Switzerland - Part lV

Here are some random pictures I took during our trip. Fun, fun fun!

Left to right:

1) Swiss license plate detail. Think the bear crest signifies the region we were in.
2) Swiss cat
3) Shutter detail
4) Pig sign out in front of a deli
5) Laederach - Swiss chocolate that is sold in those square sheets. Pieces are broken off and then weighed when you buy. Yes, we indulged.
6) Large garden gnomes seen in Gimmelwald. These guys were about 3 feet high.
7) Hilarious decal on the doggie poop bag dispenser
8) Charming carved wooden figures in a window box in Gimmelwald
9) How we spent our mornings . . .on the terrace, in front of the Eiger with coffee and maps
10) NOT from Switzerland, but from a stop in the Alsace region of France. Alsace is known for these storks.

Switzerland - Part lll

Cows. That's right, cows. Grindelwald was sprinkled with gorgeous, happy looking cows. The sound of their bells provided a pleasant soundtrack to our visit.

We purchased some cheese that was made in Grindelwald from local milk and enjoyed it with our dinner the last evening. It was made by the shop keeper's husband. He was about ready to make his 2009 batch.

I panicked at the end of our trip when I realized I hadn't photographed any cows. Bryce was kind enough to stop at a pasture as we drove out of town so I could document these happy Swiss cows.

Eva like them too.

Switzerland - Part ll

Naturally I'll think of the moutains when I remember our time in Grindelwald. After all, the moutains are what brought us there.

Grindelwald is surrounding by mountains. It is a hikers paradise as it is full of trails through the country side and up into the mountains.

There are many little villages scattered up in the mountains from Grindelwald. There are trams, gondolas and trains that can easily transport you there. We took a 5 minute tram ride to Gimmelwald, a charming little village just above Grindelwald.


On the last day of our trip we ventured up the Jungfrau by train to the Jungfraujoch, The Top of Europe. To the Jungfraujoch it is a 50 minute train ride from Grindelwald, much of it in a tunnel inside the Jungfrau. The Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe. Once at the top we took in the views & walked through the Ice Palace (more like ice caves.)

More from our Swiss adventure next week! Believe it or not we're off to Kassel, Germany for the weekend. I'll tell you all about it when we return.

Switzerland

Switzerland. Seems like ages ago, but it wasn't. My life is whizzing by at the speed of light right now. Living in the moment? Bah! Being present? Not a chance. I'm riding the roller coaster and holding on tight. It's going fast. I like the ups more than the downs.

We went to Grindelwald, Switzerland. We spent 4 nights. We went with my in-laws. I think that's all the background info you need.

Switzerland is probably the most beautiful country in Europe. So picturesque, green and clean. Bryce and I went there in 1996, right out of college. At that time Bryce was chasing the Matterhorn. This time the Eiger was calling his name. The mighty Eiger. It didn't disappoint. It couldn't disappoint. All we had to do was go out to the terrace of our chalet to take in it's glory. And we did. In the morning with coffee and in the evening with beer or wine. Sometimes both.

I will remember this trip to Switzerland for a few different reasons - today I'm going to share the first reason with you - WILD FLOWERS!

Much to our surprise the wild flowers were in full bloom during our trip. There must have been over 20 varieties that we observed. They were so beautiful. A perfect accent to the massive and jagged Swiss Alps.

The wild flowers became even more wonderful when I saw how much the girls were enjoying them. Picking bouquets along our walk to see Switzerland's largest waterfall. Oooo and ahhing over the pink Queen Anne's Lace, deciding that forget-me-nots were Mom's favorite.

I loved their curiosity and interest in nature. We found a handful of flowers that we couldn't identify. This one was so strange and beautiful I had to photograph it. Thanks to my stealth googling skills, found out it is Silene Vulgaris or Bladder Campion.

Eva also endured another childhood right of passage during her bouquet making - her first nettle sting. Actually she got stung quite badly but she handled it like a trooper. It was most impressive.

I looked through the stores in Grindelwald for a wild flower guide or poster or something that would remind the girls of the wild flowers. No luck. Maybe someday they'll read this post and remember.

Tomorrow - more Swiss impressions.