My Family Got Separated in Switzerland

So, how did we get into this situation?

Let me set the scene. My family and I had planned a huge European adventure, our biggest trip yet. We planned to visit the UK, France, Switzerland, and then finish off the trip exploring Italy. The day had finally come, we arrived in London, jet lagged, but excited, and hit the ground running as we visited some London Landmarks. Eventually, we made it to France and took a few day trips to places like Monet’s Garden and Versailles.

Next up was Switzerland, and the first few days there were great. We drove through quaint little valleys with grand mountains looming over, we swam in unbelievably clear water, and we ate decadently rich fondue. The last day of our time in Switzerland, we packed up our luggage and got onto the boat tour we would take around a lake, take a stop at a short waterfall hike, and then end up in a town where we would take a train to Italy. 

We didn’t just get separated from one another…

Now there were six of us traveling together, and some people might have overpacked, so we didn’t just tuck our luggage away in a corner of the boat and secure it. Rather. We made what I like to call “the leaning tower of luggage”; it was a bit humiliating, but comical at the same time. We locked it up with some travel locks, and then we were free to roam around the boat. 

The views were absolutely unreal, talk about the most turquoise water I’ve ever seen. Huge mountains shot out from the lake, and the cutest cottages lined the shores. Everything felt like a dream. Before I knew it, we were at the waterfall hike stop. So we set off to go see this waterfall. You could hike all the way up, but we opted for the cable car that could take us closer to the top for the sake of time. We got off and hiked a short distance to the falls which were breathtaking. While walking through the forest to get there, my family and I could understand why fairytales came from Europe, the land simply feels more magical. 

Before we knew it, it was time to head back down to the cable car if we wanted to make the boat before it left. So we all headed down, but here’s where things took a turn. There was no one running the cable car. Everything was shut down. Panic set in because all of our luggage was on that boat, and we were way up high on a mountain. 

Think Fast

Once the reality set in, we realized we only had one option. My brother and dad would have to sprint down the mountain if there was any chance of making it to the boat and getting our luggage, and the rest of us would have to stay behind and figure out a way to get to that train station. 

Off they went, running like wild animals down that mountain. My dad had coins flying out of his fanny pack as he was running in panic and forgot to zip it up. Quite the scene if you ask me. As the boat came into view, the staff had already started unhooking the boat from the dock and were seconds away from shutting the gate. My dad shouted for them to wait and made it onto the boat with literally no time to spare. 

As for the rest of us, we walked to the nearest hotel, the only hotel, and asked if they could call for a taxi. While we were waiting, we looked out a window, and sure enough, there was a little speck on the lake. That little speck had my dad, my brother, and our luggage on it. 

Eventually, we got a taxi. We got in and told the driver where we wanted to go. She was very upset because she thought we wanted to go to a much closer train station, but we would instead have to drive quite a way around the lake. Finally, she agreed, but not without racking up the price. Oh well, we desperately needed to get going. After a long car ride, we made it back in time and were reunited with our family and our luggage. 

Moral of the Story

The main takeaway here is that travel isn’t always smooth sailing. In fact, you should never expect it to be. The curveballs are all part of the grand adventure. You just have to be ready to think fast and act fast. Just remember this: where there’s a will, there’s a way.