In the fall of 2013, Sally and I loaded the Westfalia and headed for Yosemite, Death Valley, the Grand Canyon and other national parks. While exploring the giant Sequoias of the Mariposa Grove in Yosemite, I happened upon a couple from Switzerland. We struck a conversation and instantly connected, talking about travel, families and what a wonderful thing life was. I recommended they stop by Glacier Point for the sunset on their way back toward the Valley. Sally and I were planning to watch the sunset and alpine glow on Half Dome as well, so it was little surprise to find Roger and Marlis on the point. Two hours passed while we enjoyed the sunset and the lights appearing in the Valley far below. We had to loan Marlis a jacket as the advancing September night was getting chilly. Roger and I shared a passion for iPhones and were comparing notes and apps, taking pictures with a variety of camera apps and doing touch ups as the sun set. We exchanged e-contact cards and promised to visit each other if we were ever traveling near each other's homes.
When we began planning this cycling trip in Europe, we thought of Roger and Marlis and sent an email inquiring if we could come visit them. We got a return email very shortly saying "yes!" They were in Alaska cruising the inland passage, but would be home during our planned trip. Our two hours of conversation on Glacier Point opened a door to an intercontinental friendship.
We spent today touring the Lucerne area with Roger and Marlis. We had a blast. After a breakfast of soft boiled eggs, bread, cheese, Muselix, fruit and tea we drove around one arm of gigantic lake Lucerne, climbing up to a ridge 1000' above the lake with a commanding view back across the lake to Lucerne itself. We walked through the construction area for two 5 star hotels perched right on the ridge and followed a trail clinging to the cliff 1000 feet above the lake for better than a mile until we reached an elevator whose base was constructed into the cliff and whose top a couple hundred meters above extended out from the inward sloping precipice. We rode to the top to find a view down either side of the ridge, a cafe and a sun deck to enjoy the view. 40 minutes on top and we rode the elevator back down and hiked back to the cars.
On the drive back to Lucerne, we stopped at a famous Swiss artistic glass factory and watched decoratory glass plates and jars being hand made. The process goes on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can't let the furnaces cool, so they just keep them running and manufacturing. The artisans worked with a measured rhythm and teamwork. It took three men working in synchronization to make each piece, each man with a specific time and temperature sensitive job.
The highlight of the day for me was seeing the 30' x by 18' sculpture of the dying lion carved into a cliff in the town of Lucerne. It tied together quite a few pieces of history I have been studying and visiting lately. When Louis XVI proved inept on the throne of France and the citizens revolted, they stormed the Palace of Versailles, broke through the doors, killed most of Louis guards and took the king prisoner. All Louis guards were Swiss guards. In tribute to their sacrifice, the carving of the Lion of Lucerne with the names of the officers and the number of men killed etched below was commissioned in 1820. Marlis had read about the history about ten years earlier and tried to recall the story, but somehow Napoleon and other facts ended up jumbled in. She laughed embarrassingly as we read the correct account off the web, but we really appreciated her attempt and smiling attitude afterward.
By the time we got back to the house, about 7:30 pm, we were all tired and hungry. We cooked up sausage, potatoes and a salad for dinner with ice cream bars for desert. We talked until about 12:30 am, Roger and I swapping iPhone app knowledge, movie tips and engineering ideas while Marlis and Sally discussed family, Marlis's work as a dress maker and craft designer and merchant. We set our alarm for 7:00 am as we crawled in the tent and bed.
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