Jungfraujoch, Switzerland

a cogged rail train travels the last few miles to this location in tunnel drilled through the rock in the early 20th century; the train station in the middle of the mountain, 100 feet below the observatory, is the highest rail station in Europe. The Sphinx Observatory sits at 11,575 feet above sea level. The Jungfrau peak, over my shoulder in the picture, at 13,642 feet, is one of the highest in the Bernese Alps. The lower levels of the observatory include 2 restaurants and a shop; the ice cave was carved into the mountain beneath the observatory as a tourist attraction in 1930. I extended my trip to Basel 24 hours in order to make this trip into the Alps, and it was so worth it!Read more