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Switzerland 2023

september - oktober 2023
Een 24-daags avontuur van Heinz Meer informatie
  • 22Footprints
  • 4landen
  • 24dagen
  • 172foto’s
  • 0video’s
  • 18,4kkilometer
  • 9,1kkilometer
  • 8,5kkilometer
  • 15kilometer
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  • ReizigerSwitzerland 2023
    1
    Dag 24

    ZRH-PHI-DFW

    12 oktober 2023, Verenigde Staten ⋅ 🌬 79 °F

    Regrettably, today is the day we bid farewell to the enchanting landscapes of Switzerland.

    I awoke even before the alarm clock could sound its chime. In a whirlwind of last-minute preparations, we shifted belongings from one near-maxed suitcase to another, ensuring no prohibited items were in our carry-ons. Marli kindly brewed me a delightful cup of coffee. We meticulously combed through every nook and cranny of Wally's apartment, scanning under beds, inspecting the bathroom, and peeking into the shower to guarantee we didn't unintentionally leave anything behind. With warm farewells from our gracious hosts, Wally and Marli, we pulled out of their driveway at 7:50 a.m. and embarked on our journey to the airport with a full tank of gas.

    We had allowed ourselves extra time to catch our 11:45 flight, providing a buffer for returning the rental car, enjoying a leisurely coffee and croissant, and picking up a few "must-haves" at the duty-free shop. Everything unfolded seamlessly as we settled into seats 12A and 12B aboard the 787 aircraft.

    Around 17:15, we soared past St. John, Newfoundland, and by 18:16, we found ourselves exactly 40,000 feet above Jürg & Irene in Halifax. The two are on day #402 of a camper journey through Mexico and North America.

    We landed in Philadelphia right on schedule, navigated through customs with our luggage in tow, and celebrated our return to familiar territory with a glass of wine. Then, we successfully completed the second leg of our journey to DFW, where our friend Mike was waiting to pick us up.

    And so concludes our splendid Swiss vacation. Never before have the autumn months treated us to such splendid weather.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • ReizigerSwitzerland 2023
    Dag 23

    Konstanz, Germany

    11 oktober 2023, Duitsland ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Today, we explored the charming city of Konstanz, Germany. Ursula and I brought our passports, just as a precaution, but crossing the border was such a breeze that we hardly noticed it.

    Ursula teamed up with Marli for some shopping and to help Marli find a specific medication for her eyes. In the meantime, Wally and I decided to unwind with a couple of beers and delve into some meaningful conversations.

    Later on, I wandered through the streets in search of photo opportunities, but my efforts were in vain. The lighting was either unfavorable, or there were too many people obstructing the view.

    Konstanz is a vibrant place, teeming with restaurants, bars, shops, and businesses that cater to Swiss residents seeking more budget-friendly options. Our dinner at Umami Sushi & Grill was a delightful experience.

    Upon returning home, Wally and Marli treated us to a scrumptious dessert – Vermicelles with Meringué and a generous amount of sweet whipped cream. A long conversation ensued - thus, we decided to skip the slide presentation, and hit the sack early, given our 6:45 departure tomorrow morning.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • ReizigerSwitzerland 2023
    1
    Dag 22

    Tufertschwil, St.Gallen

    10 oktober 2023, Zwitserland ⋅ ☁️ 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.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • ReizigerSwitzerland 2023
    Dag 21

    Visiting my Sister

    9 oktober 2023, Duitsland ⋅ ☁️ 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!    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • ReizigerSwitzerland 2023
    Dag 20

    Visiting my Brother

    8 oktober 2023, Zwitserland ⋅ ☀️ 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 🫢    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • ReizigerSwitzerland 2023
    Dag 19

    Wängi

    7 oktober 2023, Zwitserland ⋅ ⛅ 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.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • ReizigerSwitzerland 2023
    Dag 17

    GoodBye Zermatt

    5 oktober 2023, Zwitserland ⋅ ☁️ 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 🤪.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • ReizigerSwitzerland 2023
    1
    Dag 16

    Zermatt

    4 oktober 2023, Zwitserland ⋅ ☁️ 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.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • ReizigerSwitzerland 2023
    1
    1
    Dag 15

    Sunegga Hike

    3 oktober 2023, Zwitserland ⋅ ☀️ 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!    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • ReizigerSwitzerland 2023
    1
    1
    Dag 14

    Zermatt - Gornergrat

    2 oktober 2023, Zwitserland ⋅ ☀️ 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.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
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