Sharing Some Science in Switzerland :)

[ellen10]

Loving the photos.
When we were in Lucerne 2 years ago in September we did the exact same round trip to Mount Pilatus. It is a fantastic trip. After spending some time at the top the weather changed and we got snow. I love your views at the top. On our cable car trip down we heard many of the musical cow bells.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Yes.. This trip is so good I am thinking to include some Switzerland in my next trip to Europe in September.. Now using this trip to find the best places to share with Mr Up

 

[ellen10]

Yes.. This trip is so good I am thinking to include some Switzerland in my next trip to Europe in September.. Now using this trip to find the best places to share with Mr Up

On our trip we flew into Milan, spent 3 days in Bellagio and then trained it to Torino to pick up the Bernina Express.
We spent 2 nights in Lucerne, 4 in Wengen and another 2 in Montreux. We then caught a train up into Germany to continue our holiday.
We bought a Swiss 8 day travel pass. (you get a discount for the second traveller). This pass allowed us to jump on any train, bus, tram or boat at any time so made it very flexible with activities and weather. Also gave 50% discount on the mountain excursions like the Jungfrau. Certainly got our monies worth. The Bernina Express is a very expensive trip on its own. The trip down to Montreux is called the Golden Pass also a beautiful picturesque trip.
Loved our experience.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

On our trip we flew into Milan, spent 3 days in Bellagio and then trained it to Torino to pick up the Bernina Express.
We spent 2 nights in Lucerne, 4 in Wengen and another 2 in Montreux. We then caught a train up into Germany to continue our holiday.
We bought a Swiss 8 day travel pass. (you get a discount for the second traveller). This pass allowed us to jump on any train, bus, tram or boat at any time so made it very flexible with activities and weather. Also gave 50% discount on the mountain excursions like the Jungfrau. Certainly got our monies worth. The Bernina Express is a very expensive trip on its own. The trip down to Montreux is called the Golden Pass also a beautiful picturesque trip.
Loved our experience.

Heading to Montreux this morning

 

[ellen10]

Heading to Montreux this morning

Beautiful trip down by train. Take your photo with Freddie

 

[anat0l]

Beautiful trip down by train. Take your photo with Freddie

Depends on whether she takes the Golden Pass, or just the normal route via Lausanne. The latter is still a great trip (at least when you haven't ridden the route too regularly - ah who am I kidding, it's a great view) - the view from Bern to Lausanne as you pass on the high track over the Lavaux vineyards is great, with a view of Lake Geneva (or Lac Léman as it is called by the locals). Then, when you take the S train from Lausanne to Montreux, you take the low track which is closer to the lake, and get a view of the same vineyards but from the bottom.

 

[ellen10]

anat0l, we did that trip in reverse on our way up to Basel via Bern.
Stunnng countryside, great trains.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

I did the normal train and it was quite scenic. Happy to be at the hotel now though. A big day of travel from Zurich to Bern, out to my hotel to drop off my bags which is about 20 minutes out of town, then back to Bern, to Lusanne, to Montreux. Bus to Chateau de Chillon. Tour around the Chateau then back to Montreux for lunch before training back to Bern.. First tram was at 6:30 and last tram was 16:00.. My Coop Travel Card certainly got a work out today! The man opposite me on the train had to pay 97CHF for a one way ticket to Zurich.. Thanks to anat0l I had a whole day of travel for 49CHF

Photos to follow but first things first... where is the champagne in this place??

 

[anat0l]

... where is the champagne in this place??

Should be enough places in Bern to get bubbly. Coop stores, or at least the bigger ones, tend to offer a good selection of alcohol, but not Migros.

Alternatively, there are many alcohol shops around the place, but they don't necessarily open late, especially if they aren't in or near the train station, so hop to it!

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Should be enough places in Bern to get bubbly. Coop stores, or at least the bigger ones, tend to offer a good selection of alcohol, but not Migros.

Alternatively, there are many alcohol shops around the place, but they don't necessarily open late, especially if they aren't in or near the train station, so hop to it!

Thanks Anat0l.. I sussed out the Coop champagne situation when I was in Zurich.. so imagine my disappointment when my local Coop closed at 5pm! Very sad.. thought I was stuck with another horrible jar dinner from the Novotel when I noticed the Asian food expo across the road.. so some Pad Thai and some cheap Swiss white wine (courtesy of the Novotel) saved me from a trip back into town

By the way.. if you find yourself at a Novotel and see this.. I recommend strongly against it.. I was very disappointed

 

[anat0l]

By the way.. if you find yourself at a Novotel and see this.. I recommend strongly against it.. I was very disappointed
View attachment 54828

Ah, now I know what you mean.

Oy vey, not only are some of those selections rather odd (I'm all for innovation, but to put these into jars - come on!) but those prices really bite. I've heard of degustations before but this is ridiculous.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Ah, now I know what you mean.

Oy vey, not only are some of those selections rather odd (I'm all for innovation, but to put these into jars - come on!) but those prices really bite. I've heard of degustations before but this is ridiculous.

Yep.. they are tiny and uninteresting.. bland and soggy and expensive... The sooner this trend ends the better

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Day 7: Zurich – Bern – Montreux - Bern
Well it was a big day of travelling today.. started early on the tram to Zurich Train Station at 6:30am. Train from Zurich to Bern was quick and easy. A happy little welcome to Bern – hot air balloons.


Then it was a tram out to my hotel to dump my bags.. tram back to Bern. Train to Lusanne (I think this photo is just before Lusanne).


After changing trains in Lusanne it was a train to Montreux and bus to Chateau de Chillon. Another interesting collection of ceilings (and a window shot for Amaroo)… And some great murals.


There was some interesting history including that Francois Bonivard was imprisoned here for 6 years… Lord Byron wrote a poem about him - “The Prisoner of Chillon”. Below are pictures of the dungeon and the carving that Lord Byron made of his name when he visited the prison.


But for me mostly it is a pretty fort-like Chateau on Lake Geneva And yes.. it was another gorgeous Swiss summers day here.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

After some fort inspection it was back to Montreux to pay respects to Freddie Mercury then reward myself with lunch and a glass or two of champagne before heading back to Bern

 

[ellen10]

Ahh brings back lots of good memories UpInTheAir.
You made the most of your day! Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[robd]

Great trip report. Heading over that way next June, probably landing in ZRH. Wasn't sure there was much there to see and do, but now I think we shall have a few days there.

Thanks for posting.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Day 8: Bern – Zermatt (Matterhorn) - Bern
It was another early start but so worth it.. Sunrise on the train from Bern to Visp:


In Visp I met up with Anat0l and we embarked on our mountain adventure! Train from Visp to Zermatt was also scenic (I don’t think there are any non-scenic parts of Switzerland) and Zermatt itself was very cute. There are only electric cars (taxis pictured) and most of the buildings both old and new are in the old style.

We then took the gondolas to The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (see map) and enjoyed seeing the Matterhorn, snow, glaciers, ice sculptures, everything!.. and now it gets tricky… The views are amazing… so which pictures to choose... Maybe everyone needs to come to my Champagne Slide show on Friday Here is a selection..


And of course this.. Even out on the snow it was still warm enough for me in shorts and a t-shirt. And even on the top of the mountain the food and wine was good (in addition to the view)!

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

And some more Zermatt.. This place is so overly beautiful it is impossible!


Then it was back to Bern for some glimpses of this UNESCO listed city which is extremely clean and very cute


Last night in Bern and the trip back to Zurich before home..

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Day 9: Bern – Zurich
After the massive day on Sunday I decided to take it easy on Monday and leisurely make my way from Bern to Zurich. Arriving at the Park Hyatt, Zurich reminded me why I love this hotel chain. Anyone that missed my ramblings about how much I love the Park Hyatt in the Hyatt thread here is a briefish summary… The staff are fantastic… everyone is here to make your stay the best it possibly can be. I think it comes down to company policy and intensive staff training but everyone you encounter from reception, restaurant, house-keeping and front door have the skills, desire and authority to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Reception provided me with a late check-out at no additional charge, restaurant staff remembered my name and champagne preference, housekeeping were attentive and accurate in filling my requests… and this doesn’t include the hotel itself which is comfortable and classy with a fantastic wine list. It’s not cheap but I strongly recommend it.. stay on points (like I did).. it is amazing!

Day 10 – Zurich
Today is my last day in Switzerland before my plane home.. I am sitting in the Park Hyatt lounge bar with a glass of champagne and a plateful of summer berries and it is with a touch of sadness that I write this last report. Today it was overcast but still warm (24[SUP]o[/SUP]C).. This made it a bit easier to climb the 187 stairs to the top of the cathedral! Views from the cathedral towards Zurich, out to the lake and of the cathedral itself.


I also had a lovely stroll along the river just before the rain came.

Switzerland is certainly a very beautiful country and I strongly recommend it. Highlights included the glacier trip (Matterhorn) from Zermatt and the trip up Mount Pilatus (from Lucerne).. The mountains were certainly a highlight! But the helpful people, the clean and safe cities, the musical cows and the wonderful public transport just make this one of the best places I have visited

 

[ellen10]

What a fantastic trip you had.
Great photos. Thanks for sharing.