This Looking Back Series post is dedicated to my Travel and Life Companion who has shared with me the joys and sometimes frustration of travelling in Europe in 2012.
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Hauptbahnhof, Zurich. Public transport is probably one of
the most affordable living expenses in Switzerland |
The year began in Zurich, the capital city of Switzerland. This is a country noted for precision time pieces and predictability. The trains run on time, to the minute; everything works, much like Japan, but rather more antiseptic. The shops sell a bewildering variety of Swiss army knives, objects that are not carried among the people I know. Is there a special breed of people who buy these multi-functional small tools? There are of course Lindt chocolates, my favourite, but they are twice the price of that in the UK supermarkets! Another discovery are the delicious mini macaroons sold by Sprüngli, part of the Lindt corporation (Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli). Eating is believing. There seemed to be a heightened ecological consciousness among the citizens: the separation of recyclables and non recyclables is enforced with a zeal that puts the non conformists to shame. And of course there is the strict compliance with rules and regulations. Cross an empty street at your peril when the red light for pedestrian crossing is lit! You could be fined by a policeman on the spot. Life seemed so regimented, it filled me with anxiety.
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| Remnants of the old town wall, Luzern |
We visited Luzern because it is within travelling distance from Zurich and its reputation as a tourist destination. One of the city's famous landmarks - the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), a wooden bridge erected in the 14th century that straddles River Reuss, is a delight. On a very cold day when the wind chill factor attacked all exposed parts of the body, we ventured north of the the River Reuss to the Old Town where remnants of the old town walls still exist on the hill above Luzern. We counted the eight tall watch towers and watched children, protected by their waterproof trousers, played on their sledges with gay abandon.
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| Skyline from Hotel Sheraton, Room 702 |
Then it is back to Bratislava, a city that I have come to regard as my third home (after Hong Kong and London). The hospitality is heart warming as it always is, and the view from the Hotel Sheraton is a welcome sight both in the morning and the evening. The forest of advertising bill boards is an arresting sight - the saturation level is unique in this part of Europe. Along the banks of the River Danube, at the height of summer, there are hoards of stunningly beautiful young women promenading in their punishingly high heels, often on the arms of much older men. At the Hlavne Namestie (Main Square), there is a cake shop that sells the most delicious chestnut cake. But most of all, this is a small country with a big heart.
At the Danubiana Art Museum, on the southern edge of Bratislava, we came across one of the more impressive collections of modern art. There are visually inviting pieces that I can understand, without having to listen to audio tapes to learn their meaning. The colours are vivid, vibrant and joyous. The piece that bowled us over is the Wings of Danube, a massive sculpture by Peter Pollág. It tells of a dream, a vision, and of endless possibilities. The Danubiana is probably one of the most under rated art galleries because one needs private transport to get there, and it is out of the way for mainstream tourists especially the stag party revellers that so favour Bratislava for her cheap beer.
