SWITZERLAND, Bern

Saturday morning October 21, 2006

I took the morning train from Interlaken to Bern. Only 1.5 hrs. I immediately walked to olde town to see the Glockenspiel clock with the bear chasing the rooster. I visited the bear den. Bern was named after the bear because it was the 1st animal killed on that site. I also took pictures of the various fountains including the ogre fountain which depicts him eating children. There also was a cheese and milk market which happens every Saturday morning.

SWITZERLAND, Lucerne

Saturday October 21, 2006

After lunch I took the train from Bern to Lucerne. It has a beautiful bridge, Kapellbrucke, whose murals lining the ceiling, are nearly identical to those painted in the 14th century. The covered bridge supposedly had over 120 painters at one time painting it in the 17th century. I also got to watch skull {rowing} races in the middle of the city with everyone lining the river and cheering. A Cheese Festival was also going on with a milking contest complete with a fake cow that gave milk. The building decorations were some of the most unusual that I have ever seen.

SWITZERLAND, Trummelbach Falls

October 20, 2006

After visiting Schilthorn, Murren and Gimmelwald, I finally found my way to the Falls. The Falls have 10 separate waterfalls within the mountain. My pictures are not very good but it may give some insight to the phenomena.

SWITZERLAND, Schilthorn

Friday October 20, 2006

Today I had planned to go to Trummelbach Falls, which has 10 waterfalls inside a mountain, but took the wrong bus and ended up at the lift to Schilthorn Mountain. Schilthorn is famous for having the longest ski run in the world and being the location for one of the older James Bond films. It was the best view so far including Jungfrau. At the top is a rotating restaurant which gives you a 360 degree view while eating lunch.

" All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware."

Martin Buber

SWITZERLAND, Murren

October 20, 2006

I got off the lift from Schilthorn to visit the village of Murren. It is a typical small Swiss village on the mountainside but a little commercialized but not too much. It has restaurants and hotels which makes it tourist friendly. A good place to stay in the Alps can be hard to find.

SWITZERLAND, Gimmelwald

Friday October 20, 2006

Later I went to Gimmelwald which is much smaller with only one bed and breakfast, no restaurants and the Mountain Hostel with has probably one of the best views in the Alps. Since Gimmelwald is not too far up the mountain from Murren, it is easy to get supplies and food in Murren when staying at the Mountain Hostel.

SWITZERLAND, Paragliding over Interlaken

Thursday October 19, 2006

Today I went with 4 other people up on the side of a mountain about 2800 feet up and ran off the side of a mountain along with my pilot, Julian, in a tandem jump. Julian said his 1st jump was only 18 months earlier and then it when he decided to get him license. The view over Interlaken was beautiful and we landed right in front of Hooters, the only one in Europe. Life doesn't get much  better than this.    

         

SWITZERLAND, Jungfraujoch and Ice Palace

Wednesday October 18, 2006

After flying into Milan from Crete the night before I caught the 6:25 am train to Interlaken. I had left my camera back in my hotel room and had to go back and get it. I got to the train 2 minutes before it pulled out. The train ride to Switzerland was incredible. I got to Interlaken at 9 am and found out that the next train to the Jungfrau Mountain, which I wanted to visit, left in 3 minutes so I bought a ticket. The weather has been warm since I have been in Europe and I did not bring a coat. It would have been nice to have had one when I went to the Jungfrau and the Ice Palace, which is located inside the mountain. At 11,400 feet Jungfrau has been the highest railroad terminus for over a century and the Aletsch Glacier is Europe's longest.

SWITZERLAND, Interlaken

October 27, 2006

Interlaken is one of the most beautiful towns that I have ever been. I came here for 3 days and stayed 9 days. Set in the middle of the Alps, it is a town of about 20,000 people and has a beautiful river running right through the center of town. It also has two lakes on both sides of it. Ursula and Chris at Rugenpark Hostel made me feel like I was at home. I probably would have stayed longer except they were closing for the month of November. Ursula gave me a box of chocolates.