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