Chocolate and Cheese and Snow-Chains...oh my!! (Switzerland, day 1)

While my parents were visiting Italy, we decided to take a trip to Switzerland to experience the Alps all covered in snow. And what an adventure it was! The Fiat isn't exactly a road-trip warrior (especially when the weather is less than perfect), so two days after we returned from Rome we rented a "SUV" (Italian style, of course!), piled in, and headed out to Luzern, Switzerland.

We arrived mid-afternoon on Sunday into one of the most quaint little cities we have come across. Luzern is adorable! All decorated for Christmas with a lake cutting the city in half, it is the perfect place to walk around and take in all that Swiss culture has to offer. We wasted no time, traversing all over to see the Chapel Bridge (the oldest wooden bridge in Europe), the Lowendenkmal (a large lion monument carved out of a sandstone cliff to honor the Swiss Guards who defended the Palais des Tuieries in Paris in 1792), and Weinmarkt Square. The biting air left us chilled to the bone, so we stopped in an English Pub for some gluhwein and then continued on to enjoy a traditional Swiss fondue dinner feast!

In front of the Chapel Bridge

My parents on the Chapel Bridge

Lowendenkmal Monument

Luzern

Taking a break to warm up!

On our way back to the hotel, we were stopped in our tracks by a fierce racket. Around the corner appeared the beginning of a Christmas parade traditionally held in Luzern a few times a week leading up to Christmas day. But instead of horns and drums, the sounds were coming from over-sized cowbells and large whips. It was quite an interesting sight to see...and to hear!

Men and children carrying giant stars in the parade

One of many groups of cowbell ringers

Day 1 in Switzerland was a success!! There was so much more to see and experience, so it was early to bed and early to rise in preparation for day 2 of our adventure...

Ciao!