“Where to?”
“Skiing. How about that?”
“Sounds good!” Lin Wan’s eyes lit up. “But have the ski resorts in Xinjiang opened yet?”
Lu Zheng shook his head. “Domestic resorts open in November. For National Day skiing, we can only go to Europe or Canada.”
“Europe then.” Lin Wan smiled. “Skiing in the Alps in Switzerland. I have heard about it since childhood. Always thought it would be great to visit when grown up. But as an adult, I lost interest.”
Lu Zheng snapped his fingers. “Done. I will book tickets. We leave the night after tomorrow.”
The day after tomorrow was 30 September.
“Hehe! Great!” Lin Wan giggled, snuggling closer into Lu Zheng’s arms.
…
Plane took off, plane landed.
After over twenty hours, the two arrived in this small Western European country.
“Nice environment,” Lu Zheng admitted.
“Beautiful scenery,” Lin Wan said.
After all, a sparsely populated developed nation famous for tourism had to show its best.
“Hotel first.”
They flew into Zurich, planning to sightsee one day and stay overnight, then head to the famous Alpine town of Interlaken tomorrow afternoon.
“It is already quite cold here.”
Exiting the airport, Lu Zheng tightened his trench coat. Though his cultivation made him immune to cold or heat, he still felt it keenly.
“Europe’s latitude is much higher than Haicheng’s. Mild climate aside, winters are truly cold. Moreover…”
“Moreover, Switzerland sits right north of the Alps.”
Lin Wan laughed. “Correct!”
In a khaki long trench coat matching Lu Zheng’s couple outfit, paired with slim jeans and short high-heeled boots, long hair flowing, her smiling face not only heated Lu Zheng’s gaze but drew many looks around.
“Taxi!”
Outside the airport, taxis waited. One pulled up for them.
Lu Zheng opened the door for Lin Wan to enter first, then followed, saying fluently in German, “To the Holiday Crown Hotel.”
“Yes, sir!”
His proficient language with a slight Berlin accent made the driver think Lu Zheng a Chinese-descended German.
Handing a business card, the driver said, “Sir visiting Switzerland? If you need a car in Zurich, call me.”
Lu Zheng took it and nodded. “Good, thanks.”
As known, taxis abroad are hard to hail. Except at airports or stations, elsewhere requires booking by phone with extra fees.
“Can your car do long distances? Like to Interlaken?” Lu Zheng disliked buses.
“Of course!” the driver said delightedly, then added, “But the price…”
“Price no issue.”
The driver nodded repeatedly. “Good, good. Call anytime.”
“We probably leave tomorrow afternoon.”
“Yes, sir!”
During the chat, they reached the Holiday Crown Hotel.
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan carried only backpacks, no suitcases, needing no help.
At reception, passports handed, registered, room cards received.
Lin Wan glanced. “Suite again?”
Lu Zheng dangled the card. “When travelling, stay comfortable. More space, better for… activities.”
Lin Wan’s face reddened. She spat. “Activities my foot!”
But said nothing more. With no grand pursuits now, their money was truly unspendable.
…
They toured the suite, stowed backpacks in the gourd, then hand in hand strolled towards Lake Zurich.
From hotel to lake, about five or six kilometres through Zurich’s main district: malls, hotels, restaurants, churches, throngs of tourists. Many Chinese faces made them unremarkable.
Lake Zurich: yachts dotted the water, wild ducks and swans abound.
Shores near the city had large plazas full of lounging tourists and locals.
Live-streamers, performers. They even saw one in hanfu playing guzheng, circled by onlookers.
No boat ride. They wandered the exotic city all afternoon, taking many photos, then…
Posted to Moments with location.
Lin Wan: ♪(^∇^*)♪
…
Lin Wan had to admit: large suites allowed easier… activities.
…
Next afternoon, Lu Zheng called yesterday’s taxi driver to drive them straight to Interlaken.
“So beautiful!” Lin Wan exclaimed.
No wonder many blindly praise Europe: vast land, few people, years of environmental care. Many tourist towns fused perfectly with nature. Truly stunning.
Interlaken’s air fresh, visibility excellent. Stepping out, they saw majestic Alps.
Lower slopes green with trees, peaks snow-capped.
Weather… early October, yet many tourists in down jackets or fur coats. Trench coats like theirs were minority.
“So many people!” Lu Zheng said.
The taxi kindly dropped them in town centre.
Thus, alighting, they saw the main street lined with famous shops, bustling crowds.
Strolling, by hotel check-in, hands full of local textiles as gifts for colleagues and friends back home.
Lu Zheng glanced back: a distant train climbing laboriously.
“Jungfrau Railway,” Lin Wan said.
Europe’s highest railway, from Interlaken to Jungfrau peak.
Station at over four thousand metres, with ski resorts and attractions. Interlaken’s biggest draw.
“Ski the mountain tomorrow,” Lu Zheng smiled.
Lin Wan nodded. They dropped things in the room, then explored more.
Lake Brienz, Lake Thun, open-air museum, train station, small chapels…
Evening: traditional restaurant for local dinner, folk performance.
Not great, just novel. Inferior to Yuling Garden operas.
