Travelog for: Dotti Scotti

Hi mommy,
This morning we opened our gifts.





I got a beautiful warm sweater.




Now I never have to freeze.
Hope you also got a wonderful gift.
With lots of love
Dotti Scotti

Happy New year!
the last days of the old year were not so funny. Host dad had a few days to the hospital to re-adjust his diabetes. Even our trip to St. Moritz has been deleted. Here it was raining, but in the mountains was so much snow that the rail lines were closed due to avalanche danger. Pity but perhaps arises later an opportunity to go there. I would like to play in the snow, unfortunately, it is at the moment far too warm.
Yesterday I was looking forward on dinner. Jaspers family eats traditional cheese fondue on New Years Eve . Yummy!





We all helped with the preparation. I have peeeled garlic.





And then we had to stir, stir, stir until the cheese was melted.



In between, we have set the table .



And then we enjoyed a creamy, seductive fragrant fondue and a glass of white wine.









Unfortunately the rain prevented the fireworks. Nevertheless we had a lovely evening.

All the best for the new year - love you
Dotti Scotti

Hi mommy,
Today we made a trip to Lucerne. Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and a nexus of transportation, telecommunications, and government of this region.

Due to its location on the shore of Lake Lucerne (der Vierwaldstättersee), within sight of Mount Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps, Lucerne has long been a destination for tourists.
Early in the morning we boarded the train







and two hours later we reached Lucerne.



On the way we even saw a bit of snow - a rarity in this winter.



Arriving in Lucerne we strengthened ourselves first with croissant and cappuccino and studied the map .





Then we started our tour.

The first thing we saw was the famous Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) and Wasserturm (Water Tower) .

Bridge: constructed in the first half of the 14th century as a part of the city fortifications. Named after nearby St.Peters chapel.
Watertower: this octagonal over 34 meters high(111.5 ft.) tower was built ca. 1300 as a part of the city wall. Used as archives, treasury, prison and torture chamber. Lucerne's trademark and the most photographed monument in Switzerland.











Along the river Reuss we walked further and saw gulls and swans that were fighting over bread.





Beautiful houses lined our way to Nadelwehr (Needle Dam).









Built in 1859/1860 following the clever style developed by Poiree, the Needle Dam is a unique attraction in terms of both technology and history. From 2009-2011 the facility was renovated and the city's flood protaction was improved. Even today, the level of Lake Lucerne is regulated by hand through the removal and placement of the so-called needles (wooden posts).





This is the Franziskanerkirche (Franciscan church)



The next attraction was the Spreuerbrücke (Mill Bridge ).



The bridge was completed in 1408 as a part of the city fortification. Between 1626 and 1635 Kaspar Mellinger added 67 paintings that represent the "Dance of Death". Called the Spreuerbrücke because chaffs of weat were thrown in the river.







Then we had to climb stairs - many many stairs took us to Museggmauer .



Museggmauer (Musegg wall):  part of the rampart walls built in 1386. Wall almost entirely intact.
8 towers still standing, three are open to the public - Schirmer, Zyt and Männli. The oldest city clock, built by Hans Luter in 1535 is on Zyt tower. This clock is privileged to chime every hour one minute before all the other clocks in the city.





From here you have a wonderful view over the whole city and the lake in good weather. As you can see we did not have great weather, foggy and cold it was .



Lots of stairs later we admired beautifully painted houses that border the old city scenic places .





Goethe was here.







On the opposite shore we saw the Jesuit Church .



Then we treated ourselves to a lunch break .



The next building, which we admired, was the Town Hall (from the back, we will see even from the front).



It was built between 1602 and 1606 by Anton Isenmann in Italian Renaissance style with a Bern farmhouse roof for weather purposes. The open arcades facing the Reuss still serve today as a weekly marketplace.
The Fritschi restaurant on the Sternenplatz, painted with carnival motifs.



The Fritschi is a famous Lucerne carnival figure. And - Luzern + Fasnacht: a madhouse.

Then we reached the lake.



In good weather you can see from here the Alps with the local mountains Pilatus and Rigi.
We strolled a bit along the bank and then went to the Hofkirche (Hofchurch).





Main cathedral for the city population and religious centre St.Leodegar and Mauritius. Benedectine Monastery founded here in the 8th century. Fire destroyed church in 1633. Rebuilt 1645. Is the most important Renaissance church building in Switzerland.



Next, we visited the Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument).





"The dying Lion of Lucerne" is one of the world's most famous monuments. It was hewn out of natural rock in memory of the heroic death of the Swiss mercenaries at the Tuilleries in 1792. Globetrotter Mark Twain described the Lion of Lucern as " the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world".
Once again a short distance along the lake (it was still foggy and cold),





passing this funny house,



and we reached the Kapellbrücke again.



We crossed the bridge



and saw this time the town hall from the front.



This is the Seebrücke (Seabridge).



Under it, the Reuss flows into the Lake Lucerne.

On passing Culture and Congress Centre,



we reached the station.



We said goodbye to Lucerne and were on our way home.







Tired, but happy and enriched by many impressions we fell into bed.
I hope you like my pictures from Lucerne.

Kisses
Dotti Scotti

Hi mommy
This morning I said goodbye. After a long, beautiful time, I will leave Switzerland, Jasper and my friends and return home.
After many hugs and good wishes -









dressed warmly against the cold and chocolate against hunger -



I climbed into my envelope.



Now I'm on my way.
Mommy, I'm coming!

See you soon
Dotti Scotti

Bye, bye little wild cat with the gentle face. I hope your time here in Switzerland gave you the same amount of joy ​​like me.
I wish you many happy adventures and will never forget you.
Jasper