EuroTrip part 2 in Switzerland | My Crash Landing on You experience!

“There is an Indian Proverb that goes- Sometimes the wrong train takes you to the right station,” 

Excerpt from the famous Korean drama series- Crash Landing on You (CLOY)

Ever heard of the famous Korean drama (K-drama) Crash Landing on You (CLOY)? If so, then you would want to sit through and read my blog as I share with you my experience in one of the most breathtaking countries in the world, Switzerland!

This is the 2nd part of my Europe trip that happened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a fun and new experience for me and my brother who wandered the streets of France. If you are curious about the travel restrictions in France and other requirements, you can check out my EuroTrip Part 1 blog.

Prepping for Europe Trip in Switzerland 

To give you an idea, I’d been planning and praying to celebrate my birthday in Switzerland since last 2019, but like any traveler– I never anticipated the surge and existence of COVID-19 before planning and booking my ticket to Europe. I initially planned to visit European countries within the Schengen Area like Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, and Czech Republic. 

If you want to know more about the Schengen Areas you can visit, try reading on my blog on how I was able to acquire a Schengen Visa. It includes my experience, requirements, fees, and the number of processing days to acquire this type of visa. 

EuroTrip — What happened after Paris 

From Paris, we went ahead and visited the most populous city in Switzerland– Geneva. But before that let me remind you to always ADD (+) extra baggage for your luggage. Why? 

When we were at the airport the Ground Staff would NOT allow us to pass through because we had a LOT of things and required us to pay an upfront fee ranging from  €15-40 (18- 50 USD depending on the amount and weight of your luggage. Luckily for us, there was a man (probably a crew member) who talked to the ground staff and let us continue without paying the excess baggage. 

This doesn’t happen all the time, so I suggest that you plan ahead and always be wary of your baggage, especially when you’re travelling on a budget!

Arriving in Switzerland– My CLOY moment!

EuroTrip in Geneva, Switzerland

The 5 hour train ride from Paris to Geneva was very calming.  As we pass through different cultures and sceneries, I keep on thinking how fortunate I am to be travelling to my dream destination for my birthday.   

Geneva is the 2nd largest city in Switzerland next to Zurich. It is regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful and cultured cities, combining natural splendors with a diverse range of historical and architectural offers. We stayed in Geneva for two (2) days before deciding to visit Interlaken via the SBB train.

EuroTrip in Interlaken, Switzerland

Before riding the SBB train to Interlaken, we downloaded an application that allows us to conveniently book and pay for our ticket. Initially, we were hesitant to go Interlaken because we thought train rides were put on hold due to COVID-19. Fortunately, train rides were still operating but only allowed a limited number of travels per day. 

Visiting Interlaken via train was the best decision I made during the trip. Overlooking the mountains and the scenery was very surreal. I tell you, the next time you plan on visiting Switzerland, take the train. See the majestic landscapes this place has to offer, the snow capped Swiss Alps will surely leave you awestruck as well as the neighboring beautiful vistas. During the train ride, operators didn’t inspect the tickets, which was odd. But it was probably because of the pandemic that they rarely inspect tickets (including buses and trams). 

We arrived at Interlaken around noon. Travel time from Geneva to Interlaken took about three (3) hours. Upon arrival we immediately went to our accommodation which was a room overlooking the Alps. We were able to find great deals for accommodation through Airbnb, I suggest you do the same when travelling to save money as well! 

I know I’ve been repeatedly saying how great and wonderful Interlaken is, but I can’t stress it enough that this was surely a great experience! My brother and I can’t stop being amazed by the landscapes and beauty Interlaken has offered. These are one of the rare moments where you’d rather sit and appreciate what’s in front of you rather than taking a photo.

EuroTrip in Iseltwald, Switzerland

After the tiring but fulfilling trip to Internlaken, we went to Iseltwald via a taxi ride. Iseltwald is another iconic location where the famous Kdrama “Crash Landing On You” was filmed. Remember this scene?

Memorable taxi ride in Switzerland (from Interlaken to Iseltwald)

When we arrived at the Interlaken terminal, there were taxis waiting for tourists to drive from Interlaken to Iseltwald.  I happened to stumble upon a Tesla car and insisted that my brother and I try it out. As an Elon Musk fan, I really enjoyed our car ride because I was able to interview the Tesla car driver and he was kind enough to show us Tesla’s unique features and test out its autopilot driving (although this is only applicable to highways.

Want to know how a Tesla car differs from others?
Check out my Vlog here

Of course, I would not let a chance to have my picture taken beside a Tesla! Which I proudly posted on my Facebook account! 

EuroTrip in Sigriswil Panorama Bridge

After visiting Iseltwald, we travelled via bus to Sigriswil Panorama Bridge. This place is another scene from CLOY! Remember this scene?

This is not a place for the faint-hearted. In the series, Ri Jeong Hyeok and Seo Dan visit Sigriswil Panorama Bridge, among other city landmarks, and pose for a photo with a woman (who happens to be Yoon Se-ri).

You must pay roughly 8€ to cross the bridge (you will also receive a voucher for a drink at Hotel Zum Bären, which is close by).

EuroTrip in Grindelwald, Switzerland

The following day we visited Grindelwald. My brother purposely booked our accommodation where the Swiss Alps can be viewed! Why? Because this location is where I was able to celebrate my birthday (Springtime).

The only problem we encountered during our stay here was the limited number of stores open caused by the pandemic. Sadly the only open stores there were very pricey and we had to stick to our budget.

Thankfully we saw a store that serves great Asian food (for an affordable price). Finally! I was able to eat rice (specifically Thai rice) 

The bittersweet reunion of Ri Jeong Hyeok and Yoon Se-ri was shot against the breathtaking scenery of Grindelwald, which made the entire scenario 10 times more breathtaking! If you want to soar through the same breathtaking landscapes, you may book a paragliding adventure with First Flieger.

EuroTrip in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

 Our next itinerary was at Lauterbrunnen. Lauterbrunnen is nestled between massive rock walls and mountain peaks in one of the most magnificent trough valleys in the Alps. This is  one of Switzerland’s largest natural conservation zones, with 72 thundering waterfalls, quiet valleys, colorful alpine meadows, and lonely mountain inns.

This place has really great landscapes and falls, and to really appreciate the beauty of Lauterbrunnen, my brother and I hiked our way towards a terminal and rode a bus going back to Lauterbrunnen.

EuroTrip in Zurich, Switzerland

Our last stop for the Europe trip was Zurich–The most expensive European city. Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city and the canton’s capital. This financial, cultural, and industrial center stretches out between two forested chains of hills, some 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the northern foothills of the Alps, in an Alpine setting at the northwestern extremity of Lake Zürich.

Zurich is also the Old town of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov  better known by his alias Lenin,a Russian revolutionary, politician, and political theorist. Well, enough of the fun facts. Our Zurich experience is C-O-L-D, as compared to other places we’ve visited in Switzerland, the temperature in Zurich was extremely cold. My brother and I couldn’t even last outside for five (5) minutes! 

Our Eurotrip challenge– midst the pandemic

The main struggle during our trip in Switzerland was not getting around the country, but LEAVING! Because of the pandemic, the return ticket back to the Philippines  through France was cancelled by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

As much as we wanted to stay in Switzerland, we were determined to get home, so my brother and I hurriedly went to the airport to purchase some tickets.  Thankfully we were able to acquire the last flight tickets through Oman Airlines. 

What you can do to prevent this?

To prevent this from happening, it’s important to research ahead of time and have contact details of Philippine Embassies in your phone when you travel! 

Here are some helpful contact details!

On the flight home, we were shocked to arrive at the airport and see that no one was there. It was not the busy airport everyone came to remember. Because of the pandemic, there were only five (5) passengers on the airplane. 

After our layover at Muscat, Oman, our flight was suddenly filled with fellow Filipinos (OFWs) who were also coming home to the Philippines. Sadly, the reason for going back was caused by COVID-19 where some Pinoys had lost their job. 

I hope you found my Switzerland blog trip helpful! For those of you who are planning to take a trip to Switzerland during the pandemic, feel free to comment here or reach me through my social media for questions and clarifications! I’d be more than happy to help!

For more blog updates you can check out my website @ www.lakwatsanisay.com or follow me through my social media platforms!