Blogs from Switzerland, Europe - page 12

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Europe » Switzerland September 15th 2019

15 September 2019 Along with the Sunday crowds enjoying the warm sunshine, we spent the day exploring the bridges, churches, monuments, city walls and old town squares of Lucerne.... read more
The Dying Lion of Lucerne is carved into a cliff face and commemorates Swiss soldiers who died protecting the Tuileries Palace in Paris in 1792
The city wall with some of its towers
Looking over the city scape with the 15th century timber Spreuer Bridge crossing the River Reuss and Lake Lucerne in the background

Europe » Switzerland September 14th 2019

14 September 2019 As we were driving on country roads towards Lucerne, we approached the village of Wassen, where we were stopped and told the road was closed to allow the annual event of bringing the cows down from the mountains to take place. We said we would like to watch the ceremony and because Wendy had a disabled badge were allowed to park in a special place close to the festivities. We then had a wonderful couple of hours joining the local population in their celebrations.... read more
First it was a herd of goats
Then a St Bernard pulling his grog
When the cows arrived down the road, we realised they we decorated with flower garlands and had huge bells around their necks

Europe » Switzerland September 13th 2019

13 September 2019 Today we started with a visit to Riechenbachfälle, the site Conan Doyle chose to dispatch Sherlock Holmes. It wasn’t particularly impressive. Then we drove over the exciting and very impressive 2165m Grimmelpass and 2431 Furkapass to reach the ski resort of Andermatt where we stayed the night.... read more
Wendy re-creating Holmes
At the Grimmelpass
From the Grimmelpass the road drops steeply down to the hamlet of Gletsch and immediately starts climbing again to the Furkapass

Europe » Switzerland September 12th 2019

12 September 2019 Not far from Brienz is the Ballenberg open air museum which includes examples of mainly rural buildings from all over Switzerland. What impressed us was the number and variety of the structures that had been re-constructed on this valley side site with wonderful mountain vistas beyond. It took us over four hours to see it all. From there we drove the few kilometres to the small town of Meiringen.... read more
There used to be many thatched buildings in Switzerland, but because of the fire risk only a few survive. These couple are at Ballenberg
A collection of farm buildings with a picturesque background
This farm building had been altered

Europe » Switzerland September 11th 2019

11 September 2019 For our last trip before we moved on from Brainz, we rode a bus to the other side of the lake to visit Giessbachfälle, part of which we had seen on our boat trip a couple of days previously. It proved very entertaining as there was a footpath which went directly behind one of the several steps of the falls. We treated ourselves to an expensive lunch on the sunny terrace of the Grand Hotel Geissbach overlooking the falls and returned via the hotel’s funicular down to the lake and boat back to Brainz.... read more
Brainz looking at its best
Falls over the path
Looking at the hotel through the water

Europe » Switzerland September 10th 2019

10 September 2019 Today we took the hour long journey up to the summit of the Rothorn mountain at an altitude of 2130m on the only steam driven cog railway in use in Switzerland. It has been in service since 1892. The trains use 350 kilos of coal and 2000 litres of water for the return journey and travel at 9km/h. We walked down from the summit to the middle station at Planalp on a path which was quite rough and steep at times. Wendy felt this was at the limit of her capability but was pleased to have completed it. The signpost said it was a 1hr. 50m route but it took us 4 hours to complete! James and Gail, a motorbiking couple, had been camped next to us for a couple of days and ... read more
On route
The summit station
The 4000m peaks on view

Europe » Switzerland September 9th 2019

09 September 2019 The sun finally came out and the clouds lifted from the mountain tops as the day progressed. In the fine weather we took the opportunity to take a boat trip along Lake Brienz to Interlaken and back. It zig zagged along the lake, stopping at most of the villages on route. We sat next to a group of classic Rolls Royce owners from all over the world who we on a tour of the Swiss mountain passes.... read more
Our first boat, the Jungfrau
An attractive chateau
We passed the historic paddle steamer, the Lotchberg, which was to bring us homeDSC02787

Europe » Switzerland September 8th 2019

08 September 2019 The hope of fine weather did not materialise as it rained on and off all day. But undeterred we walked along the lake front promenade into Brienz and admired the dark timber chalets and wood carved statues the town is famous for.... read more
Sharing a bench with this boy and his dog
Being resigned to the poor weather with this bear
The bottom station of the steam powered cog railway which ascends to the 2350m Rothorn. We hope to ride it if the weather improves

Europe » Switzerland September 7th 2019

07 September 2019 Due to the poor weather conditions, we made another valley visit, this time to the Gletscherschlucht, a deep gorge originally cut by the bottom of the Uber Gletscher glacier but now the ice has retreated it contains only a fast flowing river. Access was by a walkway and tunnels constructed on the cliffs. A drive down through Interlaken and took us to the town of Brienz on the lake of that name in the hope for better weather a little away from the mountains. We stayed at a campsite with a beautiful lakeside location which had been recommended to us.... read more
At one point both cliffs converge
By one of the tunnels
Wendy looking apprehensive on a walking net strung over the river

Europe » Switzerland September 6th 2019

O6 September 2019 Cloud continued to obscure the mountains so after I had made the short walk to a viewing platform behind the Staubbachfall, we moved to a pleasant campsite in the valley below Grindelwald. We had time when we got there for a pleasant stroll around the town.... read more
The path up
Looking down through the water
Grindelwald station. Compare it with the picture I took a few days before with clear skies!




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