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Published: September 12th 2010
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We took the Glacier Express on Friday; mountains, gorges, glaciers and the most charming Swiss seat mates. The trip takes about 6.5 hours with one breath taking view after another. The windows in all the cars curve and become part of the ceiling so you can not only look out, but up while taking in the views. I felt like I was in a PBS series on the train; lunch complete with table clothes, napkins, real dishes and great food while watching the Alps. It doesn't get any better.
We left the Glacier Express in Brig and took the regional train back to the Betten Tram Station where you get the cable car up the mountain to our hotel. Gary was here 25 years ago and and it has really grown, but our hotel in right next to the lift, and the town's expansion is on the other side of the lift so we are isolated from the tourist hubbub. We can see the Matterhorn from the balcony of our room. The first morning we were here I didn't realize it was the Matterhorn. It is shaped very differently from the other peaks and we remarked on the funny shaped
mountain (true flatlanders!).
Breakfast in Switzerland is so different. It really fits my style, fresh yogurt, muesli, fruit, 3-4 kinds of bread, croissants, rolls, cheese, butter, smoked meat, and fabulous coffee always served with steamed milk. No eggs, bacon etc and no one talks above a whisper; it's like being in a library and being afraid the librarian will shoosh you (this makes our breakfast conversation a little comical since Gary is a little hard of hearing). Our first night a the Hotel Walkhaus included an 8 course meal of the most amazing and delicious food. It was a special meal, but our meal last night was still 5 courses. It's a good thing we are hiking as much as we are!
It is cool (in the low 50's during the day), but sunny here and I am putting my 70 sun screen to work. We hiked to Fiescheralp yesterday to see the Aletsch glacier or gletscher as they say here. The hike took us to a cable car station and a ride to the top of Eggishorn to view the gletscher. The tourist center described it as an easy hike, but I must tell you any walk
View from the Glacier Express
Please excuse the reflection of the window at 6000 ft and up takes a lot of effort. The rewards are worth it; a 360 degree view of snow capped mountains and several glaciers. Wow! The walk up took us 2.5 hours and went up 260 meters and the flatlanders where huffing and puffing and stopping to smell/photograph the flowers. We ate lunch on the rocks overlooking the glacier with another view of the Matterhorn and many other 4000+ peaks.
Today we hiked to the Villa Cassel ; the "castle" was built by a banker in the late 19th century to escape the summer heat of the city. It is now the center of a the Swiss Pro Natura (the Nature Conservancy of Switzerland) which protects a large area including the Aletsch glacier. We had lunch on the terrace outside with a fabulous view of the local Alp peaks. I saw a couple of new bird again today; it seems every bird is one I have never seen before. How cool is that??
Auf Wiedersehen,
Mary and Gary
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