Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Lucerne (Luzern), Switzerland

Gruezi!

Switzerland is a destination that many people fantasize about visiting.  It is my impossible dream to visit Switzerland at least once in my lifetime and I got the privilege to experience Schweiz for two days!

Switzerland is famous for its mountains, chocolates, cheese, and wines.  It boasts over 1500 lakes, high mountains where its peaks are mostly covered with snow.

Switzerland is bordered by Germany to the north, Austria to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is also home to Red Cross and headquarters of famous institutions like World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, International Labor Organization, FIFA in Zurich and United Nations.

Switzerland is located in Central Europe.  Its capital is Bern and the largest city is Zurich. The prominent language is German or Deutsch.

Luzern or Lucerne is our destination for this day and it is located in the very heart of Switzerland and sits at the shores of Lake Lucerne.
Chapel Bridge at night

wearing my borrowed furcoat from my sister in-law, Ayen

Lucerne at night

Lucerne at night






The next day, after eating our baon na breakfast, we immediately proceeded to the Town Hall Clock Tower.  The clock tower was an element of the fortification of Lucerne, built between 14th and 16th century. 



 This is the magnificent view from the town hall clock tower.

tasted the potable flowing water in Lucerne



Tito Raymond and Julia



inside the Chapel Bridge


At our back is the famous Chapel Bridge.  Built initially as a way to link the Old Town on the North Bank to the New Town located at the South Bank.  It is also Luzern's famous landmark and Europe's oldest covered bridge and world's oldest truss bridge.
Chapel Bridge as my background
                                                                                        
souvenir shop


our accommodation for two days at the heart of Lucerne

we are pointing at our Schweiz accommodation for two days (above "Sandro")

Places to go in Lucerne:
1. Town Hall Clock in Kornmarkt
2. Hofkirche St. Leodegar
3. The Lion Monument
4. The Chapel Bridge
5. Needle Dam
6. Musegg Wall
7. Glacier Garden
8. Mount Rigi
9. Old Town
10. Engelberg
11. Weinmarkt

Saturday, November 11, 2023

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

 

Paris is France' capital. It is called by many different names, "City of Love", "City of Lights", "The Fashion Capital".  Paris is known for its grandiose, majestic, grand monuments.   The preeminent of Paris' landmarks is of course the Eiffel Tower.


The Eiffel Tower is a wrought iron that stands 1,063 feet tall and was designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1887 to 1889 for the 1889 World's  Fair.  The tower was meant to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French revolution and of course to show-off to the world France's modern industrial excellence.

Eiffel Tower can be viewed in multiple sites but it is in Rue de I'Universite where you can get the best photos of the Eiffel Tower. We left Antwerp, Belgium at around 4am and we got here before 8am.  Because of this spot's popularity on social media, this site is already filled with tourists who want to get a perfect snap of the Eiffel Tower.

Gustave Eiffel constructed an apartment at the top of the tower.  The last floor was intended to welcome and accommodate visitors.  The apartment is located just below Eiffel's spire.  It measures 100 square meters and has a couch, table, a piano, three desks, a bathroom, kitchen and a toilet cubicle.  
Eiffel Tower can withstand wind and will sway through storm. The tower also moves because of its material, the wrought iron, that expands by the heat of the sun growing a few centimeters during summer.

The tower lights are lit up every evening until 1145 pm, however its illumination is protected by copyright under French Law but it only applies to photos taken for professional use.  We are at liberty to posts and share Eiffel tower and its magnificent lights.
It is Gustave's strict condition and instruction to  repaint the tower every seven years to protect the tower from rust and other corrosive effect.  Over the years, the tower has been repainted with different colors from reddish brown to bright yellow.  In 2024 the tower will be filled with golden hue to coincide with 2024's Paris Olympics.



at Seine River



on our way to Eiffel is Paris' Louis Vuitton branch

Visit the top attractions in Paris.
1. The Eiffel Tower
2. Arc de Triomphe
3. Louvre Museum
4. Disneyland Paris
5. Notre dam cathedral
6. Montmarte and Sacre Coeur
7. Palace of Versailles
8. Luxembourg Park
9. The Pantheon
10. Moulin Rouge

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Burg Eltz, Wierschem, Germany


a quick breakie on-the-way to Wierschem, Germany

Germany is our last destination before flying back to Manila.  My brother and my sister-in-law made sure that this trip is going to be fun! Wierschem is 285 kilometers or a 3 hour trip from Antwerp.  My brother, while on-the-way to Wierschem, jokingly said, "Natulog ka lang nasa Germany ka na, ahahah!"

Raymond and Ayen being at Belgium for more than five years, they almost toured most parts of Europe.  In a continent where castles are prominent, and for them who are castle-lovers, they really picked this palace to be our destination for this day.


Vehicles are parked at a nearby parking lot at 2 euros for cars and bikes, and 4 euros for buses and camper vans.  Castle is 15-20 minutes walk (a total of 1.1 kilometer) when you take the forestry part. The entrance fee is 14 euro, free entrance for kids.



Burg Eltz is situated in the middle of Eltz forest. It is one of the few castles that survived the "thirty years" war. It is one of three castles in the region that was left intact over the centuries.  Burg Eltz has remained in the same family for 33 generations or for over 850 years!  Construction began in 1157 AD.






Burg Eltz has eight towers up to 35 meters in height.  There are more than a hundred rooms but the 80 rooms are opted for tourists and visitors for museum purposes.  The remaining rooms are still habituated.  There are 40 fireplaces and more than 20 toilets that are automatically flushed by rain drain.

A guided tour will lead you to several rooms and halls.  Tours typically lasts for 30-45 minutes especially when waiting for an English tour guide.  The castle is open from 930AM to 530PM


flowers at Burg Eltz


We walked the paved concrete on our way back to the parking lot, which is 800 meters in distance or 10 minute walk uphill.  There are buses for 2 euro that will take you to the parking lot if you wish not to walk uphill.

picture with my brother

Tita Ayen, Tito Raymond and Julia
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