Help Wanted–Luzern.

Four days.  This summer I will spend four days in the lovely Swiss city of Luzern.  If you read this post and you are familiar with this location, I would love your suggestions of the best things to do, places to go in and around this city.  Some excursions I have considered:  Mt. Pilatus (been there once 1971), Mt. Rigi (never been there), Mt. Titlis (never been there), Jungfraujoch and environs (been there twice 1971, 1975), a lake steamer ride, anything else.  Thank you for your suggestions.

 

One of the local residents. Here I am borrowing other people’s photos now, but when I get there, I will be prolific with my point and shoot.

Meine Mutter

My mother, Jeanne, was a world traveler.  She had a plan to see everything and go everywhere, and she almost did. When my sisters and I were young, she would get us in the car and we would be off on a road trip adventure for three weeks in the summer.  In this manner we traveled to all 48 mainland states and nine provinces of Canada by the time I graduated from high school. Then she expanded her goals and looked abroad. In 1970 she made her first trip to Europe, primarily Germany, and that just whetted her appetite for more.  She made many trips to Europe after that.  She and my father were fond of South America and also the Orient.  Hong Kong was a favorite destination for them.  They traveled to Egypt and the Holy Land. In 1974 my sister Patty and I accompanied them on a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to me one of the most spectacular locations in the world. The last trip she made abroad with my father was to Antarctica. Kuala Lumpur was to be next, but she left us before that could materialize.  Her goal was to set foot on all seven continents, and by God, she did it…In 1975 she and I were both traveling in Europe, but to different destinations. Our paths crossed in Geneva, Switzerland, and here we are having dinner together one evening.  The next day we saw her off on the train as she resumed her trip and we went our separate ways.  There is my wonderful Mama on board for her next adventure. I have inherited my love of travel from her.

Two Austrian Gentlemen

Herr Marbler’s craft

In Herr Marbler’s workshop

Herr Franz Kücher and his wife in their lovely home in Salzburg

Herr Karl Marbler, der Würzelschnitzer (Wood Carver) of St. Wolfgang

Lately I’ve been sifting through old photos of my previous European travels, and I came across several that stood out from the last trip I made in 1975. Once again I was in Austria.  Through a mixup I did not stay with my previous host family.  When we arrived at the Bahnhof in Salzburg, a man with an artificial leg pushing a bicycle approached us. He flashed a huge smile and queried “Room?” which actually came out sounding like “RRüüümm?” We, that was my boyfriend and I, shook our heads “Ja!”, and he motioned for us to follow him.  Outside of the station we marveled as he balanced a suitcase on the handlebars and went pedaling ahead of us.  We made our way slowly to the Salzach and across to a lovely quiet section of Salzburg.  Here Franz Kücher and his  wife ran a pension or bed and breakfast.  They saw us nicely settled in our second floor room.  It was so homey and there were geraniums in flowerboxes.  We learned that this wonderful man with the smile of the century had actually fought for the Germans in the Luftwaffe in World War II.  That is where he had lost his leg. I found it difficult to fathom that this man had been our enemy, because he was so friendly and hospitable.  How could he be anyone’s enemy? I have thought of the Kücher’s from time to time over the years. By now they are long gone from this earth, but the impression that they have left is enduring. It is people like them that make me have such a special place in my heart for Salzburg.

During our stay in Salzburg in 1975 we made excursions outside the city.  A bus ride took us to the beautiful Salzkammergut region where we then boarded a steamer on the Wolfgangsee. The water mirrored the blue of the sky on a perfectly sunny summer day. The surrounding mountains had dips and slopes evocative of musical phrases, hence “the hills are alive with the…”. Across the lake in St. Wolfgang we meandered along the water until we found a bathing spot and spent a very relaxing couple of hours dipping and sunning.  Afterward we walked further enticed by signs for “Der Würzelschnitzer” and we decided to check it out.  It was quite a walk out of town, but finally we found the wood carver’s shop and delighted in looking around at his handiwork, which included entire trees and stumps carved into fantastic and humorous “tree people” with eyes and noses and mouths.  The trees seemed alive indeed.  We made some small souvenir purchases and then realized that we were very far from the bus station in St. Gilgen and probably wouldn’t make it back even if we ran.  Well, Herr Marbler would not let that happen.  He closed his shop and drove us all the way around the lake back to the bus station, where we arrived on time.  What a gentleman!  Once more I was impressed by the way the Austrians went out of their way to be helpful and accommodating.  Gemütlichkeit!  Herr Marbler and I have shared Christmas greetings over the years, and if I’m lucky, I will once again visit his workshop near the shores of the Wolfgangsee. The accompanying photos are out of order, but you can figure it out.