Friday 18 December

We were lulled into a relaxing start to each day at the beginning of the tour, albeit a lot of sightseeing and learning is achieved each day. Now the days are getting earlier and the drives longer! I was awake at 4.30am anyway 😕 so being on time for breakfast and the bus at 7.30am isn’t a problem!

I had my first stressful day of the holiday today. The travel director enforces seat rotation so we are not sitting in the same rows on the bus every day. Today was our turn in the front rows of the bus. Unfortunately this new seat gave me a perfect vantage point to watch our bus driver as we set off for the day…doze off… It freaked me out! I spent the next hour just watching him drive, and pretending to cough or sneeze every time his eyes started to close! Ross managed to get the attention of the travel director to tell him and he monitored the situation (as did we!) and we spoke to him at length at our morning stop. 

The morning stop seemed to make the difference to his sleepiness and we set off again towards Switzerland. We drove past Lake Como and through several tunnels (including one that was 17km long), and had lunch soon after we crossed the border. Because Switzerland is generally more expensive, Peter encouraged us to buy lunch at the Italian morning tea stop. However the kids had a good appetite and did not leave us any of the paninis and plain croissants we had ordered (admittedly, we had tried to be stingy and make them share sandwiches and the two Cokes between them). So we took them to a park next to the restaurant for their lunch and to play, and then we bought a salad each inside. The most expensive salad we have ever purchased maybe, but it was SO good! 

  
The coach then pushed on to Lucerne and straight to Mount Pilatus. We took cable cars (in groups of 4) halfway up the mountain and then a larger cable tram to the top of the mountain. We not only were able to see snow, but the kids (and some big kids amongst the adults) got to have a snow fight!! As it gets dark early as we approach the winter solstice here, we had to be back down the mountain before 5pm. 

   
    
 
We then were given some time to shop and returned to the hotel for a three course included meal (soup, meat, vegetables….we have left the pizza in Italy!). Switzerland is famous for its chocolate, army knives and watches. The budget didn’t stretch far enough for watches, but we did buy some chocolate and Jarrod and Tim bought themselves a Swiss Army knife each.