Outfit of the Day - red-black striped top over sand-colored pants

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Missing the colors of Switzerland before the frosty snowy grounds up in the mountains. This was taken in the Interlaken area. In order to keep warm, I wore a thick red-black striped cotton top, black trench coat with fur trim, sand-colored pants and thigh-high boots.

Blouse: bought in Hong Kong (around SGD$39.90)
Trench coat: H&M (SGD$129.00)
Pants: Unknown
Hairband: Salvatore Ferragamo
Bag: Longchamp
Boots: MyGlamourous (SGD$59.90)

Outfit of the Day - maroon blouse over jeans and boots

"Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman." - Coco Chanel

Another scenic, almost dreamy page out of my recent Europe travels. As it is Winter, the outfits are similar with the aim to keep warm. Here's me in maroon half-sleeved, off-shoulders woolen top hidden in black trench coat with fur trim. Around my neck is a black fringed shawl converted into a muffler; on my legs are the thigh-high boots.

Blouse: Unknown

Jeans: Unknown

Trench coat: H&M (SGD$129.00)

Boots: MyGlamourous (SGD$59.90)

Bag: Christian Dior

Muffler: OAMC (SGD$39.90)

The Honeymoon Series [xi] - Lucerne and Zurich, Switzerland

Following my post on Interlaken up to Jungfrau, Switzerland (review here), The Honeymoon Series Part 11 here documents our journey to Lucerne (you may also see it spelt as "Luzern") and Zurich,  our last exploration in Switzerland before we move on to other parts of Europe.

PLACES OF INTEREST

A compact, German-speaking city in central Switzerland, Lucerne is well-known for preserved and medieval architecture, sitting amid snow-capped mountains on Lake Lucerne.

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and capital of the canton of Zurich, known as a global centre for banking and finance; it is also a metropolis of experiences by the water.

LION MONUMENT
Denkmalstrasse 4, 6002,  Luzern, Switzerland
Website: http://www.luzern.com/en/lion-monument

Also known as "The Lion of Lucerne" or the "Dying Lion Monument", is a memorial, a rock relief carved out of sandstone. It is one of Switzerland's most sentimental monuments and commemorates the heroic deaths of the Swiss mercenaries during their servitude to King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. It is designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820 - 1821 by Lukas Ahorn.

CHAPEL BRIDGE AND WATER TOWER (KEPELLBRUCKE and WASSERTURM)
Kapellbrucke, 6002, Luzern, Switzerland
Website: http://www.luzern.com/en/chapel-bridge
Website: http://www.luzern.com/en/water-tower

Lucerne is divided by the River Reuss into Old Town and New Town districts, connected by none other than the Chapel Bridge, dating back to the year 1332. It is a covered wooden footbridge spanning around 204 metres across the Reuss, forming part of the city's fortifications with the Water Tower.

The Water Tower is a massive, octagonal stone tower over 34 metres high, built around the year 1300 and as part of the city wall. It is used as an archive, treasury, prison and torture chamber.

RHINE FALLS
Rheinfallquai, 8212, Neuhausen am Rhinefall, Switzerland
Website: https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/nature/rhine-falls
Price: 5 CHF (including Laufen Castle at the South Bank)

The largest plain waterfalls in Europe - Rhine Falls, can be found in Switzerland. It is a magnificent spectacle of plunging waters across a width of 150 metres and a height of 23 metres tall.  Besides viewing its beauty for photos and nature appreciation, one may take on the adventure path with elevator that goes from Laufen Castle to the outlook platform, or boat ride to the Rhine Falls Basin. An adventure park lies on the north bank - one of Europe's most spectacular rope parks.

SHOPPING

We went shopping in Switzerland, of course, a very Swiss way of life. The chocolates and watches here are must-buys.

PILATUSSTRASSE
Pilatusstrasse, 6003, Luzern, Switzerland

Located in the newer part of Switzerland, the Pilatusstrasse Square is an intersection of hotels, shops, boutiques and cafes, leaving tourists plenty to do for an afternoon here. Go crazy over Swiss-made leather goods, clothings, watches and chocolates.


BUCHERER
Schwanenpl, 5, 6004, Luzern, Switzerland
Website: http://www.bucherer.com

From high end watches to wallet-friendly quality watches, Bucherer has it all under one house. Bucherer Building alone has 4 to 6 floors of timepieces and some jewellery - you can find anything from Rolex to Audemas Piguet to Piaget to Chopard to IWC etc under one roof, easy for your comparison and shopping needs.  Just a friendly note to you though - that prices may not be the most competitive here - small watch boutiques around the same row of shops may very possibly offer prices that are better (depending on brands and models).

RESTAURANTS

I very much enjoyed the food in Switzerland overall, especially the cheese and chocolates because the milk they use here is just oh so delicious.

HEINI
Falkenpl, 6004, Luzern, Switzerland
Website: http://www.heini.ch

A lovely tea house translated into "Raindrops from Luzern", they serve up unique pies, creative confectionery, pastries and bread here, opened by Hans and Anna Heini. Their fine cakes and masterpiece chocolates won them quite some awards over the years.

LADERACH CHOCOLATIER
Website: https://www.laederach.com

They have various outlets in Switzerland and needs no introduction - they are known for their top-quality, handmade gourmet chocolates since 1962. Whether you are looking for interesting designs or flavours, whether you are searching for a gift or personal indulgences, Laderach has it all.

CAFETERIA EMILIO
Grendelstrasse 9, 6004, Luzern, Switzerland
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafeteria-Emilio-luzern/188835671161304

A simple cafe located right in the midst of watches' boutiques at Lucerne, Cafeteria Emilio seems the perfect place to grab a meal or cuppa in between shopping. Decor is pretty, with dark oak and mirror panelings, however our tour-mates did not enjoy their food here. We had Hot Chocolate and Cappuccino, to battle the cold and recharge for more shopping - the beverages are fine.

MIGROS / COOP SUPERMARKET CAFE
A simple gourmessa filled with stalls selling pastries or piping hot food including Switzerland sandwiches, pies, etc to Asian sushi rolls. One may take-away or dine in their simple cafe. We were a little hungry so decided to grab a bite - this beef sandwich came with very hard bread but the patty was so juicy, succulent and delectable!!

RESTAURANT / LOUNGE of HOTEL MEIERHOF
Hotel Meierhof Level 5, Bahnhofstrasse 4, 8810 Horgen, Switzerland
Website:  http://www.hotelmeierhof.ch/gastronomie/lounge-bar-au-lac/index.html

A comfortable and intimate space located on level 5 of Hotel Meierhof, the restaurant / lounge offers different types of seating, faux fireplaces, and huge expanse of window space overlooking the lake. One could look forward to catching the sunrises or sunsets at the right times, over quality food and drinks.

SCHLOSS WORTH
Rheinfallquai 30, 8212, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland

The Schloss Worth was also known as the "Water Castle", a fortification built in the 1300s, linked by a bridge. Today it houses a gourmet restaurant or some term "snacks bar" with a gorgeous view of the Rhine Falls.

ACCOMMODATION

We stayed in Lucerne for a couple of nights before zipping off to Germany. It was cold but Swiss hospitality could always be counted on. I also notice that hotels in Switzerland are rather fortunate because they could always count on the beautiful natural landscapes to provide excellent views for their guests.

HOTEL MEIERHOF
Bahnhofstrasse 4, 8810 Horgen, Switzerland
Website: http://www.hotelmeierhof.ch

A 4-star hotel that proclaims itself to be more relaxed than a home away from home, Meierhof is located in a good location, with 108 colorful rooms and is suitable for both business and leisure stays. The hotel itself has a bar and restaurant au lac, but they are only too happy to also recommend and make bookings for guests should they wish to dine at nearby restaurants.  The rate here is around 240 CHF a night.


Herein concludes our tour in beautiful Switzerland, which we miss dearly. We shall move on to Germany in the next episode of The Honeymoon Series. Keep your eyes peeled - thanks for gracing my site.


For backtracks:
(i) Honeymoon Series part 1 - selecting the destinations (click here)
(ii) Honeymoon Series part 2 - researching and booking (click here)
(iii) Honeymoon Series part 3 - preparing for the trip (click here)
(iv) Honeymoon Series part 4 - Rome, Italy (click here)
(v) Honeymoon Series part 5 - Siena, Florence & Pisa, Italy (click here)

(vi) Honeymoon Series part 6 - Venice and Milan, Italy (click here)
(vii) Honeymoon Series part 7 - Lorraine and Fontainebleau, France (click here)
(viii) Honeymoon Series part 8 - Paris, France (click here)
(ix) Honeymoon Series part 9 - Swiss Alps and Bern, Switzerland (click here)

(x) Honeymoon Series part 10 - Interlaken and Jungfrau, Switzerland (click here)

The Honeymoon Series [x] - Interlaken and Jungfrau, Switzerland

After our scenic visit and stay at Mount Titlis and Bern Old Town in The Honeymoon Series Part 9 (review here), we moved on to the gorgeous Interlaken region and magnificent Jungfrau Mountains.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Interlaken is in fact a traditional resort town located in Bern itself, known for its old timber houses, parklands and emerald colored waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.

Moving on to Jungfrau - on the scenic train ride up Jungfrau Mountains, we passed by the stunning landscapes and snow-capped mountains along the way to the top; it made for an incredibly romantic journey.

INTERLAKEN
The name itself suggests that it is "between lakes" - this beautiful resort town stretches between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and the official language here is Germany.  It is not surprising to note that the buildings and culture here are heavily influenced by Germany as well. Besides hiking trails and gorgeous mountains, Interlaken also has chapels, shops and restaurants etc for tourists to kept themselves plenty entertained.

JUNGFRAU TRAIN
Website: https://www.jungfrau.ch

The Jungfrau Railway is a metal chain gauge railway running 9.34 kilometres between Kleine Scheidegg to the highest railway station in Jungfraujoch, Europe. We paid around 105 CHF for the train journey which took us past spectacular views between the villages, glacier falls and snow-topped mountains.

JUNGFRAUJOCH
Harderstrasse, 3800, Interlaken, Switzerland

Up on the top of the mountain, attractions such as the Observatory allows tourists a panoramic view of the breathtaking surroundings; there is also an Ice Palace for admiration of ice sculptures, or Snow Fun Park for snowboarding, sledging and skiing etc.

RESTAURANTS

We had pretty traditional and delicious Swiss meals overall, such as a proper sausage and rosti meal, as well as a hearty Fondue meal on another night.

RESTAURANT ON JUNGFRAU
The name eludes me once more, but it was at this spacious restaurant we had a lovely 3-course meal of Vegetables Soup, Sausage and Rosti mains as well as a special Crème Brulee dessert. We also stayed for Hot Chocolate and Mocha to battle the cold snow on the mountaintops.

BEBBIS RESTAURANT
Bahnhofstrasse 16, 3800, Interlaken, Switzerland
Website: http://www.bebbis.com/page/index.html

Bebbis is located in the Interlaken resort itself, run by a friendly gentleman named Bebbis. He and / or his manager Jakub make dining here very fun and personable - laden with lots of good red wine, laughter, games and entertainment. Food was generous in portion as well - salad, followed by Cheese Fondue, Meat Fondue and Chocolate Fondue; staples such as rice, fries and pasta were accompaniments.


ACCOMMODATION
We stayed at a gorgeous vintage 5-star hotel at Interlaken itself, behind a huge mountain and turquoise-colored lake. The hotel even uses traditional heavy brass key instead of the keycards we are so accustomed to these days.

LINDNER GRAND HOTEL BEAU RIVAGE
Hoheweg 211, 3800, Interlaken, Switzerland
Website: https://www.lindner.de/en/interlaken-grand-hotel-beau-rivage/welcome.html

Boosting a spectacular view of the Elger, Monch and Jungfrau, the elegant Lindner Grand Hotel Beau Rivage exudes both grandeur and hospitality of a good Swiss hotel. The 101 rooms are all luxurious, tastefully-furnish with a dash of Zeitgeist all around. Facilities are aplenty, as well as around the charming hotel. Rooms cost around 300 CHF a night.


Herein concludes our wonderful trip around the Interlaken and Jungfrau regions, a beautiful combination of nature and man-made beauty, leaving us a deep impression imprinted upon the minds even months after our visit. Moving on next, look out for The Honeymoon Series (Part xi), on Lucerne and Zurich, Switzerland.


For backtracks:
(i) Honeymoon Series part 1 - selecting the destinations (click here)
(ii) Honeymoon Series part 2 - researching and booking (click here)
(iii) Honeymoon Series part 3 - preparing for the trip (click here)
(iv) Honeymoon Series part 4 - Rome, Italy (click here)
(v) Honeymoon Series part 5 - Siena, Florence & Pisa, Italy (click here)

(vi) Honeymoon Series part 6 - Venice and Milan, Italy (click here)
(vii) Honeymoon Series part 7 - Lorraine and Fontainebleau, France (click here)
(viii) Honeymoon Series part 8 - Paris, France (click here)
(ix) Honeymoon Series part 9 - Swiss Alps & Bern, Switzerland (click here)

The Honeymoon Series [ix] - Swiss Alps and Bern, Switzerland

After leaving France, (review here), we headed for the beautiful Switzerland, starting with Mount Titlis at the Swiss Alps. It was snowing, so the natural surroundings were very beautiful.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Mount Titlis is a mountain of the Swiss Uri Alps, standing tall at 3,238 metres above sea level. We spent the first 2 days up on the snow mountains and then visited Bern, the capital city of Switzerland. Bern Old Town, by the way, is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

MOUNT TITLIS ENGELBERG
Titlis, 6390 Gadmen, Switzerland
Website: http://www.titlis.ch/en

Scale the mountain for its scenic beauty, or bask in a Christmassy ambience with white "Christmas trees" standing tall on the slopes. From the Titlis Rotair Gondola revolving 360 degrees to offer magnificent panoramic views, to the heart-pounding 250-steps Cliff Walk, to the gorgeous turquoise-blue glacier caves and winter sports - Mount Titlis Engelberg has it all. Come down for some summer or winter fun. Prepare some chocolates and sweets in the event you get altitude sickness at such heights.

BERN (OR BERNE)
Website: http://www.bern.com/en/
The city of Bern is the de facto capital city of Switzerland. Offering well-preserved medieval townscape exuding an unique Old Town atmosphere, Bern offers an amazing wealth of culture, leisure and entertainment. From Bear Park to Rose Garden to House of Parliament to Einstein House to the Cathedral of Bern, etc, there's plenty to see and do in Bern itself.

CLOCK TOWER (ZYTGLOGGE  or ZEITGLOCKENTURM)
Bim Ztyglogge 3, 3011, Bern, Switzerland
Website: http://www.zeitglockenturm.ch

The Zytglogge is a landmark tower in Bern, Switzerland, built as early as the 13th century. It was the first Western gate of the city and served as the master clock with astrological calender. The exterior appearance of the tower is dominated  by late-Baroque elements; the large dial is framed by a fresco produced by Viktor Surbek in 1930.

RESTAURANTS

Throughout the Europe tours, I could safely say that we enjoyed food in Switzerland the best. Their sausages, chocolates and cheese, especially, were quality and tasty.

STATION TITLIS (PANORAMA SELF-SERVICE)
Address: Mt. Titlis 
Website: http://www.titlis.ch/en/restaurants/titlis/panorama-self-service

We enjoyed the food at this self-service bistro immensely. While I found the sausage to be very tender and palatable, the Swiss barley soup interesting, and the hot spiced wine very lovely, my tour-mates were raving about the Indian food, especially Nasi Briyani.

LAGO TORBIDO
Address: Mt. Titlis
Website: http://www.hoteltruebsee.ch/en/restaurants/lago-torbido

Oddly, we dined Italian when in Switzerland - this was the restaurant offering our hotel's 4-course meal. The starter bread was so good, we asked for seconds. We also had Red Wine, Clear Vegetables Soup, Baked Chicken Pasta and Lemon Panna Cotta. It was a rather delicious meal.

ACCOMMODATION

We were fortunate enough to stay at an alpine lodge in the snow mountains itself. The facilities were minimal and decor was simple, but we were surrounded by the most beautiful wintry views right outside the balconies.

HOTEL BERGHOTEL TRUSBEE
Gerschnistrasse 12, 6390, Engelberg, Switzerland
Website: http://www.hoteltruebsee.ch/en/hotel

Beautiful, simply-furnished lodge apartments with a huge lounge on level 2 where guests could relax or chill out at. There are 37 rooms in all, with 89 beds and basic facilities. The landscape views outside the windows were breath-taking, it was like something out of a movie literally. Each room starts at 205 CHF onwards, consisting of a night's stay, buffet breakfast, 4-course dinner, ski pass and half-board.

We loved the cleanliness and friendliness we experienced in Switzerland. Moving on, keep a lookout for The Honeymoon Series 10 - where we visited Jungfrau and Interlaken regions. Have a beautiful week ahead, dears.

For backtracks:
(i) Honeymoon Series part 1 - selecting the destinations (click here)
(ii) Honeymoon Series part 2 - researching and booking (click here)
(iii) Honeymoon Series part 3 - preparing for the trip (click here)
(iv) Honeymoon Series part 4 - Rome, Italy (click here)
(v) Honeymoon Series part 5 - Siena, Florence & Pisa, Italy (click here)

(vi) Honeymoon Series part 6 - Venice and Milan, Italy (click here)
(vii) Honeymoon Series part 7 - Lorraine and Fontainebleau, France (click here)
(viii) Honeymoon Series part 8 - Paris, France (click here)

Outfit of the Day - cobalt top over jeans and boots

"Fashion is about suspense and surprise. It's not about rules." - Wolfgang Joop

Another picturesque shot taken at the Rhine Falls area in Switzerland. Here's me decked out in cobalt blue mock-turtleneck over blue jeans and thigh-high boots. A black trench coat with fur completed the Winter outfit.

Blouse: Unknown

Jeans: Unknown

Boots: MyGlamourous (SGD$59.90)

Trench coat: H&M (SGD$129.00)

Bag: Christian Dior