Travel Sometimes Has Changes (FIT Trip Part 2 Lucerne)
- Brad Kaplan
- Jun 5
- 4 min read
After arranging an Uber from the hotel in Paris, I got to the train station 2 hours early, which gave me time to walk around and grab a snack. While I was exploring, I saw people handing out free bananas.
I thought it was kind of strange, but I took one anyway.
Eventually, I found my platform and departure gate, then boarded the train. It was modern, sleek, and traveled up to 250 MPH.
There was a problem — the train was delayed and was now expected to arrive three minutes after my connecting train was supposed to leave.
Panic set in. My original ticket was the cheapest option and didn’t allow any changes, no matter what. To be safe, I bought another ticket for a train that left an hour later. Now I had two tickets for the same trip. Lesson learned: sometimes the cheapest option isn’t worth the risk.
Switzerland on My Own
After arriving in Lucerne an hour late, I walked to my hotel, in the rain. Luckily, I was prepared with both a raincoat and a small umbrella. They worked perfectly.
I stayed in a “budget” hotel because the prices in the main tourist area were significantly higher. Even though it was a less expensive place, it was clean and welcoming. It had everything I needed— a bed, a shower, and a quiet place to rest.
For dinner that night, I had pasta (of course!), but it came with a fresh green salad with tomatoes and a simple balsamic dressing. What surprised me was that the pasta came in a box. It was called "Pasta in a Box"
and was a clever idea. The box worked as both a to-go container and a biodegradable dish could be thrown away afterward.
Random Thoughts About Lucerne
The city is very clean and organized.
Smoking is common, like in most parts of Europe,
Drivers are respectful toward both pedestrians and cyclists.
There are many people walking around.
The city has good accessibility for people with different disabilities.
Bike and walking lanes are clearly marked and respected by everyone.
Cafés and coffee shops are everywhere—each one better than the last.
Not as many scooters as Rome, and drivers are
Lucerne is a very ordered city.
The Only Constant is Change
While doing my laundry this morning in local laundromat (and chatting with people) I ran into a person who lived in Southfield Michigan for years, right down the street from where I grew up. It is indeed a small world.
I received a call from the tour company I had signed up with for a mountain tour. I confused the days and they were kind enough to allow me to join the tour the next day so I had a full day of “nothing”. I simply wandered around the city and took some pictures, until it started to rain att 3:45 PM.
Don’t Assume Everything Is the Same
The morning of my final day, I was supposed to meet my tour group at 9:15 AM outside the McDonald's across from the train station. I thought it would be perfect to get there by 8:0am, grab some breakfast, relax, and then join the tour. I assumed the McDonald’s would be open by 5:30 AM, just like the ones back home. But nope—this one didn’t open until 9:00! Luckily, there was a Starbucks nearby, so I still got my coffee and a place to wait.
Final Swiss Excursion
I think I saved the best for last without even meaning to. The trip to the "Top of Europe" was amazing. We took a bus, a train, and a cable car to get there and back. Along the way, we saw beautiful snow-covered mountains and quiet little villages in the Swiss Alps.
The views were incredible, and our tour guide made it even better—he was really funny and full of energy.
The best part of the day was stepping outside at the top of the mountain. We were 11,336 feet above sea level, and it was a full-on blizzard! I was out of breath and had a bit of a headache, but the experience was totally worth it
Last Night in Switzerland
On my last night in Switzerland, I was craving a hearty meal that wasn't pizza or pasta. Don’t get me wrong—every pizza and pasta I’d had was delicious—but by then, I was completely tired of both.
I asked the hotel for a recommendation and they suggested a restaurant across the street called Prizi. Their menu had the usual pizza and pasta options, but I was happy to find a beef dish served with mixed vegetables and rice. I also ordered a salad, and everything turned out to be amazing.
It wasn’t a cheap meal—almost $85—but it was totally worth it. I know the saying goes, “When in Rome, eat like the Romans,” but that night, I just needed something different.
This evening was pack up time, as I am heading out on the train in the morning for a 1 night stop over in Rome prior to picking up the final phase of this adventure, a cruise from Rome to Spain.
Conclusions
th first three parts of this trip were divided into fully independent travel (everything planned on my own and done on my own) and traveling with a travel group. My goal was to help determine which was a better method of travel, for myself and my potential customers. I have decided that my preferred form f travel was with a group. It provided many advantages ad few disadvantages for me. Does that mean it is for everyone? Absolutely not, but everyone should compare the two methods before making that decision.
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