Gringa on the Go

Switzerland

July 9 through July 21

I have not posted our time in Italy, but as it heated up in Florence, we looked forward to our time in Switzerland and cool mountain weather. Anita is happy to be in the land of raclette (melted crispy cheese).

Anita with Swiss flag and, on the right, enjoying raclette.

We left Tirano, Italy, on the Bernina Express and traveled up the Alps. Although the mountains were steep, vineyards clung to hillsides and small settlements dotted the valleys.

Up and up we went and entered Switzerland, making our way to the pass

Our train wound from one side of the canyon to the other, crossing bridges and meandering through tunnels, at times we were chasing our tail in tortured circles and figure eights.

Clockwise from upper left: Our real-time travel on Anita's cell phone, the engine of our train in front of us on the bridges

Sometimes there were two tracks and downhill trains raced by. Other times, one train waited at a siding for the other to pass.

Train racing by on the left and train on a siding on the right

Finally we arrived at the pass, with spectacular views of glaciers, mountains, and waterfalls.

After two days of train travel through spectacular scenery on the Bernina and Glacier express, we arrived in Luzern, a beautiful city on Lake Luzern and the River Reuss.

River Reuss

Clockwise from upper left: painted building, chocolate shop (of course), and an old covered bridge

Bazar and interesting artwork above the beams of the covered bridge

Sculptures in one of the parks in Luzern

The Natural History museum was one of the gems we discovered by accident: very cool cockroach security guard, ants on the outside of the building, and one of the beautiful insect displays

Our travels in Switzerland have been mostly by train, but we also enjoyed a ferry trip on Lake Lucern. As the route becomes steeper, regular trains are replaced cog trains. Gondolas took us up to or near the peaks, then we walked, and finally returned to the valleys by para glider (just kidding, we haven’t tried it yet, but it looks like a beautiful way to get off the mountains).

One of the ferries on Lake Luzern

The cog-train to Pilatus and a photo of the cogs

The gondola down from Stilthorn

Anita on one of our hikes

A para glider near Pilatus

We were told to enjoy the food in Italy because the food in Switzerland would be boring by comparison, but we have enjoyed Swiss food as much as anywhere.

Clockwise from top left: macaroni and cheese with apple sauce and barley soup, pork chop, rösti with cheese and eggs, and last but not least, raclette

In addition to good food, we enjoyed the Alp horn and the “cow bell” band. The ringing of cow bells accompanies every walk throughout the Alps. (Sheep and goats are also belled.)

The alp horn and local bell ringers

A friendly cow and a decorative cow bell hung in a Swiss-neat wood pile

Swiss cows, ibex, chamois, and alpine choughs have joined us high up in the mountains, although the ibex and chamois were too far away for good photos.

Clockwise from top: alpine though, ibex (stuffed), and a chamois (not my photo)

One of our most exciting finds: an alpine newt larvae!

As well as wearing your legs off on steep mountain trails, the altitude makes you a little crazy.

You might not recognize us when we return; one of the alpine trails we walked

The prostate benefits of a Mediterranean diet; bathing in beauty (as opposed to bathing beauty)

Some people just won't follow the signs!

Hanging out in Switzerland

While in Wengen, we took the cog train up to Jungfrau, an incredible trip through over a mile of tunnel. The tunnel was completed in 1912 and is a fitting tribute to the engineering skill and tenacity of the Swiss. The transportation system in Switzerland is truly amazing, allowing you to travel anywhere by train, bus, cog train, boat, gondola, and more. We have not needed to use a taxi for any of our travels and never had to walk more than a few hundred yards to arrive at our lodging.