May 23, 2008

When we got to the hotel in Lucerne, we were so excited to see that we were staying at the Radisson, which is an American hotel. Our room is really nice, much bigger than in Paris or London. Everything is high-tech and high security. Your key is needed to work the elevator, get out of the stairway and when you enter your room you have to place it in this slot in the wall for any of the lights, outlets, A/C and television to work. That's a great energy saver.

Our first meal in Lucerne was really good. We had veal in a mushroom cream sauce with potato cakes and a this sweet soy sauce type stuff. It was delicious, so much so that we asked the kitchen to bring out whatever was left and we at it. We are such Mikeys!

Our first full day in Lucerne was really relaxing. The whole town and our hotel are located along this huge lake. So throughout the day we manage to walk around a good amount of it.

We had a tour guide who took us on a walking tour of the town. You know it's a small town when you can tour the whole town, on foot, in only a couple of hours. Our tour guide was born and raised in Lucerne, she spoke English, German, Swiss-German, French and Italian. All these languages are spoken in Lucerne. She also played field hockey for the Swiss National Team until 1991, which was interesting.

I must be honest and say that there was not a whole lot of sightseeing going on in Lucerne. We went to a couple of beautiful churches and the Lion monument, which was a sculpture of a lion carved into the side of a mountain. Besides that we justed enjoyed the scenery - it's hard when we we've just come from London and Paris, but I think once the clouds clear we will be blown away by the mountain ranges.

Right before my nap and dinner, some of us walked to the farthest point we could walk to see a beach volleyball tournament. After that we ate dinner and chilled in the hotel until bed.