Clowning Around Switzerland (in Wigs)

February 10-11
Lucerne, Switzerland

Earlier in the week we decided we wanted to go to Switzerland. I had repeatedly heard not to go to Zurich, so I picked Lucerne and Interlaken. Our group consisted of one of the A&M girls and then the

Me Sneakily Taking a Pic

two boys we went to Baden Baden with. The other two A&M girls had other plans. We got an early train ticket leaving at 7:50. As the train started pulling away the A&M guy came, barely missing it. We were a little sleepy on the train, mostly looking out the window quietly. Then at one of the stops, three clowns got on and sat directly across from us. It took everything in me not to laugh and to remain calm. It was a rough 45 minutes. When we got off the train there were a few people in costume, and we started to suspect that something might be going on. Those clowns might have been in costume and not on their way to a birthday party or circus. Since there were only a few people in costume, we suspected a little convention or event. We asked someone at the train station

and they said it was a festival taking place today around 12:30.

We then explored part of the town staying relatively close, so we could go back to the train station when the A&M guy arrived. The town itself is what you would imagine Switzerland to be. When the fog cleared there were mountains surrounding us. It painted a great backdrop for the cute buildings and wooden bridges. On a trail up a hill, we walked alongside an old wall and found some goats and a pig.

As we were walking the streets, we saw more and more people in costume. I was so disappointed in not having anything that we went to a store to try and find something. The other girl and I were about to buy costumes, but there were no dressing rooms to see if they fit. I decided to buy face paint instead. While we were waiting at the train station, I painted my face as a doll. Shortly after, I bought a pink wig to complete the look. When we arrived the streets were relatively empty, and in about 3 hours the streets had become packed.

You Know I Can't Resist Dressing Up

The only thing I can compare it to is going to New Orleans as a foreigner and you just so happen to arrive on Mardi Gras weekend. This was THE festival. We just so happened to pick the right town on the right weekend randomly. I could not get over our luck. The festival was like an insane Halloween. I could have taken pictures of everyone’s costumes because they were so elaborate. Every costume looked like it took weeks to make. Most people were in group costumes, which made it even better. There were stands throughout the town where the bands would play for about 15-20 minutes. Afterward, they would walk throughout the street to the next stand. All the bands had a theme complete with large masks and matching costumes. The festival consisted of people walking or standing throughout the streets drinking and throwing confetti at people. So, we spent the whole day admiring the costumes and listening to the bands, eventually clocking in about 11 miles.

The Looks of a Good Weekend   

We decided to stay an extra day in Lucerne and not go to Interlaken. We hadn’t booked the train or hostel for Interlaken, so it was no big deal. On Saturday the town was quiet. I think the festival was taking place later that day, but it wouldn’t be as big. We explored more of the town since we didn’t get much time on Saturday. We walked along the lake and then took a boat cruise. The boat was about an hour and took us further into the lake and returned. We got to see the mountains from a better view. It was amazing and well worth it. After, we got on the train back. We had a two-hour stop in Basel where we just walked around. We arrived back in Strasbourg around dinner time and chilled. I was way too tired to stay up and watch the Super Bowl, which would have started a little past midnight. But I watched Usher’s performance on YouTube first thing Monday morning and continued to sort through my very full camera roll from the weekend.

Switzerland marked my 10th country to visit! Still a ways to go to reach all 195, but don't worry I'll get there. 

Too Cool for Switzerland to Handle

On to hopefully country #11.

Au revoir!