Interlacken- up on the mountain--BRRRR

Monday, October 18, 2010

Our next to the last day in Switzerland, after driving 45 minutes, we came to a train on which cars (with occupants) travel “ferry style” through a mountain (Loetschberg Is the mountain’s name with an umlaut over the o) As we rode in the car through an unlit tunnel, it was a swaying feeling like a train, but just really strange. The tunnel has 2 sets of tracks, one running each way with at least 20 cars to a train. Not sure why it wouldn’t be more efficient to just let cars go thru tunnel without the train, but perhaps parking at the destination is one reason. Oh Well.....

Our plan A for today’s adventure was scrapped because of the weather, some of the higher passes were closed because of snow. Plan B was to visit the “Little Matterhorn”, a smaller version of the more famous mountain, but road construction to that area cancelled plan B. On to plan C, which we enjoyed very much. Plan C included the train/ferry, a railroad ride up Gornergrat mountain, where there is an observation post to see mountains.


The building there offers a restaurant and a serve-yourself eating place and it also has chairs outside on an observation deck.



Some children are well dressed for the cold and (of coure) some just have on jeans and a sweatsirt. This little boy is READY for the cold.


Do I need to mention that the temperature outside was -2 degrees Celsius ( about 26 degrees Fahrenheit) and we were walking around in snow??? It was lovely and crisp and bracing, but we couldn’t see any mountains because of the fog/overcast skies. The soupy air was so thick, that when we trudged up the hill, it was hard to see even the top of it.


My camera's snow setting--which I never figured would be used much,-- is really quite good. even though we had a difficult time seeing very far, the camera did just fine.



I thought I was in fairly good shape, but after that climb (rather steep, but really not far), I was gasping for breath. Yes, I know air is thinner at 10,132 feet, but I guess I need to really work on stamina and breathing when I get back.

Through out this region the roads are “switchback” with 180 degree turns at the end of each length.

The view on the way down from the mountain.


Both on the way up to the mountain and on the way down, we stopped in Zermatt, Switzerland to do some looking around and shopping. It is a neat little town of 1000 during the off season, but which swells during skiing season. While in Zermatt, we stopped in a tea room. I had hot chocolate, How long has it been since you have had hot chocolate made with hot frothy milk? We just stirred some choc. powder into the milk and it was wonderful. There is a cemetery dedicated to those who lost their lives on the Matterhorn. Some date way way back. No cars are permitted in Zermatt, but there are electric vehicles which are used as delivery trucks and taxis.


While up on the mountain we saw two kinds of artificial snow machines. One is called a snow cannon and it looks like a cannon, not quite sure how it would make snow. The other machines look like electrical line poles which have water put in them and then the temp is just right, the water is sprayed out making snow. So it is actual snow, just produced artificially.

In some of my shopping, I looked at precious Swiss costume dresses in size 1 ½ for Lily, but almost choked when I saw the prices. I haven’t mentioned much about the money yet, it is comparable to American currency with a few pennies fluctuation up or down, depending…… Food is extremely expensive---at the observation serve-yourself place today I had a bowl of very good soup and a serving of apple strudel which cost $16 (soup $9, dessert $7)
Back to the dress, the cost of the cutest dress (I have very good taste) was $154. Needless to say Lily will have to do without---or I might make her one for Christmas. I did buy Swatches (remember them) as gifts and they were less expensive than in the US.

After an equally long ride back to the hotel we walked around Interlacken a bit and then are getting ready for our last day by repacking suitcases and sorting through dirty clothes.