14th September Munich to Zurich

** Well 8:55 this morning I finally depart Munich by train and go into the Swiss mountains heading for Zurich, or so my thought patterns are leading me to believe. 

My Tash and Jeremy are also leaving early today, but they are travelling towards Berlin. This time next week they should be home, back at work, whether in the office for Jeremy or up in the Pilbara for Tash. Jessie is still in Madrid and will be off to Paris this coming weekend and then arrive in London a day or two after me. And Mel arrives in Paris in 29 days time.

** What I have loved to see is the support for the Ukraine. Everywhere I go in Europe I see the Ukrainian flag flying. I met a young Ukrainian girl the other day who say with tears in her eyes that she has been made so welcome wherever she has gone, but just wants to go back home.

** Germany has been interesting & different as would be any new country one visits,  but I leave here acknowledging an eiry feeling of ghostly whispers and fears, haunting and echoing through my mind, echoes I have tried to, but just cannot shake. I am glad I came but glad I am leaving. I wasn't involved, I wasn't even born, but somehow I felt uneasy the whole while I have been here in Germany. It's so hard to describe but there are memories that are not mine eminating from every corner, on every street, and in every dark shadow, even though the sun is full in the sky. I'll get over this weirdness I know, in the same manner I get over most things and once I am gone I know that those echoes will dissipate as the distance between us increases.

** Spotted the start of the Alps about an hour ago. I just love mountains. The train is running a bit late, but I have all the time in the world.

** Swiss cows munching on Swiss grass to process it into Swiss milk in order to make Swiss chocolate. I am definately in the best place on earth Lol. Everything is so green here. And I have maybe just found out why - it going to rain for the next 10 days straight. Did not see that coming.

** About 30 - 40 minutes out from Zurich. Hopefully we will make up some time

** Here I am feeling so proud of myself travelling across Europe considering my age & health  and then I suddenly saw out the corner of my eye, as we arrived  at the penaltimate station before Zurich, a chap carrying a back pack on his very bent back and bent knees as well as carrying two hicking sticks and many more years than I have seen. As the train was still slowing down, he was gone from my vision before I could grab my camera. I pointed him out to the young guy sitting next to me who was by the window and said with a smile, that if one can see an horizon, one has always something to work towards. As we would say to the old chap in Australia, "Good onya mate!"

** And it's "grüezi!" to Zurich or as I will say it, "g' day mate"

First quick shots of Zurich.

** My bed & breakfast hotel was hard to find because I had to go into a pub/eatery. Lovely young woman, by the name of Leah, was very accommodating and sorted me out quickly. She served me a glass of very cold hibiscus tea and I also ordered a small beer and what I received was as close to perfection as my taste buds have known since I started this trip. This light ale beer is called Adler Braun. I will be drinking this for the next three days at least.

** I can already tell that Zurich is not cheap but I'm in a position to make comparisons and so far on this trip I would still say that Copenhagen has been the most expensive to date. 

When one is travelling just accept the local prices without whinging. All the prices to date have been 50% plus over prices in Australia but for the moment I am not in Australia. Whatever a coffee cost, it costs. If one is going to keep checking costs you will not enjoy yourself.

** And even better news for me.  have been told I can get to Berne and back in one day by train so I will be going this Friday to see the Clock. If you don't know what I am talking about, look it up, although I will have images and comments about it later this week,  I hope. Stuart & Michael T, you will understand why I am going there.

** My first non-cost messup of my trip. I not sure if it was the cost factor but I normally book accommodation within the old city area but for reasons that elude me for the moment, I find myself some 20 to 30 minute walk from the old city, and I must emphasis here that Zurich is not like Perth that is built on a flattish plain. Zurich is built on hills. They are manageable but it's annoying. But don't worry, it won't kill me. I'm sure my doctor is smiling.

** Some more images after just walking around.

** As I am settling for the night, with an hour or two or three ahead of me of Netflix, I am watching the lightning reflections on the buildings outside. 5 or 6 within 30 seconds but no thunder. There's a storm somewhere, but for the moment it's not here. It may yet arrive over night or in the morning. I have a 24 hour transport ticket so I might not attempt to outrun any rain, as if I can run.