The Lion lies in his lair in the perpendicular face of a low cliff — for he is carved from the living rock of the cliff. His size is colossal, his attitude is noble. His head is bowed, the broken spear is sticking in his shoulder, his protecting paw rests upon the lilies of France. Vines hang down the cliff and wave in the wind, and a clear stream trickles from above and empties into a pond at the base, and in the smooth surface of the pond the lion is mirrored, among the water-lilies.

Around about are green trees and grass. The place is a sheltered, reposeful woodland nook, remote from noise and stir and confusion — and all this is fitting, for lions do die in such places, and not on granite pedestals in public squares fenced with fancy iron railings. The Lion of Lucerne would be impressive anywhere, but nowhere so impressive as where he is.

— Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad, 1880

I also visited Lucerne, Switzerland, but I did not see the Lion Monument. I did, however, see a great bar. Backpacking across Europe is wasted on the young.

This post is part of the UpTake Monday Museums, Monuments and Memorials Series.

Photo: Dave-F via Flickr

the water is perfect!

Yes folks, people still do this.  Toady we hear from freelance travel writer and Uptake blogger, Zach Everson (link), who spent three months backpacking his way around Europe.  Above you see Zach standing in cold water in Olympos, Turkey. Why he’s smiling is anyone’s guess.

Zach explains that there are obvious things to watch out for, but that it’s safe and cost effective.  There are so many young people doing this, it really is quite normal.

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Traveling Europe - Fun for the Whole Family

Well, look at you. You’ve gone and done it. You’ve scrimped, you’ve saved, you’ve cashed in the kid’s birthday/Christmas checks from grandma and grandpa – that’s not right by the way – you’ve read all the books and written down your contact information. You’ve put a hold on the mail and piled cat food to the ceiling and left the toilet lid open. You’ve made all the necessary arrangements. It’s time to tour Europe. You’ve been good. You deserved this.

Here’s the thing though.  Europe is big.  It’s huge.  Like, so huge that there’s no way you’re walking around it unless you’re all convicted and doing it for a charity or awareness or something like that. If you’re not set up for anything listed previously, you’re going to need transportation.
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The Chapel Bridge (14th century)

When the train stopped in Lucerne it was a holiday and the town was quiet. We had just spent hours along the tunnels and snow-covered tracks of a railway through the Swiss Alps and we were hungry.  Sadly, the only thing open between us and our hostel was a McDonald’s in the train station.  We ate there begrudgingly.

It cost $10 dollars (U.S) for a meal-deal.  It was 1996 and the dollar was stronger than it is now. I can’t imagine what kind of change Mickey D’s is raking in over there these days.

We had just spent a few extra days in Prague and we were already late for Barcelona.  We decided the pocket-friendly thing to do was cut our visit in Switzerland down to one night.  Hey, we were on a budget.

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