Switzerland is lovely
Scott and I and some friends of ours here - Damon, Alisha, Molly - went to Muerren last weekend for a long weekend of skiing/snowboarding (Scott, Damon, Alisha) and rest, relaxation, hiking about the area (Diana, Molly, Gibby, DeeDee), and prosecco and good food (all). It's such a great little town - no cars and very small 'crowds.' It is a wee little town located high up in the Alps (1650 meters, about 5400 feet) that can only be reached by gondola (straight up) or funicular railway (also straight up). Its main clame to fame is that it is at the base of the Schilthorn, which has a revolving restaurant called the Piz Gloria at the top, which was in the James Bond movie, Her Majesty's Secret Service, or something like that - I'm not a big Bond fan myself. For photos of the area, click the "Photo Albums" link to the right and click on "Muerren (1)", or try this link.
We had such a great time, it's so beautiful and peaceful - and according to those who ski, great slopes as well. Molly and I and the dogs took the two gondolas from the base at Muerren up to the top of Schilthorn to go to the Piz Gloria restaurant. Well, it was a warmish sunny day when we set out, with two small quivering dogs...which always gets me looks, because people think they're freezing (they may be chilly, but really they're just nervous in crowds - particularly in loud crowds with skis, big clunky boots and sharp poles, who aren't necessarily looking out for wee dogs underfoot) and that I'm not a good dog mommy. Oh well, I don't know enough German/Japanese/French/etc. to explain that the dogs all but refuse to wear their jackets. Anyhow...we went up these majorly steep gondolas, which take you from about 5500 feet to over 10,000 feet in about 12 minutes total. I got a little motion sick on the way up because of the slight bouncing of the gondola car. Then when we got to the top, it was clear a storm was starting to blow in, which made me nervous I admit. It didn't help that we were sitting in a rotating restaurant when I was already nauseated, not to mention lightheaded from the altitude. I didn't even take any pictures up there, and ate only half a bowl of soup and had a Coke to settle my stomach. But I did appreciate the view before it was obscured by clouds and blowing snow.
Blowing snow. VERY blowing snow. While we were up there, they closed the gondolas and the restaurant, and told us we all had to go back down on the next downward gondola. I was already barfy and dealing with two shaky dogs, I was not looking forward to a windy downward trip. The wind was HOWLING unbelievably. I was not too interested in climbing into a wee glass box and hurtling downhill in it. I was not a Happy Camper. But we all sucked it up and made it back down to the bottom with relatively little incident. Scott met us at the bottom and that was good. :-)
Altogether, a really good weekend. We are going again next weekend for five days - to escape from the Fasnacht bands going all day and all night in our neighborhood. If the weather is dependably good, instead of flukily good, I may attempt the Schilthorn ride again - and this time take some photos of the incredible views across the top of the Alps. Come join us!
We had such a great time, it's so beautiful and peaceful - and according to those who ski, great slopes as well. Molly and I and the dogs took the two gondolas from the base at Muerren up to the top of Schilthorn to go to the Piz Gloria restaurant. Well, it was a warmish sunny day when we set out, with two small quivering dogs...which always gets me looks, because people think they're freezing (they may be chilly, but really they're just nervous in crowds - particularly in loud crowds with skis, big clunky boots and sharp poles, who aren't necessarily looking out for wee dogs underfoot) and that I'm not a good dog mommy. Oh well, I don't know enough German/Japanese/French/etc. to explain that the dogs all but refuse to wear their jackets. Anyhow...we went up these majorly steep gondolas, which take you from about 5500 feet to over 10,000 feet in about 12 minutes total. I got a little motion sick on the way up because of the slight bouncing of the gondola car. Then when we got to the top, it was clear a storm was starting to blow in, which made me nervous I admit. It didn't help that we were sitting in a rotating restaurant when I was already nauseated, not to mention lightheaded from the altitude. I didn't even take any pictures up there, and ate only half a bowl of soup and had a Coke to settle my stomach. But I did appreciate the view before it was obscured by clouds and blowing snow.
Blowing snow. VERY blowing snow. While we were up there, they closed the gondolas and the restaurant, and told us we all had to go back down on the next downward gondola. I was already barfy and dealing with two shaky dogs, I was not looking forward to a windy downward trip. The wind was HOWLING unbelievably. I was not too interested in climbing into a wee glass box and hurtling downhill in it. I was not a Happy Camper. But we all sucked it up and made it back down to the bottom with relatively little incident. Scott met us at the bottom and that was good. :-)
Altogether, a really good weekend. We are going again next weekend for five days - to escape from the Fasnacht bands going all day and all night in our neighborhood. If the weather is dependably good, instead of flukily good, I may attempt the Schilthorn ride again - and this time take some photos of the incredible views across the top of the Alps. Come join us!
posted by Swizzies at 11:26
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