SWITZERLAND Europe in Miniature
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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.