SWITZERLAND 2010 - FOLLOW THE SUN

                          Sunday, September 24th.  Normally you would take the scenic route to the southern part of Switzerland over the mountain tops, but because it snowed overnigth below 3000 feet, they closed all passes for the next two to three days. So, we had no choice but to go underground again and take the Gotthard tunnel, one of the longest in the world, just about 12 miles long. At 55 miles an hour (speed limit) you are in the 2 lane tube with oncoming traffic for at least 15 Minutes. They control the flow of the traffic volume by letting only so many cars in on both sides of the tunnel.

Waiting for our turn to enter the tunnel

    
                          When we arrived by the entrance we got stuck in traffic for over a half hour because a car was disabled in the middle of it and had to be removed before they  would let anybody else in. While waiting a lot of people got out of the car in the middle of the highway to stretch their legs or have a smoke. It was overcast and slightly raining, but I got out to and smoked me a Krumme.

                            Finally it was our turn and 15 minutes later we emerged from the Tunnel to 10 degree warmer weather and gorgeous sunshine with not a cloud in the sky. What a difference 12 miles make in the alps.

                            After this adventure we still arrived 2 hour early on our rendezvous point in Locarno.
Hungry, we had lunch in a covered outdoor "Tessin" type bistro. The ceiling and sides where covered with live grapevines, providing well needed shade in this blistering sun.  Guess what, the food was outstanding.
I had a plate of local dry meats and cheese and Donna, since we are in the Italian part of Switzerland, had some spaghetti Bolonaise and she was not disappointed, it was nearly as good as the one I make. By the way, the bottle local Merlot was exquisite.

Tessin restaurant in Locarno

                             Walking back to our car we  saw and greeted Heinz and Lilian. We drove to their house on a hill above Locarno. We were lucky their rental unit was empty and  at our disposal. A very modern apartment with 3 bedrooms, living room, studio room, kitchen and a large balcony with an incredible view of  the town Locarno, the lake and all the surrounding mountains, all the way to Italy. A setting like for movie stars.

On the balcony of Heinz and Lilian's mansion

Heinz and me enjoying a glass of melot

Heinz and Lilian

                          We had some aperitifs and wine with Heinz and Lilian on the Balcony before we went for dinner at the restaurant "Osteria Croce Federale",  famous for their risotto and wild mushrooms served with any kind of meats. we opted on roast pork. Great food again and we had a good time reminiscing old memories.

Enjoying Expresso at the restaurant "Osteria Croce Federale"

                            Next morning we had breakfast with Heinz and Lilian, and already had to say goodby just after this short time together and we took the same route back to Grindelwald.

 On the way home, we found one of our favorite restaurant from our last trip in Brienz. The restaurant "Sternen" is directly on the lake and serves the best fryed Eglis, a local fish. We enjoyed them tremendously.

Outside the restaurant Sternen in front of the Lake Brinz

We went back to our romantic flat to our normal routine:  Bacardi & coke and for my sake, a Krumme.                        

SWITZERLAND 2010- LET IT RAIN

                         On Saturday, September 23th,  we awoke to a cloudy sky and rain.  This did not stop me from going down town to the bakery for our usual fresh pastry's for breakfast, and we tried some new flavoured yogurts like hazelnut.  Really superior.

                          We figured, a rainy day is good for shopping in the big town of Interlacken, and we also planed on visiting our relative, Andreas' mother, Rosie. She is over 80 year olds, but still gets around really well. We caught the train in Grindelwald and arrived in Interlacken Ost 40 minutes later. Packed with an umbrella we walked down the main street and visited every souvenir shop, and believe me, there are many.

Ready in the train in full wet gear

Shopping at Interlacken, Donna is happy, even in the rain



                           After a wile and lots of shopping like Swiss key rings, pens, lighters, etc.,  we worked up an appetite. In the restaurant across the Bahnhof of Interlaken West we had salad, veal schnitzel with mushroom cream sauce and pasta. During lunch we heard a loud noise of cow bells and I ran outside to take a picture of 50 to 60 cows, waltzing down a busy street in the middle of Interlacken. All the diary farmers bring down the cows from the pasture high up in the alps to their stables in the valley,  before the first snow. Quit a show for tourists.

Rosie and Donna

She stays all by herself in a nice big appartement

                           We spent some time with Rosie, then went back to our hideaway in Grindelwald  for some drinks and home cooking. We also had to pack some stuff, because we decided to leave the rainy part of Switzerland and visit my older brother Heinz and his wife Lilian in Tessin, the south part of Switzerland, where the weather is warm and sunny.

                            

SWITZERLAND 2010 - ALPINE OVERLOAD

                        Thursday, September 23th we started with a hearty breakfast with fresh croissant, weggli, butter, marmalade and Mettwurst, a  spreadable sausage you only find in Switzerland.  Delicious!

                         We boarded the train up to the Kleine Scheidegg and started walking towards the Mannlichen.  It was at a steady incline but not very long only about 4 miles.  After 1 hour we could see the Mannlichen Restaurant.  It looked so close, but it still took us another half hour to get there.  Just in time for a good lunch and a bottle of beer, siting in the sun on the large deck, 7000 feet above sea level.

The first 14 minutes are always easy



Behind me is the trail where we came from

Donna enjoying the view  of the Wetterhorn

It is hard to see, but there must be over hundred Stone pyramids,

tourist build them for good luck

This is the rock I wanted to bring Brian, but did not fit in my suitcase.

We arrived at the restaurant Mannlichen

                         The restaurant was very slow, considering they built a new modern addition to the old  hotel and restaurant with a seating capacity for at least 600 people.  This is mostly for the skiers, because the Mannlichen is one of the most popular Winter sport region.  For a fact, last time I skied in Switzerland with friends it was right here.

Excellent lunch at 7000 feet above sea level

Man build water reservoirs, used to make snow, right below the restaurant



                         After lunch we visited Rita Kaufman, the owner of the restaurant and a dear friend of my brother Toni and Andrea.  Later we descended to Wengen in a large Gondola, then back to Grindelwald via Kleine Scheidegg.

View from the Mannlichen  Gondola station, with Jungfrau in the back ground

The town of Wengen, the sight of the famous ski race " Lauberhorn "

Eiger glacier as seen from the train to the Kleine Scheidegg

                           We opted again to have dinner in the "Grund Restaurant",  because there have consistent great food and we also met the owner who treated us with some espressos.
                           
                            Relaxing time on our balcony with the usual Bacardi and coke.

***

                          Friday, our legs felt like there in top shape and we got ready for our last,  but hardest walk in the alps, on this vacation. Taking a 4 person gondola to the middle station Holenstein, we started walking not knowing what it takes to get to our destination, Brandegg.  On the map it looked like a straight shot with no difference in altitude, able to complete in 1.5 hours.  Even the name of the trail sounds wimpy, "Apfelchuechliweg" (apple fritter trail).  But to our surprise, to start with, we had to descend on slippery gravel and rocks for about 600 feet,  knowing we had to climb the same distance back up at some point, because our destination is at the same altitude as Holenstein, where we left.

Walking through the Forest

Clean, natural water from the glacier

Donna needed a rest



                           It was all worth it, this great trail offers a variety in breathtaking scenery, we went through alpine pastures, flower strewn fields and shady forest.  At the right of us the sensational panorama of the world famous Eiger north face and at the left the valley and town of Grindelwald.  We also had to chase away some gigantic cows, occupying our narrow trail.  At one point we had to clime a washed out trail on the side of a 100 foot cliff.  It was really exciting, there where lots of trees we could hold on to if we slipped.

Donna takes excellent picture of the natural beauty

We encountered lots of different mushrooms

Cows in the middle of the forest

on the pastor

                            In a little more than 2 hours we arrived at the restaurant and enjoyed our late lunch, and of course, some Apple fritters.
                         

                            We finished our hike just in time, because for the first time in our vacation it started to drizzle. we took the train down to Grindelwald and went to our romantic vacation home, enjoying a bottle 

or two of Epesses, listening to the rain falling on the skylight.  I even came up with a light gourmet Dinner.

What a perfect day.

SWITZERLAND 2010 - RAILWAY ROMANCE

                         On Wednesday morning  we changed our plan for today because we both woke up with some minor sourness in our legs from yesterdays hike. So we took the train from Grindelwald to Wilderswil, where we had to wait 1 hour for the railway bahn, a very old fashion train with wooden benches, who will take us to the top of Schynige Platte, 6000 feet above Sea level.

Waiting for train, her favorite pass time, reading a book

or flirting with engineer

                           The train arrived and we could not believe our eyes, there must be at least 200 old people struggling to get an the train. It looks like  I was the youngest one beside Donna. The train was climbing at 9 miles an hour and it took 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to the top, but we had incredible views from both side of the mountain.

                        On our arrival we went right away to check out the world famous botanical alpine garden. There are over 600 labelled species on display. Unfortunate it was very late in the season and most of the flowers been gone.

Just a couple samples of the alpine flower garden

                         Next of course we had to visit the "Berg Restaurant Alpenrose". The restaurant was closed for renovation,  but there had a self serve snack bar open with limited menu. We had some white wine and European style hot dogs, very messy but not bad.

                         We enjoyed the great mountain scenery around us and took the next train back down.

First view stepping of the train

Schilthorn in the back ground

Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau

Wetterhorn

This is the view from other side of the mountain of Thunersee

                        A little bit tired we went back to our chalet, had some drinks and I fixed us a delicious tomato soup and wurst salad with fresh bread and butter.

Simple but delicious



                        

SWITZERLAND 2010 - FIRST MOUNTAIN HIKE

                           On Tuesday I woke up early and at 8 am I drove to a family owned bakery in Grindelwald for some fresh baked Croissant, sweet rolls and Hero marmalade. We enjoyed breakfast on the balcony and after 4 coffees each we got on our way for our first hiking trip.

Map of the Berner Oberland, house is marked  below the Eiger

                          A 3 minute ride with the train brought us to the  bus station in Grindelwald. From there we rode a 45 passenger Grindelwald bus to our hiking destination Grosse Scheidegg, 6000 feet above sea level. The bus ride was an adventure itself. The mountain road was only about 2 foot wider as the bus itself and before every curve the driver had to blow his air horn to warn descending traffic. About every half mile there was a small  plateau for passing on coming traffic. Donna and I, sitting in the back of the bus where hanging over the cliffs in every hairpin curve. Of course, the free roaming cows where a challenge too to our excellent driver. 

                          The sun was covered from the Wetterhorn and we had to start of our hike bundled up in chilly mountain air, but after a few hundred yards we had to peel off some clothing. It was again a gorgeous day. Our mission was climbing 4 miles up the mountain to an outlook and restaurant named First. We also had to find a good looking stone to bring home with us for Brian. He requested  a picture taken with the stone as prove that it came from Switzerland.

Still bundled up, the sun is just peaking over the mountain top

First is  far away. Our mountain walk is to the right top

Still full of energy

Donna is resting in front of the Eiger



Donna found a stone in the form of the Eiger, so we took a picture in front of

the famous north face

Same with this stone, shaped like the Wetterhorn in the back ground

End product of Brians gift

We had to cross several streams

We admired lots of flowers on the way, like this alpine Distel

                          The hike  was posted as 1 hour and 45 minutes for regular hikers. We arrived at the restaurant  in 2 hours and 45 minutes, hard breathing and exhausted  but happy. The two bottle of beer tasted wonderful and I enjoyed also a great meal ( Grilled chicken breast with wild  mushroom sauce ) . Donna had a hard time finding her way in this large self service restaurant and ended up with a funky sandwich, but she did not accepted my well meant help. Ha, Ha.

Right in front of the restaurant 

The training zip line, half mile long, people in harness sliding down the mountain

at speed up to 80 miles an hour.  Sorry, a have no better picture



2 more beautiful views from the First

                           We admired the view from up here, the hang gliders and the zip line for hang glide training, before we rode down in the gondolas all the way back to Grindelwald. Being already 6:30 pm, we decided to have dinner in our favorite local restaurant "Bahnhof Grund

                               We had assorted Salads, Entrecote and Alpine Makkroni. Thoroughly excellent food, but no room for dessert, but room for a bottle of Epesses, one of Swiss finest white wine. After a couple of espressos we went home to our relaxation time on the balcony.