Mice in Switzerland, the Other Cheese Country! (page 7 of 19)

Our Airbnb host told us the parade is going to last a while and that today isn’t the right day to go.

Today isn’t the right day for Rhine Falls or Stein am Rhein either 🐭🧀

Schaffhausen center (+ Munot from afar)

Schaffhausen center (+ Munot from afar)

Actually, the idea was to do this at the same time as the Rhine Falls...

The parking was cheaper in Zurich on Sunday 🐭

In border areas in Switzerland, buy a small item with a 20 € bill and ask for your change in Swiss francs if they don’t give it to you automatically—fewer parking meter issues afterward...

Schaffhausen center (+ Munot from afar)

I’d say Schaffhausen center and the Munot up close. 😛

Not a good day for Rhine Falls or Stein am Rhein either 🐭🤪

Why?

It’s true, it’s always better on a weekday, but I don’t see why not to go today. Maybe there’ll be traffic on the road.🤪

The falls are really beautiful at night.

In border areas, in Switzerland, buying a small item with a 20 € bill and asking for change in Swiss francs if they don’t give it to you automatically—after that, fewer problems with parking meters...

Parking meters don’t even give change back.

We’ve got a 10 € bill—we’d need to get some change.

But I still think 24/7 paid parking is excessive, and it doesn’t exist in France except in rare cases.

We’ve got 3 days here, so I’m not sure how to organize it.

My idea was one day in Zurich, one day at the Rhine Falls and Schaffhausen, and one day in Stein am Rhein and Constance...

Another question: is there a big price difference for paracetamol (Doliprane) between Switzerland and Germany? I need a refill—I’ve almost run out of my stash! I’m not tight on cash, it’s just that I don’t see the point of paying double in Switzerland!

It's not a good day for Rhine Falls or Stein am Rhein either 🦡🤭

Why?

It's true, it's always better on a weekday, but I don't see why we shouldn't go today. Maybe there'll be traffic.🤭

The falls are really beautiful at night.

Yeah, too crowded

Sunstore pharmacies in Switzerland, for example:

https://www.sunstore.ch/fr/p/paracetamol-mepha-cpr-pell-500-mg-20-pce-7300024?srsltid=AfmBOoqhm5vJyo4ZKAbVOzSFbFFPvypB_8DXBunAXZzEQgOj2godMg2u

If one is open today, the 10th, there's an extra 10% off...

Sunstore pharmacies in Switzerland, for example:

https://www.sunstore.ch/fr/p/paracetamol-mepha-cpr-pell-500-mg-20-pce-7300024?srsltid=AfmBOoqhm5vJyo4ZKAbVOzSFbFFPvypB_8DXBunAXZzEQgOj2godMg2u

If one is open today, the 10th, there's an extra 10% off...

Thanks!

I’d come across it but I don’t see where it was 🤔

Another question: is there a big price difference for Doliprane between Switzerland and Germany?

Yes, medications are much cheaper in Germany.

They don’t even give change at the parking meters

Neither do they in France. In Switzerland, they do give change in underground parking lots.

We’ve got a 10-franc bill, we should get some change.

Definitely—when you travel abroad, it’s best to have the local currency. I think that’s normal.

But I still think 24/7 paid parking is excessive, and it doesn’t exist in France except in rare cases.

I’d advise against going to Slovenia—some parking lots there are also 24/7. And in Paris too, by the way.

I’m not driving to Paris... Besides, in most big French cities—and also German or Belgian ones—there’s the park-and-ride concept to encourage using public transport. For Zurich, though, taking the train is more expensive for two people, so if we go, we’ll pay for parking.

And no, parking in Paris is free from 8 PM. Same pretty much everywhere. Except in some very touristy villages...

Luckily, 24-hour parking doesn’t seem to be the norm in Switzerland. Aarau was a special case. Not in Lucerne, Olten, Baden, or Thun. Not even in Gruyères, where you’re basically a prisoner of the parking lot!

For money... I’ve been paying for everything by card for a while now, especially abroad. In some countries, cash isn’t even accepted anymore (Sweden, the Netherlands—it’s becoming rare—and even in Edinburgh, lots of places were "cash-free"). Everyone finds it easier to use a card than cash (plus, parking meters don’t give change, just another way to get ripped off even more).

But yeah, we’ll get some cash this time.

Well, we tried our luck at the Rhine Falls. No line at the ticket counter at this hour. We're about to board for the boat ride with a stop on the rock.

Too bad the scenery is spoiled by modern constructions 😕

Well, I wanted to see the Rhine Falls and I did see the Rhine Falls 😄

Impressive from the top of the central rock! Though even there I got vertigo 😮

We walked all around up to the castle, but since we’d already done the boat ride and the view from the rock, we didn’t pay again for the view from the castle. I actually think it’s pretty stingy to charge for a viewpoint... Anyway, we had other free viewpoints.

We also strolled along the Rhine on the other side—much quieter!

Loads of Indian tourists, and lots of Muslims (veiled women), but I didn’t really figure out where they were from. You hardly hear any German in the end, and even less French. I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting to see so many Indians in Switzerland. Maybe because there aren’t many on the French-speaking side.

Then, since we’d parked right at the top, we had to climb back up. That was a workout!

Almost 5 hours in total—no regrets!

I think we’re going to extend our stay here by two nights, if we can push back our arrival in Lausanne. And either way, I’d already like to add two more nights there.

Too bad, we can’t extend the apartment—someone booked it in the meantime.

We have to leave tomorrow.

I think we won’t be going to Zurich. Too much of a hassle, too hot.

I loved your photos. We used to go to Switzerland when I was a kid, and I rediscover that wonderful, aesthetic side.

Oh, thanks! This country is absolutely gorgeous, yeah! I see so many sides to it: cities, villages, landscapes, a few museums...

Well, tomorrow at 34 it’s gonna be tricky

Good morning 34, it's gonna be tricky

A paddleboard or canoe outing on a lake with mountain views.

The descent of the Aare River between Thun and Bern. Be careful—you’ll need to stop before the locks.

Thanks, but it’s not really our thing 🤷

Normally today we’re off to Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein!