Lucerne Golden Memories In 2011
A LONG TIME AGO...
The love of Lucerne in central Switzerland began
on Saturday 13th August 1960. It was on that day
Margaret & Keith married at Newcastle upon Tyne.
At about midnight we boarded a plane to Basle
airport. It was with some trepidation as neither of
us had been in an aircraft before. The crossing of
the Alps was rather bumpy and Margaret suffered
air sickness. Not what was expeced on our first
honeymoon night. The next stage was on a train
through to Lucerne and to hotel Rauthus with a
room overlooking the city to the mountains beyond.
The Rigi, Bergenstock and Pilatus peaks provided
a panoramic scene for future exploration.
In later years we visited Switzerland many times
mostly in the Lake Geneva area. We stayed in
tents and holiday caravans with the children and
later on our own. On one occasion when camping
on the northern shore the Golden Pass train was
taken through the mountains to Lucerne. Sadly
there was little time to explore again as we had to
catch the train back to Lausanne. However, we did
promise ourselves to come back one day.
And so we did for our Silver wedding anniversary in
August 2000. This time we stayed at the more up-
market hotel Montana. This was first-class food
and accommodation with a balcony overlooking the
lake. We thus had a ring side view of the annual
on Saturday 13th August 1960. It was on that day
Margaret & Keith married at Newcastle upon Tyne.
At about midnight we boarded a plane to Basle
airport. It was with some trepidation as neither of
us had been in an aircraft before. The crossing of
the Alps was rather bumpy and Margaret suffered
air sickness. Not what was expeced on our first
honeymoon night. The next stage was on a train
through to Lucerne and to hotel Rauthus with a
room overlooking the city to the mountains beyond.
The Rigi, Bergenstock and Pilatus peaks provided
a panoramic scene for future exploration.
In later years we visited Switzerland many times
mostly in the Lake Geneva area. We stayed in
tents and holiday caravans with the children and
later on our own. On one occasion when camping
on the northern shore the Golden Pass train was
taken through the mountains to Lucerne. Sadly
there was little time to explore again as we had to
catch the train back to Lausanne. However, we did
promise ourselves to come back one day.
And so we did for our Silver wedding anniversary in
August 2000. This time we stayed at the more up-
market hotel Montana. This was first-class food
and accommodation with a balcony overlooking the
lake. We thus had a ring side view of the annual
firework display on the lake. We had a great time
exploring previous locations although walking too
far was painful for Margaret with hip and back
problems. Plans were made to return in 2010 for
our Golden Wedding anniversary. Meanwhile our
desire to return was bolstered by a chance meeting
in Cornwall during the summer of 2009.
Each weekend we usually go to our caravan at
Mother Ivey's Bay near Padstow. On arrival we
noticed a car with Swiss number plates. We
introduced ourselves to sisters Connie and Sandra
with their dog Nina and invited them visit us as they
were leaving on the next day. Apart from being a
delightful couple the surprise was that they lived in
Lucerne and were frequent visitors to hotel
Montana. The result was that they planned to stay
in our caravan in 2010 and we would visit Lucerne.
This had to be put on hold as the problems of
Margaret had deteriorated to the point of needing a
new right hip.
With a new hip and cherished friends in Lucerne
we duly arrived for Keith's birthday and a very
happy reunion with our new "daughters” Connie &
Sandra.
This web site is a summary of some highlights.
exploring previous locations although walking too
far was painful for Margaret with hip and back
problems. Plans were made to return in 2010 for
our Golden Wedding anniversary. Meanwhile our
desire to return was bolstered by a chance meeting
in Cornwall during the summer of 2009.
Each weekend we usually go to our caravan at
Mother Ivey's Bay near Padstow. On arrival we
noticed a car with Swiss number plates. We
introduced ourselves to sisters Connie and Sandra
with their dog Nina and invited them visit us as they
were leaving on the next day. Apart from being a
delightful couple the surprise was that they lived in
Lucerne and were frequent visitors to hotel
Montana. The result was that they planned to stay
in our caravan in 2010 and we would visit Lucerne.
This had to be put on hold as the problems of
Margaret had deteriorated to the point of needing a
new right hip.
With a new hip and cherished friends in Lucerne
we duly arrived for Keith's birthday and a very
happy reunion with our new "daughters” Connie &
Sandra.
This web site is a summary of some highlights.