"An Idyllic Spot" Giswil by Landlubber54

This side trip was a favorite for the entire family. We travelled several miles outside of Lucerne, to get to Giswil. There we were hosted by a dairy farmer and his wife for a morning visit. The day was beautiful, and we were given a tour of the area in horse-drawn wagons. Afterward we returned to the farmhouse of our hosts, where we were served cakes and bread baked by the wife, along with coffee, apple juice and grappa. It was a very intimate and enjoyable morning.

At the Center of Switzerland

During our tour around Giswil, it was pointed out that the church in this photograph is considered by many to be - or at least be near - the geographic center of Switzerland. Like everything else in the area, it makes for a beautiful picture, regardless.

Hans and his wife

Our hosts were very gracious to receive forty guests at their home and to show us around town (even if they were paid by the tour company). For me, it gave us a much closer - and less pretentious - look at small-town life than I ever expected to see on a tour across Europe.

• Pros:Beautiful surroundings, sincere and friendly people
• Cons:No night life?
• In a nutshell:A little slice of Swiss heaven