We finished our weekend shop and dropped off a few items for mum before setting off for some fun in the sun. We thought we might lunch in Apley Farm shop on our way to Bridgnorth. When we arrived the café was full, with only outdoor seating available. It was lovely and sunny but far too windy to enjoy eating lunch outside so we continued our journey to Bridgnorth where we enjoyed lunch ‘with a view’ in Violets Tea Room.

I chose a a warmed lemon scone with butter and my lunchtime drink of choice, Elderflower Presse. After our order had been taken Mr C received a message from a friend. “I know it is short notice but I am available for a board game tonight”. Mr C replied that we were available. What game would I choose…

After lunch, it was lovely to step away from Bridgnorth’s  busy streets and enjoy a quiet walk around the perimeter of the Castle Gardens, taking in panoramic views over Bridgnorth, including the rugby pitch which looked more like a swimming pool after the recent rainfalls and flooding.

After walking around the perimeter I stepped Inside the tranquil Castle Gardens and I wondered how the tower keep (all that remains of the Castle), defying the laws of gravity, is still standing!

We returned to the town centre where Mr C and I had a separate random encounter with one of his friends. The street was rather crowded  with people bustling everywhere. I ploughed my way through to a quiet area beyond the market stall, thinking Mr C was behind me. When I turned round I realised that it was a couple following in my footsteps rather than Mr C.

I looked back down the street and couldn’t see him anywhere even when the street was clear of people. I reached for my phone to call him when suddenly I heard a voice next to me saying ‘he is down there’. When I looked to see who had spoken I realised it was that friend of Mr C, we had a brief chat and a hug before he had to rush off.

After our Bridgnorth excursion we enjoyed ‘Fine Dining’ followed by a lovely evening that included the aforementioned board gaming with our friend. We played Alhambra followed by Exploding Kittens!

This hall of mirrors is situated near to the glacier garden.

Set up for the amusement park at the Swiss National Exhibition of 1896 in Geneva.

Created by Heinrich Ernst, a Zurich architect, the Alhambran labyrinth of mirrors was one of the main attractions a the Parc de Plaisance during the Swiss National Exhibition in Geneva in 1896. Marie Amrein-Troller, the widow of the glacier garden’s founder, who died young, acquired the labyrinth in 1899.

The Alhambra in the southern Spanish city of Granada is one of the most important monuments in Europe. The fascination with this most Islamic of buildings was also the reason for the labyrinth of mirrors being created in Alhambra style.

The entrance with its lion fountain is particularly reminiscent of the alhambra. 1/6 of the fountain with a mere two lions and only a few Alhambra arched elements give the the illusion of the lion fountain with 12 stone lions. The labyrinth of mirrors (popularly called the hall of mirrors or mirror maze) continues with its Moorish arches from the Iberian peninsula.*

*Information taken from a sign at the entrance to the labyrinth.

I woke refreshed after a good nights sleep. The breakfast choice was good and there were different seating areas to choose from including the balcony option.

After breakfast we took a leisurely walk along the lake past the Hofkirche, taking in the views of Pilatus on our way towards the Lion Monument.  We stopped for a refreshing drink along the way and after taking pictures of the poignant monument we explored the nearby Glacier Garden.  This natural phenomenon was on my hit list of things to see, but I didn’t realise that the attraction also housed a museum and a mirror maze that was based on Alhambra.  The mirrors had been kept so clean that the we heard many clunks along the way as people crashed into the mirrors.

After the Glacier Garden experience it was time for lunch where I experienced a rather refreshing mineral water drink that was topped up with summer berries.

After lunch the next port of call was the Bourbaki Panorama which depicted the internment of 87,000 French soldiers as they crossed the border into Switzerland in 1871.   On both an artistic and informative level, this was the best panorama that I have seen.

We walked back to the Hofkirche and went inside.  It had lovely calm and relaxing atmosphere. We then investigated the cloisters before sitting down for another cooling drink on our way back to the hotel, where we freshened up before our evening meal.

We were bored to death by two business men who were dining at the table next to us and talking LOUDLY about their work.  One of them was quite rude and ignorant and I had to think ‘calm’ because so many words were on the tip of my tongue

We then took a leisurely stroll through the ‘New Town’ arriving at the bar next door to our hotel for a night cap before we retired for a good night’s sleep.