Europe Trip (15): Arrived in Luzern (Lucerne), Switzerland

After a TGV train journey from Paris via Basel, we arrived in Luzern (Lucerne) in the afternoon. The train station is integrated with Luzern's tourist information office, shopping malls and eateries at the basement. We took our time to take pictures within and outside of the train station.

From the train station, we walked towards our hotel, which is on the other side of the lake, by crossing the Seebruecke bridge, which gives a magnificent view of Lake Lucerne. Well, we can actually take bus or trolleybus (just one bus stop away), but we decided to walk since we bring quite a lot of luggage.

We stayed at Hotel Des Alpes, which is conveniently located in the heart of the pedestrian-only downtown of Luzern, just in front of the chapel bridge (Kapellbrucke).

After checking into the hotel, we didn't have time to take a rest because we immediately started our journey to mount Pilatus, via Kriens and Frakmuntegg. (to be continued)

Europe Trip (14): From Paris to Luzern via Basel

On Monday, 8 June 2009, in early morning, we left Paris for Luzern, Switzerland. A Kide is very kind to send us right to Gare de l'Est, which means the "East station", the train station where our train departed.

We arrived at the station at around 5:50am Paris time, while the train only departed at around 6:20am, so we had some time to take pictures inside the station. The kids were very happy to be able to have their pictures taken in front of two European high-speed trains: France's TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse) and German's ICE (InterCity-Express).

We took the TGV Lyria train to Basel, Switzerland, passing through French cities such as Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse. According to my GPS, the train zoomed up to 300km/h especially on the Paris-Strasbourg leg, although it seemed to be a bit slower once the train passed through Strasbourg to Basel.

At Basel train station, my wife managed to buy Luxemburgerli macarons from Sprungli. One of our favourites, indeed. :) Unfortunately, since we have little time there, we didn't manage to get out of the station to see a bit of Basel since we needed to catch our next train to Luzern.

After validated our Swiss Passes at the ticket counter in Basel train station, we took another train, this is a local SBB train, to Luzern, via Olten. I bought the Swiss Passes prior to our departure to Europe, and with this passes, we are entitled for free rides to all forms of Switzerland's public transportation: from trains, buses, trolleybuses, trams and even boats.

Europe Trip (13): Paris

Date: Sunday, 7 June 2009
Location: Paris, France

- Avis office, Montparnasse
- Musee du Louvre
- Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
- Joan of Arc statue
- Rue de Rivoli
- Grand Palais
- Petit Palais
- Pont Alexandre III
- Des Invalides and Napoleon's tomb
- Montparnasse - Bienvenue metro station
- Denfert Rochereau RER station

Europe Trip (12): Netherlands - Amsterdam

Date: Saturday, 6 June 2009
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

- Amsterdaam Central Station
- Dam Square
- Klaverstraat shopping district

Europe Trip (11): Netherlands - Madurodam, Den Haag

Date: Saturday, 6 June 2009
Location: Madurodam, Den Haag, Netherlands

* Madurodam, http://www.madurodam.nl/templates/mad/global/index.php?lngid=5&sqlmode=1&fid=638

Europe Trip (10): Netherlands - Wassenaar and Den Haag Centrum

Date: Saturday, 6 June 2009
Location: Den Haag, Netherlands

* Wisma Sekolah Indonesia Nederland (SIN), Wassenaar
* Den Haag Centrum:
- Plein
- Mauritshuis Museum
- Binnenhof

Europe Trip (9): Netherlands - Schiedam, Delft and Den Haag

Date: Friday, 5 June 2009.
Location: Netherlands.

* Border of Belgium and Netherlands
* Breda
* Schiedam, west of Rotterdam
* Delft:
- Markt Square / Grote Markt
- Nieuwe Kerk (the New Church)
- Stadhuis (Town Hall)
- Het Gulden ABC cafe
- Canals along Delft Centrum
- Oude Kerk (the Old Church)
- Oude Delft (the Old Delft)
- Prinsenhof (Museum Het, Museum Nusantara)
* Den Haag / The Hague:
- Den Haag Centrum
- Fat Kee restaurant, Gedempte Gracht