Hello from Switzerland!

[stickyvicky]

Has anyone here ever been? I was here 34 years ago, lol..... Do I look like I fit in? Honestly some parts are so beautiful it makes you want to cry!

Look at these pictures I took with my phone 2 mornings ago in Zermatt! It doesn't look real does it? Looks more like a postcard or a painting! I was so lucky to get these pics too because it got cloudy right after that and never cleared up!

Took a train to the top of Gornergrat and didn't really get a view of the Matterhorn because it was so foggy/cloudy.

It is crazy expensive in Zermatt, all of Switzerland is! Some of the hotel rooms are 750 and up per night! Thank goodness we got a room for about 200 something but I'd be sooooo pissed if I paid that and never got a good pic! We met an American couple here from Arkansas and they were leaving without ever getting a picture of the Matterhorn. They were so bummed. I texted her my pics so she could at least have that! They were taken at the exact spot that we met them! Hilarious!

I have to say I am super impressed with the railway system here. The trains are always on time, never even one minute late. It's incredible the feats of engineering going through tunnels of solid rock and sometimes a 200% grade going up a mountain on a cogwheel system.

Believe it or not, people still ride bikes here even in this weather!

[lance_s]

Has anyone here ever been? I was here 34 years ago, lol..... Do I look like I fit in? Honestly some parts are so beautiful it makes you want to cry!

20231209_090218.jpg20231209_090741.jpgmatterhorn.jpg

Look at these pictures I took with my phone 2 mornings ago in Zermatt! It doesn't look real does it? Looks more like a postcard or a painting! I was so lucky to get these pics too because it got cloudy right after that and never cleared up!
grandtour.jpg
Took a train to the top of Gornergrat and didn't really get a view of the Matterhorn because it was so foggy/cloudy.
zermatttrain.jpg
It is crazy expensive in Zermatt, all of Switzerland is! Some of the hotel rooms are 750 and up per night! Thank goodness we got a room for about 200 something but I'd be sooooo pissed if I paid that and never got a good pic! We met an American couple here from Arkansas and they were leaving without ever getting a picture of the Matterhorn. They were so bummed. I texted her my pics so she could at least have that! They were taken at the exact spot that we met them! Hilarious!

I have to say I am super impressed with the railway system here. The trains are always on time, never even one minute late. It's incredible the feats of engineering going through tunnels of solid rock and sometimes a 200% grade going up a mountain on a cogwheel system.IMG-20231210-WA0001.jpgIMG-20231210-WA0000.jpg
Believe it or not, people still ride bikes here even in this weather!

Its even longer than 34 years since I've been there. But from the photos you posted, still looks the same as I remember.

The reason Switzerland seems so expensive is that the swiss franc keeps going up against other currencies. When I was travelling there, the exchange rate was 1 ChF = 80 cents Canadian. Now one Swiss Franc is $ 1.54 Cdn. So even if prices in Switzerland hadn't gone up at all, paying in dollars would still be twice as costly as it used to be.

I hope you have a chance to go to Interlaken - it is beautiful, even by Swiss standards.

[stickyvicky]

We are in Interlacken right now, but it's raining and foggy.
These pictures are just to show the unbelievaby steep incline on that train!

[Alydar$$]

Beautiful pics Vicky! Been 39 years for me. Drove thru Switzerland and because of the weather, it looked no different than flat Illinois! Forced to take tunnel into Italy rather than the pass. Fear not, made it to the top of the Zugspitz before. Keep shooting! We want more....

[lance_s]

20231211_145324.jpgWe are in Interlacken right now, but it's raining and foggy.
These pictures are just to show the unbelievaby steep incline on that train!
20231211_145203.jpg

If you've still got Zurich to do, don't miss a walk along Lindenhofstrasse. In the day for the view, and in the evening for grub and merriment.

[Porsing_22]

Very nice pictures,
Been in Zermatt only in Summer (actually saw the Matterhorn too).
If you visit Zurich, follow lance's advice, especially in Advent-times, up to Lindenhof, it's worth it.
And check the other side of the Limmat river too. Now, there probably are nice X-mas markets there in the Niederdorf and Oberdorf (old Town part of Zürich).
I'm Looking forward to more nice pictures ( motivate your excellent cameraman ... )

[ErikB]

Great pictures!

[stickyvicky]

We spent the first 2 nights in Zurich, then went to Lausanne for 1 night, from there we visited Geneva, then moved to Montreux for 1 night. From there we went to Zermatt for 2 nights. We are in Interlacken right now for 3 nights! From here we see Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. Tomorrow we check out and go to Lucerne for 1 night, then back to Zurich for 1 night because on the 15th we fly to Norway! 3 nights in Norway, return to Zurich for a night then fly home from there!

I have seen so many Christmas markets it's unreal! Gonna make a small video montage of it all!

[lance_s]

We spent the first 2 nights in Zurich, then went to Lausanne for 1 night, from there we visited Geneva, then moved to Montreux for 1 night. From there we went to Zermatt for 2 nights. We are in Interlacken right now for 3 nights! From here we see Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. Tomorrow we check out and go to Lucerne for 1 night, then back to Zurich for 1 night because on the 15th we fly to Norway! 3 nights in Norway, return to Zurich for a night then fly home from there!

I have seen so many Christmas markets it's unreal! Gonna make a small video montage of it all!

Well, you've certainly covered most of the county. My last visit was a day trip to Zurich. Literally. Montreal to Zurich for a meeting. And back to Toronto the next day.

Enjoy your time in Norway. It is still on my bucket list of places to visit.

[stickyvicky]

A couple of pics from Lauterbrunnen today.

Even in the rain it's beautiful! This is the city of 72 waterfalls!

[lance_s]

A couple of pics from Lauterbrunnen today.
Facetune_.jpgFacetune_(3).jpg
Even in the rain it's beautiful! This is the city of 72 waterfalls!
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Scandinavian sexiness on Swiss scenery - stunning!!

[WalterB]

Really stunning pictures and beautiful country. And even prettier "accoutrements."

Really glad you're having such a great trip.

[onegreengoat]

That looks amazing! Don't forget to show some love to the Alpine goats. They're really beautiful creatures. Johanna Spyri wrote a lovely book called Heidi about a child growing up in the Swiss alps with her pet goat. I have some friends at the University in Lausanne. What a wonderful trip!

[stickyvicky]

I read that book as a child and loved it! I've been in love with Switzerland and goats and cheese and bread ever since!

[UncleDave]

Just gorgeous. The World is truly an amazing place. So happy you are having a wonderful time.

[Alydar$$]

That looks amazing! Don't forget to show some love to the Alpine goats. They're really beautiful creatures. Johanna Spyri wrote a lovely book called Heidi about a child growing up in the Swiss alps with her pet goat. I have some friends at the University in Lausanne. What a wonderful trip!

The book also inspired a movie. This movie was shown on NBC in November 1968, interrupting the Oakland Raiders vs New York Jets game. The Raiders scored 14 points in the last 2 minutes to beat Joe Namath and the Jets. Thus the legend of "The Heidi Game" was born.

[stickyvicky]

No kidding that's hilarious! What were they thinking? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidi_Game

[WalterB]

Oh, I remember that game well. The fury was palpable, lol.

The NFL hasn't gotten any better at scheduling. When there's 4 seconds left in the game and the score is tied 6-6, the behind team is on the 2=yard line and it's first down, they will switch to the BEGINNING of some other game where NOTHING will happen that's even remotely as interesting as the game they turned off.

Then, just after they switch off, the offense fumbles, the defense recovers and runs 98 yards for the win.

You can watch reruns all night long, but nothing beats seeing the original.

[CGYMike]

Your pictures make me want to cry. :)

[stickyvicky]

How funny, that's exactly what I said to Dave at some points that it's just so beautiful it makes you want to cry!