes later yet again nothing. I must have opened and shut my umbrella a half a dozen times in the short hour that I was out and about.

So today is going to be a GREAT DAY –  first of all it would be hard to beat yesterday’s challenges and secondly it’s my birthday (remember the “it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to” – almost did several times yesterday).

Also whilst looking around the neighbourhood last night I had seen that one of my favourite dining experiences – MILK – was still in existence! So since the hotel currently isn’t offering breakfast what better excuse to check it out. Had a lovely plate of scrambled eggs on Farmer’s bread with a spinach salad and one of the best cappuccinos that I have had in a long time. Great for those more discerning people who don’t mind rudimentary seating and deco (there are several, the one I went to is on Morrison Rd. near Haymarket)– the food is well worth it! http://www.cafemilk.co.uk/west-end/

 

Breakfast at MILK

Upon my return to the hotel Richard was on duty so I could get addresses for a convertor plug and exchange my latest adventures. He was surprised that I hadn’t been awoken by the noise at 4 a.m. but that is probably about the time that I was finally soundly asleep. I gave him the MILK brochure as he didn’t know about it then off I went to try and solve at least some of my “problems” (interestingly he thought that a non-valid credit card was more of a problem than a convertor plug, but my theory that without the convertor plug I couldn’t even begin to solve other problems might have had convinced him – not!).  Walking up to the electronics store had me passing a post office so on the way back I tried getting funds that way – no go, so I am not sure why the Post thinks that it is possible but maybe as it was a small shop… she suggested that I try outside as well, but that too didn’t work. Nevertheless I was able to exchange some of the Swiss francs that I had left in my stash (and was going to take out at home so did I have a premonition that they might come in handy?) so not desperate yet: I do vaguely remember that I wanted to cut back on the food this trip – hmmmm the gods that be are enforcing that perhaps?

Then it was back to the hotel to deal with the credit card, pack and get to the station. Not impressed by the after sales service of Postfinance: three calls, dropped twice, but finally got someone competent on-line (wish that I remember her name as I would certainly write a thank you) who ordered a new one, but also managed to release my current one to a signature-only credit card. Of course now I need to try and use it to make sure it works and certainly before I hit the Orkney Islands where facilities may be few and far between – Inverness will be my proofing ground.

By then time was getting way too short for comfort so rushed down and had Richard order me a cab whilst he was printing my receipt. Had to go the back way around the hill (rather like trying to access the train station in Geneva) so it might have been the same time by tram. On the other hand it certainly was more comfortable and he dropped me off right at the entrance.  There my fortune was looking up. There was a machine just inside the door – instructions were easy and miracle of miracles my card actually worked for ID (leaving me to truly wonder when my credit card went belly up as that purchase was after Wengen) and I had my tickets in hand within minutes. Finding the track was a wee bit stressful, but in the end I was on the train 5 minutes before departure. Minor, very minor, snag (note that I won’t even qualify it as a glitch), no seat reservations honored on this particular train. But the personnel on the key told me that the last couple of wagons hadn’t a soul in them – turned out to be true. Interesting to note that one accesses trains via gates now that are manned by personnel checking tickets. Security is tighter – I sigh for the long-gone days when one didn’t need it.

Beautiful train ride north through the Scottish countryside – every changing skies, shores and pastures made for a pleasant ride.

difficult to make out the torrents of rain as I was boarding the train

One river after the other

mostly bays and water always in sight

Derricks in the North Sea

Hillsides were lush

The sun popped in and out highlighting glorious scenery, small villages and more water

A sight that we were to see hundreds of times

On the arrival tracks in Inverness

Arrived on time and caved to the luxury of a cab to the guest house. I had been able to pull up the address and it looked to be about 25 minutes of walking. With the iffy weather and two pieces of luggage simply didn’t want to do that and couldn’t quite figure out the busses (nor did I see any later along that route). Checked in to yet another wee room with no “en suite”. This time though there is at least a separate toilet just out the door and a shower and large room to the left.

Park Guest House in Inverness

Dumped my luggage at this lovely B&B (http://www.parkguesthouseinverness.co.uk/)literally and headed back out in search of coffee and cake as I hadn’t had any lunch and also in celebration. Ended up walking along the river, across the footbridge and back to the shopping center next to the train station. Coffee and cake in Marc’s and Spencer’s followed by a bit of retail therapy. The excuse of course was that I needed to see if I could use my credit card with signature instead of a nip code.

Yes – hallelujah.

Along the River Ness right in town

Birthday celebration cake and coffee

Walked up to the “castle” as well then headed back footsore and tired. Was almost there when my friends texted that they had arrived. A short reunion and we headed back down and across the river to one of the restaurants that I had seen earlier. Had a lovely celebration at the Waterside Restaurant.

 

A castle which is not a castle

The "castle" at Edinburgh

 

What better meal for a first night than fish 'n chips

Truly a fine birthday.

After filling in our breakfast orders we agreed to meet at 8. Tomorrow we head yet farther north – friends exploring the Orkney Islands together.

Lunch in Zermatt or…

Day tripping.

Now there’s an expression that I haven’t used nor heard in a long time: it harks back to my childhood when literally about all the vacation we could afford were day trips (these tended to be more fun and more expensive than the couple of weeks camping that were the norm).

In my present life I have grown quite fond of “day cards” on the Swiss train system. Our community sells these for a price that isn’t to be believed and although the weekends can disappear quickly if one is flexible one can usually get one or two throughout the week without having to plan too far in advance. I did this recently when I dropped into the Mayor’s office for something else and the day before yesterday was the day.

As the weather wasn’t 100% wonderful anywhere in Switzerland I decided to stick with my original plan of finally getting back to Zermatt. As I am currently leaving house and cats to the housemate I already had an hour’s head start.

First step: catching the local train, which is cute enough in itself, being as it is a tourist train connecting Martigny in the Valais of Switzerland to Chamonix in France, at 8:12. 

Les Marécottes train station

Totally new

 

rather gray everywhere - Vernayaz

This meant though that I hadn’t yet had breakfast so when the train was only a couple of minutes in arriving headed further up the valley I hopped on it then stopped in Sion for breakfast (a city I know quite well as it is usually where I head with company or simply to see something else when I am in the mountains: it has a lot to offer both in scenery, history and culturally). Having enjoyed coffee and a roll it was back to the station where I whiled away about 20 minutes amusing myself trying to take photos of the fighter jets that were practicing landing.   

 

jet fighter coming in for a landing

fall colors

Then on to Zermatt – changing train in Visp – boy what changes there have been to that train station. It has been obviously a long time since I last enjoyed the privilege of going to Zermatt as not much recognizable either there nor along the way.  The weather was improving in that there was the odd patch of sun and no rain. The fall colors this year are stupendous and I can only encourage anyone who is in Switzerland to get out and see the valleys and mountains the next 10 days or so before they are all gone. We even have a decent share of reds, which is very unusual.

through the train window along the way

Train to Zermatt

Along the way several water falls

Fog and rock make for a pretty combination

Fall colors are gorgeous this year

Having visited my favorite spots (including the church and the two cemeteries) it was time for a bite. Being as how I was in Zermatt I had to go to the oldest known restaurant and was also “obligated” to take the rösti and cheese (hash browns with raclette cheese on the top – the whole thing then grilled in the oven like lasagna: not good for the cholesterol nor the waist, but oh the taste buds will live in ecstasy!).

typical decoration

Ibex and marmots are indigenous

very fitting for a mountain grave

even cuter than the cows!

 

Oldest business in Zermatt according to them.

Sinfully good: hash browns smothered in cheese then put under the grill

The sun had come out, but THE Mountain remained in the clouds – never mind I could see it from my village today and I’ll surely go back to Zermatt another time.
 

Even some reds

Then the reverse train ride: since I was on one heading for Brig and points beyond I decided to at least go to Brig where I took a stroll around town, discovering the Old Town and an Abbey that I never knew existed – will have to return for a visit of the church.

First snows on the mountains leading to the Simplon Pass

Brig - well worth another trip

 Then as there was a train due to leave in just 20 minutes grabbed coffee and a cookie to go.  

 

 

Back “home” pleasantly tired: day tripping is fun!

30 hours of which 11 hours of train or…

On the road again.

The name of my blog surely gives it away: Views from Everywhere.

I love to travel, but even I have been known to cram in perhaps a wee bit too much.

Seated on my first train yesterday morning, headed towards Southern France (thanks S for being at home!) I realized that once I got here out of 30 hours I would have spent 11 of them on one train or the other.  Leaving St.Gallen the day before around noon, arriving in Argelès-sur-Mer at 18:00, I have also covered just under 1’000 kilometers.

Below a few scenes – through dirty train windows – of the trip in between Geneva and Argelès-sur-Mer.

Rhone river outside of Bellegarde, France

ruin on the outskirts of Bellegarde

Lyon, France the "crayon"

a mountain-top village along the way

Sète France

Towards the Mediterranean

Harbor entry

Along the Mediterranean

Along the Mediterranean, Spanish mountains

C's fish soup - a great welcome!

the alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions