Day Eighteen - Lake Lucerne

We wake up and take in our ridiculous view one last time. Hit the free breakfast and enjoy the exceptional coffee before loading up our gear and checking out. We trek through the snow, to the town entrance and to the lone train station and only way out of Murren. We load into the funicular and this time we are able enjoy the sensational view in daylight as we teeter on the mountain edge then dangle from the cable car over trees and snow and mountains. If you are afraid of heights, Murren is not the place for you.

We reach the parking garage where we were last seen mad dashing our way to catch the last train. After some searching we find the car and we begin our short journey to Lake Lucerne. We arrive at Hotel Nidwaldnerhof and are relieved to learn we can check in early. We have a beer in the dining area and take in an exceptional lakefront view. Fog is hovering halfway up the mountains and the lake is like glass.

We are taken up to our room by the hotel owner who happens to be one of the friendliest people we meet on our trip. We are pleased to find we have been upgraded to a lakeside room so our huge sliding glass door is a stunning view of the lake and mountains.

We spend a good part of this day just relaxing. By this point in the trip my body is starting to question how much more walking it can do. The logistics of traveling and the stress of being in constant unfamiliar territory can take its toll. We were in a gorgeous, comfortable hotel room with an amazing view. We just laid there and enjoyed it.

Up until this point we haven't seen a television in over a week, so when we turn on the TV we see the news of the Brussels terror attacks. It's surreal to imagine a place we had just been in days before, enjoying the beauty and art and culture, was now on the news with horrific images of terror and destruction. I immediately inform our moms that we are ok and far from the situation, thankful we were not in danger and mournful for all those that were.

We decide to take a stroll through the little town we were staying in so we walk along the lakeside and stop into a little grocery store. We buy beer and chocolate (our go-to items). As we walk back we notice a platform with benches and trees, a little spot to enjoy the lake. It gives us the most spectacular view and the water is so crystal clear it's tempting to just start walking into it. As we walk back we notice all of the little houses that line the lake, they are adorable and charming and even the weeds in the yard are beautiful pink and yellow flowers. It's one of those moments where you start picking out which house you will eventually buy and live in.

Back at the hotel now we decide to have dinner at the hotel restaurant. I put on the first dress I've worn in almost 3 weeks and it feels good. We go downstairs and enjoy a sunset view and the most delicious Thai food I've ever had. I have to mention this again, Switzerland is expensive. Pretty much triple the cost of goods in the US. The exchange rate is almost 1:1 against the USD so you really are paying triple. We vow this hotel meal will be our last splurge, we make a pact, it's McDonalds from here on out.

We return to the hotel room and proceed to enjoy our beers and chocolate and spend the rest of the evening watching the only English program at this point, a show on MTV called Ex on the Beach. It is supremely awful and we love it.