Switzerland is one country that looks like an energetic kid when it sunny, like an old man when its snowy/ wintery, but is at its worse when it rains!! Having seen the snowy side last year, I was totally exhilarated at seeing the sunny part this time. So on the great sunny Sunday, woke up early and decided to go to Interlaken. But as we were about to leave, I messaged Sharmazee asking him his plan and to our utter dismay, while we were planning to go all the way to Interlaken, these guys were on the train to St Gallen. So we decided to stick here only and wait for them. Since we had about a couple of hours to go, I came up wth the brilliant idea of going to my favourite place in Switzerland, Appenzell.
Appenzell, made famous by the beer that goes by its name is one of the places that are not quite on the tourist office map but is sure one of the most brilliant places. So Shefali and I caught he appenzell train and went there. The journey all the way up is very serene full with sylvan beauty. Since it was a Sunday, the people there were all dressed up in the traditional dresses which were quite corful and there were huge preparations for a community mass. It really amazes me as to how these people still manage to find the time, money as well as the effot to carry out such traditions and customs. But sure was darn nice. After a few hours of wandering around Appenzell, we got back to st gallen. When these guys did not turn up in the train that was coming from bern, we called them again. To my utter dismay (yet not to the level of astonishment), these guys had tken a direct train to Schaffhausen. So we duly decided to go to that place. The train trip to Schaffhausen was long, but it was very beautiful. This entire train journey was next to the Lake Bodensee and hence we could see all the people dressed up in their Sunday casuals taking a dip in the lake, sun bathing, playing soccer etc., but my personal favs are watching them yachting and cycling/skating. These guys even have cycles with prams attched to them. Its amazing as to how much these guys enjoy themselves. So we finally met up Nijhara and company in Schaffhausen as we were descending towards the Rhine falls. It was nice to see everybody, except for the fact that everybody was sooo tired and completely sans any energy. Apparently sharmanzee had them get off a couple of stations early and so they had walked a fair amount before doing the various touch points in rhine. So we decided to take the train and go to some place called the Stein Am Rhine.
Although I wasn’t quite enthu about this place but it got mentioned in some magazine as one of the most beautiful places in Swissland with the best marketplatz or the city square. I was like-” What the heck!! All cities are beautiful and their city squares are chuu.” But its was indeed a very very beautiful small town with a typical Sunday crowd and lots of fun. It was sunny and we clicked ourselves to glory. My only regret was not carrying a boxer or a swim suit. I was so jealous of the kids who climbed up the city bridge and were taking jumps into the river flowing underneath!!!! So we finally winded up from there after a couple of amazing hours and took the train back to St gallen. Here we went to the famed red lounge and the church. And finally called it a day.
I always wonder when will things be in India the way they are in Europe. Believe me I have always believed that probably our traditions and culture is far stronger than the ones here. But the level of personal interest and enthusiasm towards life that these guys take is tremendous. They play hard, work hard and party hard. And not just in words but in spirit as well!! Long live this spirit!!
J
end of day 2
Appenzell, made famous by the beer that goes by its name is one of the places that are not quite on the tourist office map but is sure one of the most brilliant places. So Shefali and I caught he appenzell train and went there. The journey all the way up is very serene full with sylvan beauty. Since it was a Sunday, the people there were all dressed up in the traditional dresses which were quite corful and there were huge preparations for a community mass. It really amazes me as to how these people still manage to find the time, money as well as the effot to carry out such traditions and customs. But sure was darn nice. After a few hours of wandering around Appenzell, we got back to st gallen. When these guys did not turn up in the train that was coming from bern, we called them again. To my utter dismay (yet not to the level of astonishment), these guys had tken a direct train to Schaffhausen. So we duly decided to go to that place. The train trip to Schaffhausen was long, but it was very beautiful. This entire train journey was next to the Lake Bodensee and hence we could see all the people dressed up in their Sunday casuals taking a dip in the lake, sun bathing, playing soccer etc., but my personal favs are watching them yachting and cycling/skating. These guys even have cycles with prams attched to them. Its amazing as to how much these guys enjoy themselves. So we finally met up Nijhara and company in Schaffhausen as we were descending towards the Rhine falls. It was nice to see everybody, except for the fact that everybody was sooo tired and completely sans any energy. Apparently sharmanzee had them get off a couple of stations early and so they had walked a fair amount before doing the various touch points in rhine. So we decided to take the train and go to some place called the Stein Am Rhine.
Although I wasn’t quite enthu about this place but it got mentioned in some magazine as one of the most beautiful places in Swissland with the best marketplatz or the city square. I was like-” What the heck!! All cities are beautiful and their city squares are chuu.” But its was indeed a very very beautiful small town with a typical Sunday crowd and lots of fun. It was sunny and we clicked ourselves to glory. My only regret was not carrying a boxer or a swim suit. I was so jealous of the kids who climbed up the city bridge and were taking jumps into the river flowing underneath!!!! So we finally winded up from there after a couple of amazing hours and took the train back to St gallen. Here we went to the famed red lounge and the church. And finally called it a day.
I always wonder when will things be in India the way they are in Europe. Believe me I have always believed that probably our traditions and culture is far stronger than the ones here. But the level of personal interest and enthusiasm towards life that these guys take is tremendous. They play hard, work hard and party hard. And not just in words but in spirit as well!! Long live this spirit!!
J
end of day 2
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