Love, Lakes, and the Alps: Thakurdas’ Switzerland Thrillophilia Review
It is said that rain taps gently on your windows and memories sneak in uninvited.
My wife and I were sitting on our little balcony and enjoying the arrival of the monsoon season. She looked at me with a soft smile and said, “Do you remember that postcard I showed you years ago? The one with the lake and the Alps behind it?”
I replied, “Of course, I do. It was the one with a couple standing by a wooden fence, and the Swiss mountains shining behind them.” She said, “Someday, I want to be there with you too.”
It was a dream that we both carried, but we did not speak about it actively.
But that evening, I looked at her and said, “Let’s go. This September. Just the two of us.”
She blinked, unsure. “Are you serious?”
“I have never been more serious,” I said. And just like that, it began- the best trip of our life!
Zurich and the Thunder of Waterfalls
We landed in Zurich in September 2024. The air was refreshing, and everything looked neat when I looked out of the brief cab ride from the airport.
Our first stop was the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe. The sound was thunderous and was a powerful reminder of nature’s extent. As we stood on the viewing deck, mist touched our cheeks. My wife clutched my arm tightly and whispered, “I have only ever seen something like this in movies.”
Zurich city was elegant and royal in its silence. We wandered through the Bahnhofstrasse, clicked selfies by Lake Zurich, and soaked in the organised chaos of the city. Moreover, we took a cruise on Lake Brienz and watched the beautiful views of the city from a different perspective.
Once we boarded the scenic train to Interlaken the next day, the entire scenery changed. The views outside were surreal, with rolling meadows, wooden cottages, and cows with bells grazing freely. At one point, my wife laughed and said, “Look at this! Switzerland looks exactly how it does in those SRK movies.”
I nodded. It truly does!
Between the Swiss Mountains
Interlaken was a dreamland between two lakes and surrounded by mountains. The sight of the Jungfrau mountain from our room left me speechless. We strolled through the charming lanes, indulged in chocolate, and took a peaceful boat ride on Lake Brienz.
“Do you know what I wished for?” she said as we floated on the emerald water.
“What?”
“That time could slow down.”
On the next day, we travelled to Lucerne. The transition from adventure to culture felt seamless. Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument, and the bustling waterfront of Lake Lucerne felt more relaxed and more artistic.
And then, it was time for Mount Titlis.
We were both thrilled during the cable car rides. The revolving gondola gave us a 360-degree view of the snowy peaks. When we reached the top, we stepped into a world of white beauty. My wife threw a snowball at me and giggled like a child. It had been years since I had seen that kind of joy on her face.
“I feel young again,” she said, with her cheeks red from the cold.
In the evening, we sipped hot chocolate in Lucerne and wrote postcards to ourselves. It will serve as a small reminder that we lived these moments together.
Music Through the Mountains
The Austrian part of our journey began with Salzburg, the city of Mozart and melodies. We arrived just in time for an evening concert at Mirabell Palace. As the string quartet played inside those baroque halls, I saw tears in my wife’s eyes.
“It is overwhelming,” she said, smiling through her tears. “This beauty, this music… I never thought we would be here.”
The next day, we took a half-day trip to Hallstatt. If there is a place that feels like it was built by poets and dreamers, it is Hallstatt. Wooden houses were situated by the lake, flowers were blooming on balconies, and the Alps reflected on the water. Every bit of our journey was magical.
We sat by the lake with our shoes off and dipped our feet in the cold water.
Our journey continued to Vienna, and the city welcomed us with its grandeur. Imperial palaces, museums, and opera houses felt like walking through a storybook. We hopped on and off buses, wandered through cobbled streets, and shared Sachertorte at a café that Mozart once visited.
There was a shining statue of Johann Strauss in Stadtpark. A local violinist played nearby, and couples danced quietly. My wife looked at me, “Let’s dance. Just for a minute.”
And so we did awkwardly and shyly, but with hearts full.
Farewell
The morning of our flight from Vienna was emotional. We packed souvenirs, chocolates, magnets, and moments in our suitcases.
As we drove to the airport, my wife said, “You gave me a gift I will never forget.”
“No,” I smiled. “You reminded me of the beauty of living.”
The trip was perfect, and it exceeded all our expectations. The accommodation, transfers, and sightseeing - everything was incredible.
As the plane lifted off, I looked down one last time at the Alps.
I felt: Gratitude for the promises fulfilled. For love rediscovered. For moments that will last a lifetime.
And for that balcony, where it all began.
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