Creative Adventures with Judy Berry Tours for those wishing to experience the cultures of the world Switzerland’s Spectacular Textiles plus The Bernina Factory & Magnificent Scenery May, 2011 Hosted by Val Sparks and Diane Ebner of the Bernina Connection May 7 - Sunday - Depart USA Depart your city for Zurich Switzerland. Plan your flight to arrive on May 8th as early as possible. May 8th - Sunday - Welcome to Switzerland! Your exciting tour of Switzerland begins as you land in Zurich. Enjoy an afternoon city tour of beautiful Zurich followed by a special Swiss Fondue Dinner. Overnight Zurich (B/D) May 9th - Monday - Good morning Zurich! Today after breakfast at your hotel, we will be exploring more of Zurich including a visit to the marvelous Chagall windows & cloister paintings. This afternoon visit specialty shops and a facto- ry for a behind the scenes visit from silks to linens. Overnight Zurich . (B) May 10th - Tuesday - Mighty Falls to Picturesque Homes This is a day filled with scenic beauty as well as artful beauty. Depart Zurich driving through the countryside to the thundering Rhine Falls. Cruise to a panoramic point of the falls. Luncheon at Schloss Laufen overlooking the falls. Next travel to Stein am Rhein a Pic- turesque city regarded as Switzerland's ―Window on the Middle Ages‖. The buildings are heavily decorated with frescos depicting vine- yards, crafts, festivals, history, warfare & mythology. Enjoy strolling through town on a walking tour. Overnight Stein am Rhein. (B/L) May 11th - Wednesday - Exciting Bernina Factory Day ! Today we will visit the Bernina Factory in Steckborn. This will be an exciting day of exploring the facto- ry and meeting some of the people behind the machines. A fun instructor from Bernina Headquarters is planning a ―special surprise program‖ for us. Overnight Stein am Rhein (B) May 12th - Thursday - Chocolate & Cheese Day Travel through green hills with valleys sheltering little villages, on the way to Appenzell. You are in store for a delicious treat as we visit the Maestrani Chocolate Factory in little Flawil to learn the secrets of chocolate making.....and of course tasting! Appenzell is known for its yodeling and alphorn playing, cows, and the preservation of its town’s heritage. It sits at the base of the Alpstein range and its homes are distinctive with painted facades and attached barns. Visit the colorful Folklore Mu- seum; then roll up your sleeves and be ready for cheese and cider tasting at the cheese factory. Now that we have tasted & sipped we continue on to St. Gallen. Overnight St. Gallen (B) May 13th - Friday - Ancient manuscripts, Historic Textiles St. Gallen is a relaxed provincial city . We will visit its beautiful Old Town which holds the city's centerpiece, an extraordinarily lavish Baroque cathedral. The convent and the Abbey Library is on UNESCO’s World Herit- age list. The Abbey Library has Switzerland's most beautiful non- ecclesi- astical Baroque Hall and houses 50,000 of the abbey's 160,000 books, plus a 2,700 year old mummy. On display are beautiful hand-scribed manuscripts by the Benedictine monks. The city’s many 16th - 18th century burgher houses stand out with their splendid oriel windows. Explore the fascinating history of textiles in the Textile Museum. The monks of St. Gallen made woolen cloth & intricate embroi- dery as early as the 15th c. The im- portant textile and lace making has continued & today provides some of the world's highest quality lace. Visit a wonderful embroi- dery company. Overnight in St. Gallen. (B) May 14th - Saturday - Our Mountain Chalet On the way to Grindelwald visit the baroque city of Solothurn, with French charm, Italian grandeur & German sturdiness. A fun walking tour. On up and up to our Chalet in the storybook mountain resort town of Grindelwald sitting at the base of the Eiger high in the alps with fantastic views of the mountains. Overnight Grindelwald (B) May 15th - Sunday - Top of the World Day! Put on your mittens, and woolies, we are heading to the Top of the World. We will board the train to cross valleys filled with cows and high ridges to Kleine Scheidegg where we change trains and board a cog train for the climb to the Jungfraujoch. This spectacular train ride takes you up through the Eiger in a long spiraling tunnel to emerge just below the Jungfrau summit. You walk through an ice cave and go out onto the deck for views of the glacier. You are at the top of the world at 11,388 ft. If you choose you can walk out onto the glaci- er....depending on the weather. We will luncheon while up on top and return via the train. Overnight in Grindelwald. (B/L) May 16th - Monday - On Your Own Exploration Today is at leisure in this marvelous mountain village. You can put your feet up and enjoy the view. Hop on the train to visit other mountain villages nearby. Put on your walking shoes for a stroll in the mountains. Ride up a chairlift or gondola to see what you find. Do your laun- dry, read a book, visit a cow…...Or explore the local shops. Overnight in Grindelwald (B) May 17th - Tuesday - Glass Treasures, Church Treasures & A Treasured City This morning we travel down from the mountains, across beautiful terrain to the shores of Lake Lucerne and the hamlet of Hergiswil where we visit its historic (1817) Glass Factory & museum, perched on the edge of the lake and still producing fine glassware today. Then its on to the pristine church-owned vil- lage of Beromunster with its lovely church and historic treasury. Next drive to one of my favorite cities, Lucerne with its picturesque wooden bridge, and our home for the remainder of the tour. Overnight Lucerne . (B) May 18th - Wednesday - The Grand Circuit Lake Boat - Cog Rail - Mountain Vistas - Gondola We start the day with a cruise across glistening Lake Lucerne (known as ―Lake of 4 Cantons‖) to Bayreuth and Wahnfried House, the home and theater, now museum, of Richard Wagner. Proceeding by boat to Alpnachstad at the far end of the lake, we board a cog-rail car that travels up the sheer mountain to the summit of Mount Pilatus- Kulm, a stand-alone peak where views of the city and lake are breathtaking. We descend by aerial cableway to Kriens over beautiful meadows & hillsides, returning to Lucerne. Overnight Lucerne (B/L) May 19th - Thursday - Lucerne - Lucerne - Lucerne A full day of getting to know Lucerne and some of its arts and artisans. You can't visit Lucerne with- out a walk across its famous covered wood- en zigzag bridge with paint- ed beams giving you the history of Lucerne. We will visit local shops, galleries and ateliers. Visit an engaging design studio/ workshop for a premium women's hat designer. Visit a traditional atelier to learn how Lucerne Carnival Costumes are made. Visit an internationally known, exclusive interior design studio; learn about classic & modern fabric collections, visit the workshop for up- holstery, see antiques and restoration work, view classic tapestries and carpets, all while enjoying a glass of champagne. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner in our hotel. Then you may wish to stroll along the river to see the lights. Overnight Lucerne (B/D) May 20th- Farewell to Switzerland Return to Zurich for your return flight. (B) This brings your fascinating tour of Switzerland to a close. Cost Per Person-Land Only-Twin Share Information/Registration: 480-659-6832 – Creative Adventures You may wish to extend your visit. Spend another day in Lucerne…. Or join our tour extension. Tour Price: (Per Person-Land Only-Twin Share) $4,200.00 USD Trip Cancellation Insurance (Health, Accident, Baggage, & Single Room Supplement: $550.00 cancellation) is strongly recommended. Deposit of $500.00 required to register. Please review General Information & Terms & Conditions Prices are quoted at current exchange rates and subject to change. Inclusions: Items as listed in the itinerary, Meals as listed Contact: Creative Adventures with Judy Berry B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner including welcome & farewell Tel: 480-659-6832—Judy Fax: 480-219-5334 dinners; Well appointed hotels; English speaking guides. Email: [email protected] Not Included in Tour: International Air Fare (Air Reservations Bernina Connection made upon request); Meals not indicated in itinerary; tips to Tel: 480-602-553-8350—Val or Diane Guides, Drivers, Hotel Staff; Alcoholic Beverages; Personal items Creative Adv: P O Box 4192—Scottsdale AZ 85261 .