2. 2009

Switzerland in August.

After struggling to the summit of Mt Blanc it was time to relax and see some of Switzerland (and bits of Italy, and France) with Jasmijn. So we hired a car in Geneva, collected a Swiss hostel guide, and off we went! Don't miss the published story of this adventure!
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  • Lac Leman pier with Jasmijn. Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) is stunning, and Geneva is small, cosmopolitan and beautiful. It's home to many of the world's great institutions, including the UN and Red Cross.

    Lac Leman pier with Jasmijn. Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) is stunning, and Geneva is small, cosmopolitan and beautiful. It's home to many of the world's great institutions, including the UN and Red Cross.

  • UN HQ. The UN has public tours. The book shop alone makes them worthwhile.

    UN HQ. The UN has public tours. The book shop alone makes them worthwhile.

  • Spanish room 1. One of the hundreds of meeting rooms at the UN. The 1st Spanish Room was so successful they donated a second. The ceiling took years to create and will doubtless cause an international incident, should a 'stalactite' drop onto a delegate's head.

    Spanish room 1. One of the hundreds of meeting rooms at the UN. The 1st Spanish Room was so successful they donated a second. The ceiling took years to create and will doubtless cause an international incident, should a 'stalactite' drop onto a delegate's head.

  • Spanish room 2. This one was donated by Spain and an agreement to end one of the World Wars was signed here.

    Spanish room 2. This one was donated by Spain and an agreement to end one of the World Wars was signed here.

  • Venus fly traps. The botanic gardens has a great carnivorous plant collection. As a kid I used to collect these.

    Venus fly traps. The botanic gardens has a great carnivorous plant collection. As a kid I used to collect these.

  • Cobra lillies

    Cobra lillies

  • You can walk/run the Lake Geneva promenades for miles.

    You can walk/run the Lake Geneva promenades for miles.

  • Montreaux is 1.5 hours along the shore of Lac Leman. There's a great youth hostel on the shore, and you can take a cog train high into the mountains.

    Montreaux is 1.5 hours along the shore of Lac Leman. There's a great youth hostel on the shore, and you can take a cog train high into the mountains.

  • Paddle steamer

    Paddle steamer

  • Nestled on a natural island close to the lake shore Chateau Chillon exerted strategic control over the north-south alpine trade route, for hundreds of years.

    Nestled on a natural island close to the lake shore Chateau Chillon exerted strategic control over the north-south alpine trade route, for hundreds of years.

  • Chateau Chillon Jasmijn

    Chateau Chillon Jasmijn

  • Swiss horns. We stumbled into the Swiss national day, or week, it seemed.

    Swiss horns. We stumbled into the Swiss national day, or week, it seemed.

  • Chateau Chillon cellar. A political prisoner spent 4 years chained to the 3rd pillar a couple of hundred years ago, until freed by an army. Lord Byron once visited, and wrote a poem about the prisoner. He also signed carved his name into the stone. This castle has been the inspiration for much romantic literature and photography.

    Chateau Chillon cellar. A political prisoner spent 4 years chained to the 3rd pillar a couple of hundred years ago, until freed by an army. Lord Byron once visited, and wrote a poem about the prisoner. He also signed carved his name into the stone. This castle has been the inspiration for much romantic literature and photography.

  • Next, it was off to Interlaken in the middle of the country, where we stayed on the shore of a lake (unfortunately, not here). Whilst swimming in the warmer top layers of this alpine lake (Thunersee) on a very hot day, this canine water taxi cruised by.

    Next, it was off to Interlaken in the middle of the country, where we stayed on the shore of a lake (unfortunately, not here). Whilst swimming in the warmer top layers of this alpine lake (Thunersee) on a very hot day, this canine water taxi cruised by.

  • That night there were fireworks all around the lake, as part of the Swiss national celebrations.

    That night there were fireworks all around the lake, as part of the Swiss national celebrations.

  • Spiez chateau

    Spiez chateau

  • Jasmijn with flowers

    Jasmijn with flowers

  • Spiez chateau sepia

    Spiez chateau sepia

  • We visited the feared North Face of the Eiger nearby. Unfortunately it was frequently lost in the cloud for which the Eiger is famous. We'll just have to return...

    We visited the feared North Face of the Eiger nearby. Unfortunately it was frequently lost in the cloud for which the Eiger is famous. We'll just have to return...

  • Next it was off to the Swiss capital, Bern - one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe.

    Next it was off to the Swiss capital, Bern - one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe.

  • Bern clock tower

    Bern clock tower

  • Grimelsee. We had lunch in the car here.

    Grimelsee. We had lunch in the car here.

  • Valle Maggia. After reaching the valley we were soon hiking. This was the view from a 150 m suspension bridge.

    Valle Maggia. After reaching the valley we were soon hiking. This was the view from a 150 m suspension bridge.

  • Stone bridge. The valley is filled with hiking trails and anciet hamlets populated by stone ruins and few people, due to modern urbanisation.

    Stone bridge. The valley is filled with hiking trails and anciet hamlets populated by stone ruins and few people, due to modern urbanisation.

  • Catholic shrines also abound

    Catholic shrines also abound

  • Andrew

    Andrew

  • Jasmijn red flowers

    Jasmijn red flowers

  • Andrew in the Maggia River. Again, it was very hot, just barely enough to swim in these chilly waters.

    Andrew in the Maggia River. Again, it was very hot, just barely enough to swim in these chilly waters.

  • River cairn edited

    River cairn edited

  • Waterfall closeup

    Waterfall closeup

  • Alpine view. Next, it was off to the world-famous ski resort of Zermatt.

    Alpine view. Next, it was off to the world-famous ski resort of Zermatt.

  • Jasmijn with mountains

    Jasmijn with mountains

  • Zermatt chalet

    Zermatt chalet

  • Zermatt is a playground of the rich. This pen cost around £1,600!

    Zermatt is a playground of the rich. This pen cost around £1,600!

  • And this watch, around £50,000! Their most expensive was around £85,000. The brand is BlancPain, which I think must refer to the white pain you experience when you receive the bill. Duly entertained, we returned to our budget hostel.

    And this watch, around £50,000! Their most expensive was around £85,000. The brand is BlancPain, which I think must refer to the white pain you experience when you receive the bill. Duly entertained, we returned to our budget hostel.

  • The Matterhorn looms over Zermatt

    The Matterhorn looms over Zermatt

  • Breithorn glacier

    Breithorn glacier

  • Heaps of climbers do day climbs to the top of the Breithorn, from the same lift I skied off from.

    Heaps of climbers do day climbs to the top of the Breithorn, from the same lift I skied off from.

  • Breithorn J de B & AK

    Breithorn J de B & AK

  • Just above one of the ski runs

    Just above one of the ski runs

  • It has killed sufficient climbers over the years to have produced its own cemetary.

    It has killed sufficient climbers over the years to have produced its own cemetary.

  • I settled for something easier - a spot of summer skiing at nearly 4,000 m. Even there it was warm.

    I settled for something easier - a spot of summer skiing at nearly 4,000 m. Even there it was warm.

  • Summer training ground for international teams

    Summer training ground for international teams

  • Summer skiing half-pipe

    Summer skiing half-pipe

  • Summer skiing airborne

    Summer skiing airborne

  • Summer skiing jump

    Summer skiing jump

  • Summer skiing

    Summer skiing

  • After skiing, we explored this brilliant gorge path above Zermatt town.

    After skiing, we explored this brilliant gorge path above Zermatt town.

  • Gorge path 2

    Gorge path 2

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    Bern clock tower.JPG
    Grimelsee. We had lunch in the car here.
    Valle Maggia. After reaching the valley we were soon hiking. This was the view from a 150 m suspension bridge.