[CR Switzerland] Day 14

September 30, 2006
Engelberg – Zurich Kloten Airport

Breakfast Call: 7.30-9.30 * Baggage Call: 9.45
Airport Transfer: 10.00

Despite the fact that my parents and I were scheduled to take the second bus, I woke up early, per force of habit, and had a good vantage point from the room balcony, of the preparations for the departure of the first group. On sudden impulse, and having some excess tension to burn, I dropped down to the lobby to bid the 7.00 AM group a safe trip, and a smooth one; then it was back to the room to settle the final arrangement of the clothes and souvenirs in my suitcase. I peered out the balcony as I heard the bus engine start, and chuckled at the last sight of our coach as it pulled out of the parking lot. It was good two weeks on that vehicle, and its Mercedes engines did right by all of us during the tour.

The rain arrived with the sunrise, but I reassured Ma that it was going to be a temporary thing. As Elizabeth had promised the day before, at 8.00 AM, we could hear the sounds of cowbells ringing merrily on the breeze, as the cows were brought down from the high pastures. With only 15 of us left out of a group of 40, breakfast was a quiet affair. Afterwards, one last look around the room to make sure we didn't leave anything behind, then down in time to meet Sara and Rudi from the first bus. It was rather anti-climactic to be boarding this new bus, with a new set of people, for the long ride to the airport.

It was interesting to get a glimpse of Sara's style, however brief, on the ride to the airport. She breezed through the admin details and then directed our attention to the herd of cows coming down from the hills, making it necessary for vehicular traffic to slow down considerably. The lead cows were decked out with flower crowns and Swiss flags, with the champion milkers wearing the largest bells in the whole bunch. The cowherds were also dressed in festive attire – perhaps there was going to be some sort of festival once they got to town.

Once away from the traffic, it was mostly highway travelling to Zurich. Sara ran a small contest about trivia concerning the tour. She asked questions about how many cantons the tour had traversed, how many kilometers the bus had traveled, name three kinds of Swiss cheese, and so on. Then she put on the “hotel inspectors” episode of Fawlty Towers to make the time go faster – and I'm glad she did, I've heard so much about this series and never gotten anywhere near seeing it! I must say, John Cleese in the title role had me in stitches – it's fun to think of him as playing Q's replacement in the James Bond series now.

We ran into truly heavy traffic going through one of the towns, which was my cue to fall asleep until we reached the edges of Zurich. I was awakened by the sun shining strongly through the window, until it was toasting my cheeks by the time we reached Kloten airport. Sara gently roused the drowsing bus to review such things as which terminals we were supposed to go in order to check-in our baggage, and where to find the customs booth so that we could get our tax rebates.

At last, we pulled up at the entrance of the airport. Time to say our goodbyes to the remainder of our traveling companions; to give and receive well-wishes for a safe journey ahead. For the last time, it was time to retrieve baggage from the coach, and thank our driver Rudi for his help in unloading them. And for the last time, fond farewells to a Tour Director whom I hope we may have on our next visit to Europe! I confirmed with Sara the directions to our check-out counter and how to find the customs booth, and then we were inside the airport for the next stage of our long journey home. I looked back outside as I was guiding Ma and her trolley back down the sloping path, just in time to see the coach pull away. For a moment, a pang of nostalgia tugged at me – but then it was time to square shoulders and set my attention to getting home.