Travelling Photographer

Today was primarily a travel day out of the Alps and down to the Rhine River in Basel. We left Grindelwald by train at 8:47, arrived in Interlaken at 9:24, boarded the Interlaken – Lucerne express at 10:04, and arrived at Lucerne at 11:55. You know what – we hit those times exactly – not like the Central Railroad of New Jersey! Arriving in Lucerne, we did a walking tour of the city – a lakeside town with views of the Alps and the towering Mount Pilatus. We walked by half-timbered burgher houses and crossed the Chapel Bridge – a famous covered pedestrian walkway built in the 14^th century. Viewed the stately Jesuit Church, consecrated in 1677. Finally, we wandered through the old town admiring the historic buildings. The “Lion Monument,” a ten-by-six-metre work, was created in honour of the Swiss Guards who died in the Storming of the Tuileries in Paris in 1792. But how did this come about? It’s 10th August 1792: on this day, some 1,000 Swiss guardsmen were protecting the life of King Louis XVI of France with unconditional loyalty and bravery. The revolutionaries stormed the King’s residence, which the Swiss were defending, leading to the virtual annihilation of the Swiss Guard. The Lion Monument, a powerful memorial, pays homage to the selfless heroes of these men. Then, a 1.5-hour bus trip to our ship docked in Basel.