From Venice to Lucerne

Thursday 3rd June
Venice to Lucerne
Up early again to travel 550 kilometres to Switzerland. The Auto Strade was very busy heading towards and through Milano saw two accidents one involving a car and a truck which blocked the road for at least 5 kilometres and it was going to get a lot worse. The other accident we saw was just literally in front of us (just happened) you could see the smoke and smell it as two semi trailers had collided a bit hairy especially as it was Jenny and Jamie’s turn to sit in front. Stopped at Lugano for lunch which is just after Lake Como (Lake Como is just before the Switzerland border). As it was a public holiday in Switzerland Mauro got Piero our new driver to take us off the Auto Strade and onto the side road and through the lovely Swiss villages. This was a real treat Jamie took 95 pictures just travelling in one day. The season is still changing and there were still drifts of snow close to the side of the road.
Arrived in Lucerne around 5.00 pm and had a 30 minute orientation tour of town taking in the dying Lion monument and the Chapel Bridge. Checked in to the Astoria Motel about 5.30 and got ourselves ready for the night’s theme dinner, Swiss Folklore. It was very entertaining the Swiss hosts put on a great show.
Friday the 4th June.

Great joy we got to sleep in until 7.45 am.
We had breakfast in the Thai Restaurant, then on the bus at 9.00 am for the short drive to Mt Pilatus. This was the part of the journey that Ian was really looking forward to, travelling up a 7000ft mountain on a cogwheel train. On some sections the train was travelling on a 48 degree incline ( we all held on tight). Once you get to the top the view was fantastic and made it all worthwhile, but then you had to contemplate the trip down the mountain on the cable car, not for the faint hearted. Back to town for some lunch and you guessed it time for some shopping. Jenny & Jill have decided to collect book marks, Ian & Jamie think it is just a front to check out every shopping precent. Dinner tonight is at the hotel at 7pm another great day.
Tomorrow Paris.
Adieu. PS thanks for the comments. JJJI