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Switzerland 2023

September - October 2023
A 24-day adventure by Heinz Read more

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  • TravelerSwitzerland 2023
    2

    Felskinn - Mittelallalin

    September 30, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Today, it's time to bid farewell to Saas Fee and our friend Margaret.

    We left our luggage securely at the hotel before embarking on our final gondola ride to Felskinn - Mittelallalin, which sits at an impressive altitude of 3,000 meters. The vista that greeted us was nothing short of breathtaking, with its stunning views and the awe-inspiring proximity to the surrounding glaciers.

    Later in the afternoon, we packed up our cars and made the short journey to Zermatt, which we'd call home for the next five days. More magnificent mountains, including the iconic Matterhorn, and picturesque hiking trails await our exploration.

    Zermatt has undergone significant growth since my last snowboarding adventure here with my brother Herbert back in 2016. It now resembles a bustling small city. One striking aspect that immediately caught my attention was the noticeable presence of Asian tourists.

    Our accommodation at Hotel Alpine Perren boasts a comfortable 3-star rating. Our spacious double room on the 4th floor provides us with scenic views to the North and East.

    Our evening concluded with a delectable Italian meal at Da Nico. As I write this at 9:30 in the evening, the atmosphere is incredibly tranquil, with only the soothing sound of the rushing River Vispa below breaking the silence.    Read more

  • TravelerSwitzerland 2023
    11

    Zermatt

    October 1, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    Today's hike commenced from our lodging in Zermatt, setting off on a gentle ascent through the picturesque Zmuttbach valley, partially through larch forests, until we reached the quaint hamlet of Zmutt. Here, we indulged in a well-deserved break, savoring coffee and apple strudel while the majestic Matterhorn remained a constant, awe-inspiring presence in our view.

    Continuing our hike, we passed by the Zmuttbach Water Reservoir, offering a unique perspective of the Matterhorn rarely captured in photographs – a truly remarkable sight. As we ventured further, we met some lady mountain bikers, and the trail led us across the Zmuttbach, guiding us back to Zermatt on the opposite side of the valley. Along the way, we encountered the renowned Mountain Restaurant Furi, and to our delightful surprise, we were joined by Hans and Elisabeth, who had taken a separate route.

    Our evening was capped off with a delightful dinner at Restaurant du Pont, renowned for its delectable dishes hailing from the Wallis mountain region.    Read more

  • TravelerSwitzerland 2023
    1
    1

    Zermatt - Gornergrat

    October 2, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    At 7:30 a.m., I emerged from the hotel and captured a breathtaking photograph of the radiant Matterhorn illuminated by the morning sun, which you can find as the cover photo.

    Today's plan was unanimously agreed upon: an expedition to explore the Gornergrat.

    The most resilient hikers in our group, Peter and Bernhard, boldly embarked on the demanding 5-hour ascent from our hotel to the summit.

    The rest of us chose a different path, opting to board the cog train, which took us to the third stop, Riffelberg, nestled at an altitude of 2,582 meters. From there, we embarked on a scenic 2-hour trek through enchanting alpine meadows to reach the fourth stop, Rotenboden, standing at 2,815 meters. Afterward, we hopped back on the train to reach the summit. It was there that we were taken aback by the considerable presence of Asian visitors, clearly awed by the unique Swiss mountain landscape.

    The weather again favored us, without a single cloud in sight on this perfect, sun-soaked day. The Matterhorn remained a constant and captivating presence throughout our journey, its appearance ever-transforming as we ascended. I had anticipated witnessing fewer glaciers due to the impacts of climate change, but I was entirely unprepared for the staggering degree of their shrinkage.

    Following a revitalizing shower at the hotel and a delightful happy hour drink, we are now preparing ourselves for a delightful dinner at the Restaurant Polliux.    Read more

  • TravelerSwitzerland 2023
    1
    1

    Sunegga Hike

    October 3, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    A segment of our party made the choice to embark on an excursion to the petite Matterhorn.

    Meanwhile, Peter, Ursula, and I chose to undertake a hike starting from our hotel, leading us through the enchanting Larch forest to reach Alp Sunegga at an elevation of 2,288 meters.

    The day unfolded as yet another stunning one, affording us remarkable vistas of the Matterhorn. I couldn't resist capturing more photographs of this colossal mountain!

    Peter and I eagerly anticipate unwinding our tired feet and legs at the hotel's sauna, which opens at 4:00 p.m.

    Dinner was at the hotel Restaurant Pollux, which didn't disappoint. Peter and I shared a venison tenderloin with rösti. Yummy!    Read more

  • TravelerSwitzerland 2023
    1

    Zermatt

    October 4, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    Not much to report!

    Today was our last day in Zermatt. The rest of our group went hiking, but Ursula preferred to take a break, explore the town of Zermatt, and do some window shopping. I joined her around 1:30 for a coffee, bratwurst, and Swiss pastry.

    I took the opportunity to snap a few impressions of the town.    Read more

  • TravelerSwitzerland 2023

    GoodBye Zermatt

    October 5, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    Our stay in Zermatt over the past five days was genuinely extraordinary.

    Today, we packed our bags and embarked on a journey by train to Täsch, where we then transitioned to our rental car, embarking on a 4.5-hour drive to Wally and Marli in Wängi, Thurgau.

    Our drive went smoothly until we reached the town of Visp, where an army exercise unfolded, offering me a unique opportunity to capture a photograph of a battle tank.

    Our timing was perfect as we were the second last car that made the 12:20 rail shuttle through the Lötschberg tunnel.

    Before continuing our adventure, we visited my late mother's resting place in Üetendorf. I miss her dearly 😥.

    We enjoyed dining with our friends Kurt and Renata in the evening, joining Wally and Marli at a charming country restaurant renowned for its delectable Rösti potatoes and succulent calf liver. The meal was an absolute delight!

    A stubborn and persistent mosquito kept me company all through the night 🤪.    Read more

  • TravelerSwitzerland 2023

    Wängi

    October 7, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Today had no scheduled activities. Everyone enjoyed a leisurely slumber, awakening close to 11:00 a.m. The picturesque Swiss sky presented itself in blue, without a single cloud. Yet another perfect day in Switzerland.

    Following my sixth unsuccessful attempt to withdraw cash from an ATM, I dialed WFB, only to discover that International Transactions had been disabled. 🤪

    Later in the day, Ms. Kohler, Wally's landlord, extended an invitation to an Apéro. Ruth, who will soon celebrate her 90th birthday, is in splendid physical shape, faithfully attending her gymnastics and water exercise classes each week. Her mental acuity was astonishingly sharp. I was pleasantly surprised to learn of her past adventures, including hiking the Grand Canyons and traveling to Australia during her younger years. Our conversation was quite captivating; older individuals often possess a wealth of experiences from which one can learn.

    After providing Wally's girlfriend, Marli (she is from Brazil), with a Sudoku tutorial and assisting Wally with some Mac issues, he enthusiastically took to the kitchen to prepare a delicious cheese Fondue.

    Tomorrow's itinerary includes a trip to Ipsach, a quaint village near the lake of Biel/Bienne, where Ursula and I grew up, to visit my younger brother Herbert and his wife Annamarie.    Read more

  • TravelerSwitzerland 2023

    Visiting my Brother

    October 8, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    The drive from Wally's house to my brother's place in Ipsach proved quite delightful, thanks to the light traffic, and it only took us just shy of two hours. Switzerland's highway system has undergone significant expansion over the past decade, and many sections were entirely new to me, featuring impressive tunnels that cut through mountains or cleverly bypassed densely populated areas underground.

    Upon our arrival, Herbert and his wife Annamarie welcomed us with open arms. Their contemporary three-bedroom condominium is perched on a hillside overlooking the River Aare, boasting a terrace that provides stunning town vistas and the distant Jura mountains. It had been a while since we'd last seen each other due to COVID, so there was plenty to catch up on.

    As the evening drew near, we reluctantly abandoned the sunlit terrace and moved indoors. Our hosts sprung into action, preparing a gourmet dinner with finesse. Herbert expertly grilled succulent beef tenderloins over charcoal in the indoor fireplace while Annamarie crafted the accompanying dishes in the kitchen. The meal was a gastronomic delight, and a superb Spanish wine brought everything together splendidly!

    Time seemed to slip away as we chatted and enjoyed our meal, and before I knew it, the hands on the clock pointed to 11:55 🫢    Read more

  • TravelerSwitzerland 2023

    Visiting my Sister

    October 9, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    Herbert's son Daniel and his wife Klaudija joined us for breakfast. Two incredible individuals united in their determination to combat his terminal health condition.

    After our bittersweet farewells, we made our way to Bad-Säckingen, Germany, to visit my sister Elisabeth. The day was yet another splendid, sun-filled one, and our visit with Elisabeth, though brief, was delightful. She remains in excellent health and possesses a sweetness that increasingly mirrors my Mom's as she ages.

    While in Germany, we took advantage of more affordable food prices and acquired a whole beef tenderloin destined for the grill on Wally's balcony later in the evening.

    The anticipation of that savory meal had our taste buds dancing with delight!    Read more

  • TravelerSwitzerland 2023
    1

    Tufertschwil, St.Gallen

    October 10, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    Our departure date is rapidly approaching.

    This morning, I stopped at the local dairy to purchase a supply of Cheese Fondue Mix, and I also picked up 1kg of special beef bouillon that Ursula prefers for her cooking.

    Later, we assisted Wally in storing his vintage 1969 MG convertible at an offsite storage facility for the winter.

    In the afternoon, we ventured to Tufertschwil, St. Gallen, where we purchased some exquisite cheese (Chällerhocker) directly from a small processing facility. Walter and Annelies Räss, the gracious owners, even gifted us a Chällerhocker t-shirt.

    After enjoying a refreshing round of beers, we returned to Wängi, where Wally was busy preparing a Diapositive presentation for tonight after our dinner in Pfyn, near the city of Frauenfeld.

    Everything has a beginning and an end - tomorrow will mark our final day in Switzerland.    Read more

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