Milan, New Orleans, & Home

When we arrived at our hotel in Milan, we encountered wifi failures.  Hence no final post from Europe.  We landed in New Orleans after 10pm; 5am Milan time.  We  gathered our belongings and quickly walked to our hotel.  We then drove back to Sweet Home Alabama!  "Be it ever so humble, there truly is no place like home."

Now it is back to my honey-do list.  Thanks for reading.

Bellinzona

Vic couldn't wait for me to get up this morning.  She sent me out in the cold on a coke and croissant run.  At least the croissants were just out of the oven when I bought them.

After breakfast she wanted to see the sights.  This included two more castles and old town.  Bellinzona means war zone and over the years there have been numerous battles here.  Milan often invaded and conquered only to be defeated by the Swiss.  In one battle, 600 Swiss defeated 10,000 Milano soldiers.  How is that even possible?  They must have been some bad hombres, superheroes, or something.  In spite of winning Bellinzona for Switzerland, 87% of the locals speak Italian.

She wanted to walk up the mountain to the highest castle.  I said no!  Thank god we took the bus or we would still be walking up.  While at the bus stop I noticed the sign.  I guess I watched to much Beavus & Butthead in the 90s, but I couldn't help but crackup that they printed Fart on the sign.  We walked down from the highest castle to the middle castle and city walls.  Forty percent of the city walls were destroyed in the 19th century.  Not sure by whom, but I would suspect Napolean's army.

Vic says it is time to shop some more.  Till tomorrow:

To Bellinzona, Switzerland

Call me an old poop if you must, but people were partying outside our window last night till after 5 am.  Having been awakened many times, I finally yielded by closing the window and inserting the hotel provided ear plugs.  Yes, if a hotel provides ear plugs in the room, you might want to ask, why?

No matter, as soon as we ate breakfast, Vic was ready to roll.  So off to Zurich and on to Bellinzona in the south of Switzerland.  The train passes by two large, beautiful lakes and through many valleys and mountains, as well as the many tunnels.  A gent from Bern told us pridefully that the Swiss had just completed a 40+ mile tunnel on this route and that when open will save an hour.  We told him we were at a point in our lives when the view was more important than the time saved.  He said he understood.

We deboarded the train and walked across the street to our hotel.  The receptionist informed us the stores and shops were closed on Sundays.  The only store open is the convenience store at the train station.  7/11 where are you?  We walked the town and found an open pizzeria.  This part of Switzerland is Italian speaking.  The pizza and wine were good.

Full, we headed off to see one of the three castles here.  I was impressed to learn it was free and had an elevator up.  Hallelujah, hallelujah!  We toured the castle grounds and then visited the city center.  Vic scoped out numerous potential shopping targets for tomorrow.  I was disappointed with the lack of pasterias I was seeing.  Never discount the zeal an excellent eclair can bring to a day.

Then back to the mundane; we needed to do laundry.  As luck would have it, there was one a block from our hotel.  Not to suggest that the laundry was expensive, I am now however an arm and a leg light, but the clothes are clean!  Till tomorrow:

Singen, Germany

We hopped a fast train to Singen, Germany this morning.  It is only 10 miles from Schaffhausen.  Vic wanted to walk on German soil.

We arrived and decided to visit the fort.  Another fine fort Napolean's army shot to hell.  Near the park entrance, we were told we were a half hour walk to the entrance and that it takes an hour and a half to walk up,  maybe two for people our age.  What do they mean, you people?   Fortunately for me, Vic was more in the mood to shop and dine so we didn't spend the hours to go up.

We walked the park with its beautiful gardens.  Then strolled by several statues.  Time to shop and dine.  As she earlier promised, Vic had schnitzel, sour kraut, roll, and a giant beer.  I had a spicy wurst, potato salad, carrot salad, roll, and coke.  Everything was delicious!  After visiting Switzerland, Germany is cheap!

It is Oktoberfest time in Germany, although there aren't too many festivities in Singen.  We did see a young lady in costume and took her picture.  Till tomorrow:

Rolling on the river Rhein

We took the train to Steckhorn and caught a river boat back to Schaffhausen.  We still can't get over the river clarity.  We also like to watch the swans; they seem so graceful.  Enjoy the pics.