Swiss Christchurch Return

 

 

This week I met a long-time friend Fabienne Huber, a marketing guru from Stanserhorn, Switzerland.

She had been touring New Zealand for a month with her friend Erika Bircher. Erika had to get a leave pass from her hubby and two grown-up daughters.

Christchurch was their last port of call before returning home.

Having returned their hire car, they rode the Christchurch Tramway and we walked to a variety of sites in the CBD  –the Transitional (so-called cardboard) Cathedral, 185 chairs representing those who lost their lives in the 2011 earthquakes, Kate Sheppard memorial, World Peace Bell and Botanic Gardens. We ducked into Ilex for a lunch snack to escape a muscular southerly change.

Fabienne had been in Christchurch seven years previously so was shocked to see the devastation of still crumbling buildings. She was, however, impressed by the rebuild progress along with the opportunities (with Erika)  to go shopping, making a start in the Restart: Mall, continuing to Ballantynes, the BNZ Centre, colourful Cashel Square leading to Scorpio Books and ANZ Centre.  She was also delighted to catch up with tram driver Ken Henderson on tramcar No. 11. She had met Ken on her previous visit. Ken passed her contact to me and I met Fabienne her at Stanserhorn during my 2010 Swiss cycling trip.

Stanserhorn, a shortish (20-minute) train ride to Stans from Luzern, is an 1898metre-high mountain reached by a three-section old-time funicular railway of the 1890s and cable car. The summit in the Uri Alps offers great views along with a revolving restaurant. Fabienne kindly treated me to a sumptuous lunch. And she showed me a photo album of her Christchurch visit the previous year. The Christchurch Tramway was a highlight.

During my visit the Stanserhorn cable car was soon to be upgraded with the world’s first Cabrio able to carry 60 people with many enjoying a Biggles-like rush of air on an open upper deck. The CHF 28.1 million Cabrio opened two years later. The concept and manufacture of Cabrio was proudly almost 100 per cent Swiss.

The two Swiss women thoroughly enjoyed their self-guided New Zealand tour, even venturing to earthquake devastated Kaikoura. They went on a Whale Watch tour and were rewarded with sightings. They ventured up the Christchurch Gondola on their final Christchurch day.

For me, Fabienne and Erika brought back cherished memories of my three trips to Switzerland. The most recent, in 2010, was principally to tackle the Furka Pass a tough cycling ride and part of the Rhone Route One beginning in Andermatt (in heart of Swiss Alps) and concluding 300 km later in Geneva.

I would not say ``no’’ to a fourth Switzerland visit. I have probably done the bicycle journeys I am capable of. A couple of rail trips are in the ``remaining business'' basket.