📅 July 24, 2025
The day had finally come — the end of our Switzerland adventure. We finished packing, triple-checked the apartment, and wheeled our bags to the bus stop. The air felt damp and gray, fitting for goodbyes.
Of course, the morning started with one last coffee. We ducked into Café Tacuba Neustadt and sat down with flat whites and pastries — a little pause before the long journey home. From there, we made our way to the Lucerne train station, arms full of Migros breakfast treasures: savory sandwiches, sweet pastries, and a soda for Jonas.
The train pulled out under a soft rain, as if the Alps themselves were saying farewell. The ride to Zurich was smooth, fast, and efficient — classic Swiss. It still amazed us how seamlessly trains and airports connected: step off the platform, and within minutes we were at the airport.
We couldn’t resist splurging on one final Swiss coffee at the airport before boarding. Holding the warm cup in hand felt like holding onto the trip itself, reluctant to let it go.
Then came the overnight flight — 12 hours across the Atlantic. We each passed the time in our own way: Jonas dozed in spurts, Alina and I alternated between watching movies, and stretching our legs When we finally touched down in Los Angeles at 4:30 p.m., it was still the same day — a kind of time travel by jet.
The contrasts hit fast: warm California air instead of alpine chill, highways instead of mountain trails, rental shuttles instead of gondolas. At Enterprise, we picked up our car, and I slid into the driver’s seat for the first time in weeks. It felt both freeing and strange after relying on trains, buses, and boats.
Our first stop was pure California tradition: In-N-Out. Air-conditioning, unlimited soda refills, and a double-double animal style — comfort food to mark the end of a journey.
By evening, we were home, unpacked, and collapsed into bed. The trip was over, but its weight and meaning weren’t.
The story doesn’t truly end here, though. The airports and train rides are only the closing notes. What lingers are the lessons — about family, time, and what matters most. That reflection belongs in its own chapter.
Highlights
- 🚆 Last Swiss train ride: Lucerne → Zurich Airport
- ☕ Final Swiss coffees + Migros pastries
- ✈️ Overnight flight “time travel” to LA
- 🍔 First stop back: In-N-Out
- 🚗 Driving again after weeks of seamless public transport
The Tullmann Travels 
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