July 1
The vacation began with the timed sprinklers going on at 7:00 AM just as we getting into the car to go to the airport
and filling my lower pants leg and socks and shoes with water. I said to myself; “ Self”, I hope this is not a
harbinger of what to expect for the next month.
We arrived at the Tampa airport about 7:30 for an 11:25 departure. It was my first time using electronic tickets
and I did not know what increased security to expect and - I thought Continental had a “Presidents lounge” where
we could relax after checking our baggage. For those interested they do not.
We had a great take off and landing in Newark and were in the same terminal that we were to catch our next flight
to Zurich. There was a 5 hour lay over but it was made easier by their having a “Presidents lounge” and my having
5 free Martinis. Since this was to be my last trip to Europe (at age 79) and it was two months prior to leaving,
I had found a fantastic RT business class rate, I decided to go whole hog. Whereas most business class rates where
over $7000 when I saw one on Expedia for $2200, I grabbed it. There were restrictions that I must not change any
part of the ticket. I gambled!
The Champagne started the instant we hit our seats. It was a fantastic and the flight smooth after a few Bloody
Marys. I was very surprised by how much Continental has upgraded it service.
I had taken weeks of planning to arrange air, lodging, auto rental (Hertz) and tours within Switzerland. My plan
was to stay in Switzerland for the month of July but after 2 days in Zurich I had changed my complete schedule
and all my pre-planning went out the window.
Back to the flight; - we left 1/2 hour late and were only in the air about 20 minutes (One champagne and 3 bloodies)
when we chose and were served from the menu, lamb chops, mashed potatoes, salad, and dessert. We had about 6 hours
sleep when we touched down in Zurich 1/2 hour ahead of schedule. I dread customs, only because it is so time consuming
and tiring with 4 pieces of luggage. We each carried on a backpack and checked in one suitcase each.
I had chosen the Ibis hotel in Zurich because it had a shuttle and was not too far from the airport where I had
to return to pick up a car two days later. It had no air conditioning and no fans and it was as hot as blazes and
the nearest restaurant was 20 minutes; a bus and train ride away. If you opened the windows there were no screens
and the critters would fly in and out like “old home week”. You baked in your own juices. The room was a closet
with a bathroom (6’x5’); a sink (no stopper), a shower and toilet paper that was recycled sandpaper. When you sat
on the stool, your head was in the sink. So now when I want to leave to go to the bathroom I say; “I’m going to
put my head in the sink.”
“But the staff was nice”
Their breakfast was not free as in most other hotels in which we stayed. The cost of breakfast was $12.60. That
was our first introduction to prices in Switzerland. It was also responsible for my decision to find air-conditioning
in future hotels regardless of price. I repeat I am 79. That was a problem, as most hotels do not have air conditioning,
as it is not supposed to be hot in Switzerland. My best decision was arranging for an air-conditioned automatic
transmission car. There were several nights when I contemplated sleeping in the car, with the air on, when we could
not find a hotel with a/c. On TV we saw the temperatures in Florida were the same or lower than what we experienced
in Europe. But Florida has a/c in cars, stores, homes, and hotels. Europe has not caught up with that luxury.
Back to Ibis hotel. A young lady ran the dining room, fluent in three languages (not English) but untrained in
food preparation. At 3 PM we viewed the salad buffet where it appeared to have been set out at breakfast and still
had 3 hours to go until the restaurant opened.
“But the staff was nice”
This is when I inquired about the next closest restaurant and was told to walk 2 blocks to Bus # 5 and take it
to stop # (I could not understand) and switch to the train to (I could not understand). I thought if I get lost
no one could ever find this hotel again. I now realized they had a shuttle because it was the only way to find
it. It is in the middle of nowhere, situated in an industrial park, and I assume it is a converted warehouse.
“But the staff was nice”
After 5 hours in the sweatbox I inquired about the Hilton that I had seen as we left the airport and canceled our
reservation at Ibis for July 29 when we expected to return. P.S. I was quoted $368 a night for the Hilton. I decided
to look further.
Deciding not to attempt finding a distant restaurant, we ate at the hotel. I ordered spaghetti and meat sauce with
the help of an English girl who had entered the dining room. My first bite ruined my taste buds for two days. The
sauce was made with red hot peppers.
In fairness, the staff of three high school girls did try to be helpful and tried to understand our English. At
about mid-night the room did cool off with the window open. So, if one is looking for a place to sleep (only),
and you arrive about mid-night, it is fairly clean except for the carpet that looked like the floor of an oil change
garage. I left my slippers at the hotel.
“But the staff was nice”
The bedding was clean and so was the one towel (for 2 people) and one need not fear of rolling out of bed as it
is only a one foot drop. It appears to be secure because no one can find it. With a queen bed (we had reserved
twin beds) and a few shelves in the corner, there was room to get around as long as you walked sideways and did
not walk abreast.
“But the staff was nice”
But for $85 a night it was a bargain compared to the Hilton. It was rated 3 stars on a 1 to 5 star rating. It could
be compared to a Motel 8 in the US being compared to the Waldorf Astoria. The picture on the Internet is too flattering.
I had reserved a room for 2 nights at 89 CHF and on check out were billed 115 CHF for the 2nd night. Their explanation
is that rates go up 30 CHF on weekdays. To dispute the charge I had to talk to the manager who would not be in
until late afternoon. I had my luggage on the shuttle at 8 AM so they knew I would not stay to protest.
“But the staff was nice”
Well its time for another ‘head in the sink’ so I’ll end this first days event in hotel “NEVER AGAIN”.
July 3
We took the hotel shuttle to the airport to arrange for a tour, as the hotel did not offer tours from the hotel.
Then we got brave and took a train to the train station and contracted for a full day Gray Line tour to Lake Lucerne
for a guided tour of Lucerne and a lunch at a Switzerland folk show to include yodeling, bell ringing, broom dancing,
and audience participation. The lunch was good and the entertainment very, very good.
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The lunch did not include any beverages
including water, soda beer etc. But the tour was less than mediocre. I asked if the tour was in English and was
told yes. Upon leaving Zurich the guide would speak in English, then German, then French but had the microphone
so close to his mouth you could not understand what he said. When a passenger told him he said he had not had complaints
in the past and proceeded to do the same, so we had little info as to what we were seeing as we proceeded to Lake
Lucerne. (Clarify the full tour is in English) In addition he combined 3 tours into one trip and when we arrived
in Lucerne he took those who had signed for the Swiss show and pointed to where the show took place up a side street,
gave us our lunch tickets and said; ”I’ll meet you here at 5 PM. (He did not give one couple a voucher so they
missed the show and lunch.) I grabbed him and asked; “When do we get the guided tour of Lucerne”? He said;” You're
in Lucerne, look around, I won’t be back until 5”. I told him it was a guided tour of Lucerne and he denied it
so I pulled out the brochure and showed him. He shrugged his shoulders and he jumped back on the bus and took off.
The full bus (3 tours) had such a sad experience that when he asked how everyone enjoyed the tour he had dead silence.
He asked how I enjoyed the tour and I told him the show was great and left it there. He asked; “Was that all you
enjoyed?” and I remained silent.
He stood at the door of the bus as we departed for his hand out and it remained empty.
July 4
Thankfully with this poor start things picked up in Interlaken with a wonderful, peaceful boat cruise on Lake Thun.
(Very much a “must do” event.)
We were to go to Bern but after seeing Zurich we decided not to go to another big city just to see a clock and
a zoo, so we went on to Interlaken. To avoid staying in the city I found a Mercure Hotel on top of a mountain overlooking
Lake Thun. Interlaken lies between two lakes. The Hotel was on the outskirts of Interlaken in a suburb called Beatenberg.
I could never remember the name and kept calling it Bettlebaum or Bettleberg.
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It is about a 20-minute drive into Interlaken with very
steep curvy roads but it is worth the effort. It was so nice we decided to stay for 4 days. Our room had a balcony,
which looked down on the lake, and we could watch the tour boats pass all day, every 20 minutes. We took a ride
for almost the full day from one end of Lake Thun to the other where we could get off at any stop and re-board
for the full day fee. I can highly recommend this cruise.
I sat next to an oriental woman who was with her husband on her other side and she talked constantly for 2 hours
without taking a breath. He had his back to her and would only grunt every 10 minutes. The Orientals know how to
get along with their wives. (Can’t you tell I’m no longer married?)
Incidentally, I had purchased the Swiss card on the Internet before leaving the USA, which entitled me to free
fares on some transits and 1/2 charge on others. The funicular from top of mountain to boat was free and the boat
ride was 1/2 price. The card was a slight savings but would have been a major savings had we traveled by train
versus car.
This hotel was a great improvement over the Ibis in Zurich. It did not have air conditioning (a/c) but neither
did any other hotel we contacted. It was exceptionally clean, a large room, a beautiful view, and a staff that
spoke English. But again I ran into rates. I had booked for 111 CHF a night. When I extended my stay I was billed
144 CHF. I was told that I did not reserve all 4 nights at the same time so the rates differed. This should be
a lesson to those booking hotels in Switzerland. Have a definite understanding as to the rates for EACH night and
try to avoid extending your stay once you arrive. It might be better to make longer reservations and then cancel
which I did not try. There might be a charge then for a cancellation. (Ya can’t beat the system.)
We did a lot of shopping in Interlaken and should have had the store ship our package. Instead we carried the gifts
and souvenirs and shipped them days later from Chur. That entailed finding boxes (which we finally bought from
post office) and finding a post office and paying outrageous postage. In addition it takes weeks to arrive by standard
postage and you worry until it does arrive. Shipping by air you might as well pack your self in the container and
save your airfare back. (Suggestion: find a store in US that sells products made in Switzerland.)
Evenings I spent charging batteries for my camcorder and still camera and cell phone (that never worked).
Breakfast again was not included and cost 20 CHF but it was a nice buffet. Dinner was 74 CHF (without drinks).
I had a filet. (But the cow had died many years ago after feeding on rocks). However it had great flavor and the
salad was excellent and came with the dinner which is unusual in Switzerland. You normally pay extra for salad
or bread or water. Just depend on everything costing extra and check with the waiter.
The hotel has underground garages at no additional cost with plenty of spaces. Remember if your garage is on second
or first floor. Floor 6 is reception and is the ground level floor (don’t question me further). I think floor 3
and 4 are sauna and pool and floor 5 is a basement room. (Otherwise called dungeon.) We were on floor 8 with a
large room that had twin beds, a kitchen with a refrigerator and two burners, a dining area with a good size table,
and a lounge area that was next to balcony and overlooked the lake. There was plenty of closet space.
There was a washer and dryer in one of the lower levels so we had a chance to catch up on washing clothes that
we had formerly washed in the sink. Cost $3 per load. With me you can always expect a problem. The dryer refused
to open and many of our daily traveling clothes were locked in the dryer. It was 10:30 PM and fortunately the hotel
had a maintenance man on duty so he came and started the dry cycle all over again hoping it would open upon cycle
completion. At midnight he called and told us the door had opened and we could reclaim our clothes. In the meantime
(10:30 to 12) Lorraine was in “panicville” that we might never see our clothes again. You do not want to be in
the room with Lorraine when she is in “Panicville”.
Another (not so amusing) event took place in the hotel. The bathroom was a very comfortable size but the tub was
deep and the sides were high. We found this to be true throughout most of Europe. I was tired and in pain and anxious
for a nice hot bath, so I moved my 240 pound frame into the tub. I enjoyed the soaking in hot water but when it
came time to get out I found the tub too narrow and too deep and nothing to hold onto to raise myself out. The
sides were too high to raise myself and nothing to help pull me up. The soap dish would never hold me and I thought
I was entombed for life in a tub in Switzerland. I thought about filling the tub and floating out but didn’t want
to drown. I started putting towels under me and didn’t have sufficient towels to get me high enough. I was about
to call for a crane when I took the chance of rolling over hoping the narrowness would not wedge me further. I
summoned my courage and flip-flopped over like a beached whale and got on my hands and knees and lifted myself
upward. By this time I was exhausted and needed another bath but settled for a shower.
What a great camcorder picture that 1/2 hour would have made. This is probably the highlight of the trip and one
I will long remember. I took no more baths in Europe, only showers. It still took a ladder to get in and out of
the tubs.
We went food shopping in Interlaken. I did not know you must pay for a cart to put in your groceries and pay for
a bag to carry groceries from the store. Most bring shopping bags. We parked in a garage beneath the store and
had to come through a gate and take a ticket. I should have been smart enough to realize I could not use that ticket
to get out without paying somebody. As I attempted to leave garage by going up a curved ramp for about 200 feet,
I entered the ticket and ***NOTHING happens. I try again** and again nothing happens and finally get out and ask
the woman in the car behind me how to raise the gate. I am told I should have paid as I left the store and had
the ticked validated. What NOW? 6 cars behind me had to back down the ramp and I had to negotiate how to handle
the curves going backwards; (incidentally the ramp is narrow, what else?) and I have 6 unhappy drivers angry and
looking at this jerk who has trapped them in a garage. My name changed to “That stupid idiot” I changed it again
to “That DUMB stupid idiot”
We found a lady who spoke English and she showed us the machine back at the elevator to have our exit ticket validated.
The cost was $5 for a 3/4 hour shopping experience. But, FREE at last. By the time I paid for the garage, bag,
and cart, my beer price had increased by $6.50.
Warning; bring an old bag with you to the market, even if it’s your wife.
You would think I’d learn, but read on for our returning the car to the airport.
We made the mistake of getting up late 7:30 and by the time we got to breakfast the Japanese tour bus was starting
to load. Getting food was a major obstacle. Rolls were already being stuffed into pocketbooks for their lunch and
dinner, I guess. Anything liquid was still available, as it could not be packed. I amused myself by staring at
the women with their hands in the fruit and breadbaskets. When they saw me staring, they quickly replaced them.
But they out foxed me. They came back with plates, took the fruits and bread on plates and loaded from their tables
under the tablecloth into their carry on bags. But at least I had fun and embarrassed them for a few minutes.
Today I scout Interlaken Railroad station OST (East I learned) in hopes tomorrow we can take the 4 trains up to
the top of the Jungfrau mountain and visit the Ice Palace.
Here is where the Swiss Card paid off. I paid 1/2 fare (which was considerable). We paid $70 per person versus
$140. Leaving at 9:30AM gave us time to make train changes and spend time at top of Mt., see ice palace, and return
by way of Grindelwald (a village I wanted to see) and arrive back by 6PM.
Filled the car with gas at cost of $33 for the 300 miles I had driven.
We had an excellent supper. Caesar salad, lamb chops, freedom fries, 2 glasses of wine [I did not like Swiss red
wines], 2 cups of coffee, bowl of cinnamon ice cream in rum sauce with pieces of plumb for $90 for 2 dinners. Got
away easy this time. The atmosphere at this hotel is appealing and the “staff were nice”.
Early to bed for the trip to Jungfrau tomorrow.
July 7
What a fantastic thrill. The trip to “Top of Europe”.
It requires 3 train changes and about 2 hours to arrive at the top of Jungfrau Mountain. Many times the trains
are riding in a cut out of the mountain and a precipitous ‘fall off’ with about one foot of rock on the side of
the train track. (Please everyone, do not all go to that side of train, or sneeze.)
Don’t look down, look up, cause that is where you may be (if you've been good) if the track collapses. As you may
discover, I do not like heights.
You pass through a 4 mile long tunnel through Mt. Eiger and the train stops 3 times and you have 5 minutes to get
off and walk to the side of the mountain and look through large glass windows straight down the side of the mountain
and see the surrounding mountains and glaciers.
When you get high enough you start to see snow on both sides and a glacier between mountain ranges with one at
the top of the Jungfrau. You see massive waterfalls and some drop over 1000 feet. No place to stand under to take
a shower. The force must be tremendous as the water hits the ground.
There is a restaurant at the top of Jungfrau and a gift shop. What else is new?
The thrill is the Ice Palace. It is a tunnel similar to a mine entrance carved out (and into) the glacier. Naturally
the floor, walls, and ceiling are solid ice. There is a rail that you can hold to brace yourself, as it is extremely
slippery. After 15 feet I realized it was too hazardous for me, so Lorraine went through with my camera and took
photos. Mid way through they have ice carvings of an Eskimo village with sled dogs, igloo’s, fish and people carved
from ice. Naturally it is cold. Even in the entrance I almost froze with a shirt, leather vest, and coat.
It was an early overcast day so we did not see the other mountain ranges from the top.
Our train changes were made easier by finding 2 young men from Bern who spoke excellent English. They were also
going to the “Top of Europe” so they guided us into the proper train at each station.
Train travel is efficient. We never waited more than 15 minutes to get a train, and in most instances we got off
one train and immediately entered another within 10 feet. The same holds true for busses and boats. They are all
co-coordinated so you have a very short wait (if any) to change transportation.
On our return to Interlaken we shopped at Grindelwald for lunch and a walk through the village. It is well promoted
in all travel programs and is a beautiful village when viewed from the train coming down the mountain, but when
you leave the train station it is a long street of souvenir shops. Perhaps if we had wandered beyond the main drag
we would have seen the charm that travel shows talk about. If I were to return I would drive into the village and
drive up and down streets to see the typical Swiss homes on the mountainside. I would travel up the side roads
to see the goats, cows, barns, and listen to the cowbells in the pastures for the atmosphere.
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I drove through the city to the lake and
drove along the lake for a few miles to say to be able to say I saw it, then got back on route ? (I think it was
Rt. A-1)
We did see the 457’ fountain shooting high into the air and the “Palace of nations”; that was enough for me so
we headed north again on Route 1 (one). We accidentally crossed into France. It was getting late in the afternoon
and about 10 miles north of Geneva I saw a large Best Western that looked new so I detoured to the hotel and asked
them to first cancel the hotel Ibis in Luasanne and then rented an a/c room which had a distant view of the (a)
lake.
Clean, roomy, some English speaking staff and $215 a night. One doesn’t argue when tired after driving all day
and in need of a Manhattan. (Which does not seem to exist in Switzerland.
The room had a view of Lake Geneva in the distance and was A/C. With 2 glasses of wine and a wedding party in the
Hotel the evening was enjoyable. There were craftomatic beds and as I sat on one end the other end would rise up
off the floor. (Another challenge). Tomorrow I’ll pin my money belt to my shirttail.
I went out to the car to bring in the luggage and felt something creeping down my leg. I looked down and realized
my money belt had opened and was hanging out of my pants leg around my ankles. I tried to pull it out but the waistband
was stuck to Velcro somewhere in my pants. Now the dilemma, I am in a parking lot, - do I reach down into my pants
to free the waistband or - pull up my pants leg, or - take down my pants?
At this point Lorraine was doubled up laughing which did nothing to mask my embarrassment. I was about to ask her
to reach into my pants but several people were watching me twist and turn as it was. After several tugs I freed
the strap. She gets her biggest joy and laughs when I am in this type of predicament. I’d like to have heard the
comments of those passing by. “Look at that pervert with his hands in his pants”. Tomorrow I'll pin my money belt
to my shirt tail.
We had a nice dinner but decided that beef was not the meat to order in Switzerland. The cows have too many miles
on them. I ordered a filet and had lockjaw by the end of the meal. It would have made a better jacket. It was tasty
though; And “the staff was nice.”
Henceforth I will order “Flan”.
July 9
We left the Best Western in Geneva in AM after a free breakfast. The hotel had a/c so I had a good night’s sleep
and a nice buffet breakfast. We headed for Vevey and Montreux but took the first turn off from A1 to see a small
village. I enjoy going down back roads and not knowing where I am going. I usually find things other tourists do
not see. It turned out great as we found a road that borders Lake Geneva all the way to Montreux. Going through
Lausanne we saw the Lake boats loading and unloading passengers and decided to catch the boat and hope we could
find a hotel room in the late afternoon. The boat was ready to leave at 12:30 and to return at 3:20. We crossed
Lake Geneva to the French side and made a landing in St. Gingolph-le Bouvert, Villeneuve, Chateau de Chillon, (a
very famous castle) Montreux, Vevey, back to Lausanne where we had started. We found the car parked very close
to the dock where we had left it. Luckily we had found a handicap space so close but I was not certain how long
I could park there. I asked several people but no one had an answer. I took the chance and it was a pleasant surprise
to see it in the same place with no ticket on it.
We left Lausanne about 3:45 and made stops
for gas and at several hotels looking for an a/c room. None were found by the time we reached Montreux so when
I saw another Best Western in the center of town I pulled in and again was lucky to find a room, but the hotel
had no a/c. At 4:30 I did not want to chance going on and so paid the $300. The receptionist took pity on a gray
haired, over-weight old man with a cane and discounted the room from $350 to $300. Again I found you get what you
pay for. She was also kind enough to provide us with a fan.
It was a suite of rooms on the 14th floor overlooking the lake and most of Montreux. The jazz festival had tents
all along the boulevard under our window so we were serenaded most of the night and looked down on all of the activity.
Boats were docking, dirigibles were floating by our window, and air kites were flying off the mountain and landing
on a raft floating in the lake. Our balcony with table, chairs and a wet-bar looked down upon the lake as far as
you could see to the south and north. I could not have found a better room and view. It is all I could have wished
for when planning my visit to Vevey and Montreux and Lake Geneva.
So the day was a success with one small glitz. When we rushed for the boat I left my camcorder supplies in the
car and ran out of Disc 1/2 way down the lake. However I made up for it by re-loading the camera in the hotel and
getting the best of the sights from our balcony.
I am beginning to get comfortable with putting money in a machine at gas stations (and elsewhere) and hoping that
the pump will turn on. I used small denominations in case I guessed wrong on what button to push or if I had a
cranky machine and then I would not lose a large amount. I dreaded putting my credit card in a machine for fear
of it never coming back or returning it in shreds. Amazingly it never happened. I hope I can share with everyone
the photos and movies, as I tried to capture the highlights of each day.
July 10
We left Montreux about 8:30 and on the way to Zermatt we passed Chateau Chillon - a fortress, which doubled as
a palace on its lakeside. This is the Castle referred to in Lord Byron in 1816 and was inspired by Bonevard chained
for 4 years as a prisoner in the Castle during the 16th century I could not resist the temptation to walk through
another castle so we turned around and crossed the moat into the castle for 16 CHF ($13).
With my bad knees I could only tour the first level but
Lorraine went up stairs into the parapets and down to the dungeons that were about 200‘ below floor level. Ladders
were lowered and raised for prisoners. There are several courtyards, and multiple huge fireplaces used to cook
and to heat the rooms. There are canons and armories, and storerooms. Vineyard on the road to Zermatt...
Chillon was built to guard the narrow defile between the lake and the mountains and to collect taxes. The entrance
dates from the 15th century (about the time I was born) The castle dates back to the 13th century and has a history
of many wars. There are beautiful “Coats of arms” in the Knights hall. It was the home to Dukes, Baliffs, and Lords
from 1536 to 1733. Out of 32 rooms I got to about 10. This Castle is a MUST if you are in the vicinity of Lake
Geneva.
We did not expect to enter Zermatt for evening but saw no attractive hotels on our route, - so about 4 PM we took
the hazardous roads to reach Zermatt. You can’t drive a car into Zermatt nor would I suggest it, if you could.
You stop in Tersch and take a train into Zermatt or as you enter Tersch you will be greeted by Taxi and parking
businesses that have signs “Information,” to lure you in.
Incidentally, when you take a taxi you are trapped. They take your car to a parking space or garage so you are
almost obligated to take the same taxi to pick you up on your return from Zermatt for another $30. Then you are
told parking is extra and at $15 a day so that is $60 you pay when you return. Oh well, it only took me a lifetime
to save for this trip and I don’t have that many years left anyway.
I stopped and was quickly maneuvered into letting them take me to the outskirts of Zermatt where I would be picked
up with our luggage by a hotel golf cart (electric).
I chose the Best Western so the taxi company host called ahead for my reservation and found 1 of 2 B/W [B/W = Best Western which we found to be the most consistent quality.] We booked a room at The Alpine Resort Hotel for $230 a night.
Our parking/taxi host quoted us $30 to
take us to city limits and took care of parking our car. The drive took about 10 minutes with a woman driver who
thought she was Danica Patrick. The road is narrow and at sections room for only one car. It is a series of curves
where you cannot see if a car is approaching from the other direction but that didn’t seem to bother her. A few
times we screeched to a halt within 50 feet of the car coming in the opposite direction. I prayed a little. (And
a little more). The cart was waiting for us and now with 9 pieces of luggage and cameras and souvenir boxes it
was fully loaded. I did not want to trust leaving an open car so we took it all.
Again, a very nice clean large sitting room and a balcony looking directly at the Matterhorn. In all of the B/W
we have had superb service with no one looking for tips and very grateful when you offer one.
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One of the available modes of transportation in Zermatt. |
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Each morning between 9 and 9:30 they bring goats down the main street to go to pasture. You can hear the bells clanging as they approach. They stop the goats in front of a day care center where they let the children feed them for about 5 minutes. |
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We walked through town to the end of the
street that looked up at the Matterhorn. There is no other mountain like the Matterhorn. It is distinct and beautiful.
You stand in awe of the jagged snow covered peaks unlike any other mountain. I took many photos and hope to some
day try to paint its magnificence. I found a bench and sat in the shade and listened to church bells. Fell sway
to novelty shops for a few post cards and gifts of Chocolate to bring home. I slowly started back to the hotel
finding a bench in the shade wherever I could. I cashed some more dollars into franks and bought more water and
a sandwich. I watched para-sailing off the mountains and watched tourist helicopters fly over the Matterhorn. On
one bench I watched young teen-age girls play soccer; peaceful, restful, quiet, and cool in the shade. Where is
Lorraine all of this time? In and out of stores shopping. She can’t pass a store without going in. She was bored
today, as I didn’t do anything embarrassing like getting stuck in a tub. She did get a laugh when I woke up at
night and getting out of bed hit my head on a ladder going to a loft room.
Tomorrow we take the ride back to the taxi parking lot with that Kamikaze woman driver.
The host in B/W was kind enough to advise us not to stay at B/W in Locarno the next day as it was on top of a mountain
and 1/2 hour from lake Maggiore. He called ahead to the “Pestalozzi Hotel” and reserved a room for us.
He also gave me a very easy route ???? [I later questioned the route and the Hotel] Other than the one I had chosen
which he said had many switchbacks.
Most menus, in addition to being in French or German are in Japanese. (Not English). It tells you where the dollars
are coming from.
Had a fantastic pizza for dinner. It is recognizable on the menu.
