SWITZERLAND Europe in Miniature

SWITZERLAND
Europe in Miniature
Ray Taylor
Some Points of View
• Geographical
• Historical
• Political
• Economical
• Vacational
♥
The Cantons of Switzerland
The Traveler’s Perspectives
• How to get there
• How to get around there
• What to do there
• What does it cost there
Rent an Apartment
• Located in small towns
• Close to everything
• Personal Interactions
Utilize Public Transportation
• Best System in the World
• All Modes Interconnected
• Schedules Rigidly Maintained
Sitting Room in Apartment
Schloss Thun from Balcony
Stockhorn from Window
Typical Town scenery
• Town of Thun
• Split by Branches of Aare River
• Pedestrian walking streets
• Castle, church, markets
• Ambiance, ambiance, ambiance
Aerial View of Thun
Thun am Aare (Ober)
Thun Swimmers in Aare
Oberestrasse in Thun
Lower Locks in Thun
Thun Swans in Aare (Neissen)
Along the Aare in Thun
Schloss Schadau Schiffstation
Schloss Schadau - Thun
Schadau Front Lawn
Thunersee Cruise
• Ship Berner Oberland
• Spiez Harbor
• Lake Scenes
• Schloss Oberhofen
Berner Oberland Dining Room
Spiez Harbor
Eiger, Monch & Jungfrau
The Big Three
Eigernordwand – Wall of Death
Sailboats on Lake Thun
Schloss Oberhofen
Oberhofen Schiffstation
National Day Celebration
• 1 August 1291
• Traditions
• Town Fathers
• Entertainment
Shepherds Entering Marktplatz
Check Those Cowbells!
Thun Dignitaries
Alphorn Chorus
A Hike Over the Alps
• Train/bus to Leuk/Leukerbad
• Gondola to top of Gemmiwall
• Gentle walk downhill to pasture
• Gentle walk up hill to Sonnbuel
station
• Gondola down to Kandersteg
Berner Oberland Fahrplan
Gemmiwall looking South
Glacier above Gemmiwall
Gemmiwall looking Down
Daubensee – Start of Hike
Daubensee – Northern End
The Natives are Restless
Definition of an “Alp”
Looking Back Along Pass
Das Hotel Schwanen
Heading Up To Sonnbuel
Last View of Gemmipass
Alternative Hike
• Grosse Aletsch Gletscher
• Gondola up
• Gentle walk along wanderweg
• Picture-taking paradise
• Ridge line walk
• Gondola down
Grosse Aletsch Gletscher
Visiting with Friends
Fortunate to know Swiss native
• She maintains Swiss friendship
• We’re there at same time time
Ray, Irene & Terry
at Irene’s condo in Therwil
Irene Preparing Lunch
A New Hiking Find!
• Adelboden well known previously
• WWII haven for U.S. airmen
• Best air in Switzerland
• Excellent walking town
• Tchentenalp above Adelboden!
Frutigen & New Basistunnel
Tschentenalp Bergstation
Looking toward Kandersteg
Above Adelboden III
Above Adelboden II
Tchentenalp (Balmhorn & Wildstrubel)
3243 m
3709 m
Paraglider over Tschentenalp
Lötschental Basistunnel
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Second Major Trans-Alpine Base Tunnel
Connections – Frutigen to Brig on Rhone
10-year Project Almost Completed – 2006
Major North-South European Rail Service
Major Revenue Income for Switzerland
Minimized Impact on Swiss Environment
Major Risk for Swiss Citizens, Europeans
Frutigen Overview
Arched Bridge at Frutigen
Preliminary Portal Site Work
Frutigen Lagerhaus
Lagerhaus Demolished!
Preparation of Portal Area
Close-up of Portal Framework
Tunnel Boring Head
Retaining Walls – Existing Track
New Main Street Overpass
Portal on Rhone River Valley
First Visitors Day
What’s Happening to Our Town?
A New Lookout
• Harder above Interlachen
• Cog railway to crest
• Restaurant host to weddings
• Gentle walk around summit
Harder above Interlaken
Brienzersee Cruise
Steamboat
Passengers
Giessbach
Brienz
Steam Side-wheeler Lotschberg
Lotschberg Steam Engine
Lotschberg Dining Room
Lotschberg Foredeck
Approaching Hotel Giessbach
Giessbach Falls
Lake Brienz toward Ballenberg
Harbor at Brienz
Searching for the Matterhorn
• Zermatt
• Sunnegga Views
• Matterhorn Views
Sunnegga
Heading Toward Zermatt
Flowers in Zermatt
Chalet in Zermatt
View from Sunnegga
View Above Sunnegga
Waiting for the Matterhorn
Helen and Friend
There She Goes!
Kleine Matterhorn
Doldenhorn
Matterhorn Clearing!
Kleine Matterhorn
Matterhorn Appearance!
Best of Matterhorn!
Everyone’s Waiting for Clearing
Better and Better!
Backpacking Outfit
Top Clears
Weather Comes in Again
Last Thunersee Cruise
• Interlachen Wset
• Niesen
• Dragonship
• Spiez
Alps from Interlachen West
Niesen from Lake Thun
Dragonship on Lake Brienz
Entering Spiez Harbor
Castle in Spiez
Lake Thun from Spiez
Overlooking Spiez Harbor
Farewell Dinner
• Restaurant
• Entertainment
• Audience
Restaurant
Lake Thun from Restaurant
Jodler Duet
Jodlers and Idyllers
Ray and Idyllers
Impromptu Orchestra
Ray and Idyller Joining In
Ray playing “Taps” on Alphorn
Back in our Apartment