There must be a rule in Switzerland:
Thou shalt not take photos unless the weather is absolutely beautiful.
Mikey and Iris and Kilian join us in Switzerland.
From various directions, we find each other at the "Meeting Point".
Zürich train station.
(My parents used to call it "The Center of the World."
Who knows?)
Zürich train station.
(My parents used to call it "The Center of the World."
Who knows?)
 |
| At - the actual - CENTER. The Meeting Point. Zürich Train Station. |
Our plan was to take the Glacier Express
This time in summer.
From St. Moritz to Zermatt.
Across the Alps.
I lived in Switzerland for 5 years
2 years in Zürich. 2 years in Geneva. And a year in Lugano.
As usual, Switzerland is postcard-beautiful.
We stayed in Samedan, a small town near St. Moritz before the trip.
Kilian had his first fondue.
A first for everything in life.
A first for everything in life.
 |
| Kilian, Trish, Stan, Iris and Mikey - Lunch up at the ski resort... |
 |
| ... with a view of the Matterhorn. |
Then off - on my birthday!
In a lovely panorama train car.
With (of course - it's Swiss law) perfect weather.
And lunch on board.
With schnapps.
And a Swiss goat.
With schnapps.
And a Swiss goat.
The Glacier Express is actually just a regular train route.
But now it has a name.
But you can get on and just - ride the "regular" train.
And see the same ridiculously beautiful scenery.
At the end of the trip, we rented a small place in Täsch.
Just outside the bustle of Zermatt.
I booked places just outside St. Moritz and Zermatt.
Less expensive.
Less crowded.
Same train. Same Alps.
 |
| Kilian, Mikey, Trish, Iris. Matterhorn in the background. |
Got a chance to do some good hiking and Alpine exploration.
Kilian even found a lake to jump into.
The view of the Matterhorn was unusually clear.
Perfect summer weather.
Then - Iris and Mikey had to return to Berlin.
Kilian returned to Boulder.
And Trish and Stan got back on another train.
At the moment, the Swiss franc is worth MORE than the US dollar.
When I last lived in Geneva, it was up to 3.9 francs - to the US dollar!
When I last lived in Geneva, it was up to 3.9 francs - to the US dollar!
About 25 cents.
(It was a fine time to be living there!)
I was Airport Manager in Zürich for Pan Am for 2 years.
Then - Director of French Switzerland in Geneva for another 2.
It was a pretty sweet life.
But - nice to return to Switzerland as a tourist instead.
Stan and I rented a small apartment for a few days.
In Montreux. With a balcony.
On the edge of Lake Geneva.
That gave us a chance to draw and play guitar.
Montreux - Château de Chillon - right ON Lake Geneva.
Switzerland is one of those countries where it's pretty excellent to visit.
And the Glacier Express?
Through the Alps?
With schnapps and a mountain goat?
-Can't really get much better than that.