Sunday, September 22nd

 Today we had big plans to see as much as we could in this area

After a nice breakfast in the hotel,

(and after I dropped and broke a glass!)

we headed to the bus, for a short ride to the train station

further in town

where the big gondola s station was

We hopped on that gondola and rode

way up!

Then hiked up abit more

to

" The Crown"

Which was a round platform on top of a peak

where the views were 360°

We watched 6 young men hike up in front of us

chattering away

with big packs

and parachutes (gliders)

We watched them gear up

and take off!

Para-sailers

Amazing

Greg took some amazing panoramic pictures from up there.

I just enjoyed the view and left my camera in my

pocket.

This is the trail to the Crown

Next we took another gondola,

one of the BIG ones,

Down the other side of that mountain

into a valley town called

Wangen

where we wandered around at all the Shops

stopped at a bakery for more goodies

then headed down a trial

(not recommended by the tourist information desk)

but it was so beautiful with amazing views

Pretty steep the whole way,

but a nice wide trail

there is a white sheep on the hill grazing

and also behind the trees

2 goats!

this was a very steep hillside 

They were alone but had bells on!

the valley town we were headed to

had along name

and I just kept calling it

Lotta burger

but it was really called

Lauterbrunnen

so you can see why I liked

lotta burger

It is known for all the beautiful waterfalls

and the steep cliffs on both sides

Amazing

The above 2 pictures tell a story. 

the top is a

" Retirement and Nursing Home"

and the 2nd picture is the view from their balconies!

There were about 4 people

sitting out on their tiny balconies

just gazing at the views and enjoying the warm sunshine

That's where I want to Retire!

The waterfalls were spectacular!

and we even hiked up to the side of this one -

it was advertised that the walk was

"behind the falls"

but the trail ended just beside it.

in town, we wandered the streets

saw a window display that brought back memorie s!

who Remembers?

Oh, and I almost forgot

on our walk down from the gondola YESTERDAY

into Wangen,

we found a little fridge by a farm where you can open and choose

fresh cheese, Sasage, etc.

Then a slot where you could just put your money

to pay for the item(s)

Sorry, I only realized that because of the

clothes I have on

in this picture!

And we ate slices of the cheeze we bought

along with some bread

on the hill beside a beautiful little church

in Lottaburger

Sunday at Noon

(I remember because the bells for the church were ringing)

side Note:

all the churches here have the same design

same bell towers

and they all ring their bells

for 5 mins at a time

at certain times of the day

( 5 minutes is a Long time)

The church was small inside

we went in and were able to spend a little

quiet time in prayer,

this beautiful Sunday Afternoon.

We had (have) allot to be thankful for

And I lit a candle for my loved ones!

(its like putting a name on the prayer roll in our Temples)

Another beautiful day!

After enjoying the afternoon wandering around this Pretty little town

we hopped on a train

back to Grindwald

where we wondered a bit more

then stopped for a little more icecream

before heading back to our apartment.

Time to pack up for the trip tomorrow for

Geneva → Paris

Saturday, September 21st

 today was a travel day

We left Zermatt for the Jungfrau region

on a train (Well, a few trains!)

We made it, but there were a few tense moments

as one of our trains was delayed at a station for a

malfunctioning door

we had only 10 mins for our connecting train

and the delay but us 9 mins behind!

We had to RUN!

But there was someone at the train giving directions

to everyone that was Running!

We made it!

Grindewald was in a beautiful valley

VERY touristy

more RUDE americans than we had encounterd

all trip

Every where else so far, everyone,

Americans included

were very nice folks.

Greg and I spent a meal Discussing 

all the different people we had met,

their stories and where they were from

and where they were going

Very interesting.

the green hills were amazing!

They really WERE this green!

And the mountains and peaks were

Spectacular

the Matterhorn was a sight to behold

but this area was

breathtaking

The view from our apartment

here in Grindwald 

We rode a gondola up to the midway point -

had a look around

So beautiful

then walked down a path that was shared by

the 3 wheeled carts people were riding.

Similar to the kickbikes we rode in Zermatt

but more like a

"BIG WHEEL"

nothing but brakes, big wheels and a seat.

looked like fun

but half of the people looked terrified

haha

the other half were

zooming at breakneck speeds!

We veered off that path (not soon enough for me!)

onto a Lovely path

where we stopped for a snack lunch of

cheeze and rolls

saw lots of sheep and cows grazing in the

greenest field I've ever seen

The large bells around their necks

ringing loudly!

I think all those animals must be

deaf by now!

after walking all the way

backdown to town

we found a nice Italian place for dinner.

The waitor was a hoot

and the young couple next to us were very friendly

with a fun story of how they met

during COVID

online

dating service

He was from the Netherlands

She was from Brazil

He thought, "my ex -girlfriend was an hour away,

I'm not doing that again!

Then I saw she was in Brazil and thought,

she probably won't like me anyway,

so I swiped on her.

She swiped on me 

we chatted and face timed everyday

until we finally met in Paris"

fun Story

I was so hungry when our food arrived

that I didn't stop for a picture till 

I was almost finished.

One weird thing about Switzerland is that

at restaraunts, they never want to rush you away,

so even if you are long finished your meal,

they never bring you your bill.

You have to wave them down and tell them you are

ready for the bill please.

same in Paris.

So by the time we left The restaraunt 

it was getting dark and Most shops were closed.

We went back to our apartment after a stop for

icecream bars

It was a warm night

and our apartment bed was in a loft

up a steep flight of stairs

fun, but warm up there

 

Friday September 20

 Well, we have come to the end of 
our stay in
Zermatt, Switzerland
Tomorrow morning we head
out on the train to
Grindwald, Switzerland

We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here .

We had a wonderful hotel

Perfectly situated.

our only complaint was,

no fridge

But, we found an alternative option,

since it was pretty cold at night,

we just left all our drinks, cheese, etc.

out on our patio

(in a protective bag since the birds Really liked our cheese)

worked Great!

So this morning...

As usual, we had a great sleep in this

DARK room.

But we did finally get up

and go downstairs for breakfast.

I think my body was telling me today,

" OK, that's enough cheese "

So I had toast with apricot jam

and a banana

Perfect

After breakfast we headed out to rent some

mountain bikes

We ended up with

full suspension E-bikes

So Fun.

(met a really nice couple from Ireland)

We rode up and up and up

got a little lost

but some amazing views

rode over a dam

and then up some more

came back the way we had come

down, down, down!

Good thing we had good brakes!

We needed them

Lunch back at our hotel

then out on the bikes again

This time we headed

to see the canyon Gorge

it was amazing !

But had to ride up and up to get there,

and then hike up and up

the Gorge.

on a narrow wooden bridge

attatched to the canyon wall.

pretty amazing.

All in all, a pretty great day of riding!

We rode back down,

toured a bit more of Zermatt that we had not

previously seen

then returned the bikes!

A little more shopping down main street

and then back to our hotel for dinner and to pack up.

When we arrived,

the hotel owners

(Who we had gotten to know pretty well)

told us that we had left

a pair of riding gloves at the Bike Shop,

I remembered putting mine down while returning

the bike,

But the owner said, 

" I'm going to visit my father in a little bit and 

will be going right by there,

I will pick them up for you!"

Service doesn't get much better than that!

So, We are winding down tonight

Sad to leave this beautiful place

with hopes of returning someday!

But either way

feel so lucky to have had this wonderful experience

in this amazing place called

Zermatt 

Thursday - Another fun one!

 We found ourselves sleeping in a bit this morning
amazing what
blackout curtains do!

Then it was down stairs to our yummy hotel breakfast.
more granola (fresh)
cheese and fruit

Yoghurt (also fresh)

breads galore

Then we were ready for the day!

We walked downtown

to the train station

Where we hopped on the

fanicular

a train like ride,

that travelled in a tunnel

nearly vertically!

Took us to

Sunegga, where we hopped on a

ski gondola

for another ride to another

station higher up

and then got off

only to get onto a Larger

Gondola

to an even

higher station

more great views

of all the

mountain ranges

mountain Lakes

trails and ski runs

then we rode the last 2 gondolas down again, 

and rented some

really fun

"kick bikes"

(stock photo cause we forgot to take one of us!)

Then we rode down on a trail/road

all the way back to the top of

the funicular train

but you can't take your bike on the

funicular,

so we went in an

Elevator

super fast

all the way down to town!

beautiful views through the forest

past little wooden houses, barns,

rivers and waterfalls

Each bike was equipped with a tiny 

Swiss style

cowbell

which was pretty loud!

And annoying at times,

so we tried to turn them

upside-down to lessen the

jingling

it didn't last long

After that really fun adventure 

We went to a little bakery we'd seen on the way

for a slice of chocolate cake (Greg)

and a soft Pretzel (me)

and some freshly squeezed 0.J.

delish

Then we wandered back through town,

stopped back at the watch store

where I purchased some

Swarski earrings

Then on to wander the streets again 

and stop in some new stores

Then a stop at the grocery store

to stock upon chocolate and sparkling water

for the hotel room

On our way back

we stopped at a big park area

where kids of all ages were...

playing!

kytes, bikes, swings, soccer balls,

ski conditioning activities

(a group of about 8 little kids and

an instructor, doing jumping skills etc.)

Teenagers playing sand volleyball

and trying to do backflips in the sand!

Then we headed back to the hotel

after watching the activities

for 30 mins. or so.

Back at the hotel

We sat on the patio and read in the sunshine

Till we got chilly

Then inside for an afternoon siesta

7:00 and we got dressed up and walked up the road

aways to a lovely hotel restaurant

for Yet another

fantastic meal

tomatoe soup with some kindof cheeze WE put in it

(at their recommendation)

then Steak and fries

(but not just steak - prime rib)

and fresh steamed veggies

No dessert because I couldn't finish my meal!

(that's a rule - don't eat all your dinner? No dessert)

of course after a welkin the dark,

under the beautiful stary night

beneath the towering mountains

back to our hotel

there was always

chocolate!

now

ZZZ!