Survivor Basel

Jungfraujoch Top of Europe

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:41:28 +0100

So my blog has to have at least 10 posts before I can list it in the directory. This sounds like an excellent reason to tell you about some of the trips we have taken over the past few months.

One of the most spectacular was a day trip to Jungfraujoch Top of Europe. We left from the Basel SBB in the morning and made it to the top at about 1:30 pm. There are a few train changes, but nothing stressful... the trains do get smaller and a little more crowded as you go up though. The cog train makes 2 stops for viewing once it enters the mountain. They make the announcement that you have 5 minutes... TAKE IT! The trains don't make the viewing stops on the way down, and the views are amazing! If you click on the photo below, you will be directed to my online photo album for the trip. But the pictures don't do it justice.

The mountain trains depart from Interlaken. This is a great little place to use as a jumping-off point for several adventures in the area. The next time we go, we plan to stay at the Lindner Grand Hotel although reviews tend to be mixed. I can make a suggestion as to where not to stay, especially if you are traveling with a family or prefer not to sleep above a few strip clubs. Interlaken is also where you would change trains to go to Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum which is definately a must see for anyone in Switzerland.

Anyway, back to Jungfraujoch. We went straight to the Crystal Restaurant once we got to the top as we were very hungry and a little dizzy from the altitude change. The views are amazing and most of the tables are right next to the windows. You will see pictures that my wonderful husband took of me and the view if you follow the picture link above. I ordered pork schnitzel and egg noddles and he ordered the Fondue, not knowing that it is largly wine and Kirsch. He doesn't drink alcohol or eat pork, so he ate my noodles. I tried the Fondue (my first Fondue also) and it was too strong for me as well.

There is a place to walk around inside of the ice (looked like a glacier to me) and a few places to walk around outside and take pictures. It was a very cloudy day in Switzerland, but we were way above the clouds (as you will see in the pictures) and people were sitting on the observatory deck in their ski coats and gloves sunning themselves in the warm rays.

We went back down the mountain as the sun was setting. The great thing about riding the trains is that you can take a nap on your way to your next adventure (which is exactly what my wonderful husband did). When we got to Interlaken, we went to Des Alpes Restaurant and Bar for dinner and dessert. They have good food, good service, interesting decor, and very good desserts.

Then we got on the train and were safe and sound in our apartment by 10:30. It was a great trip! No we didn't ski or sled, but there are many opportunities to do both if you're into that sort of thing. We might go back one weekend to go sledding. And you can take dog-sled rides in the Summer. This is definately a place you don't want to miss.

What is your favorite Swiss day trip?

Onion Festival, Bern, Switzerland

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:53:55 +0100

I missed the Onion Festival I'm Bern this year because it was just too
cold and wet. Nancy at the AWC brought me back an onion wreath (which
is why people go). This is a picture of it. Very old tradition...

Weekend in Interlaken, Switzerland

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:45:34 +0100

I'll get the rest of the pictures up soon.

Locarno, Ticino, Switzerland

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:30:56 +0200

Please click on the photo above to be linked to pictures from our trip. I suggest that you also open a window with a Google Map of Locarno to see what I'm describing.

A Fun Weekend in Switzerland

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:37:37 +0200

Good Morning everyone! My Wonderful Husband left for Munich this morning at about 7. I went back to bed and woke up to the sound of a Jack-Hammer outside my bedroom window. I really do live in the city.

It rained most of the day Saturday. My Wonderful Husband and I stayed in Basel and stopped by one of the apartments that I looked at this past week. We also went to the Jean Tinguely Museum. Here is a link for you... http://www.tinguely.ch/ He seemed to specialize in assembling found items into moving sculptures. Very interesting stuff.

Sunday we went to Luzern. It is beautiful city on a lake. It rained most of the time we were there... except the sun came out when we were ready to leave. We went to a Picasso Museum... http://www.rosengart.ch/index_e.html this was amazing. The Ms. Rosengart and her father were friends of the artist, and the museum is full of her collection... including several portraits that Picasso created of her! Luzern is a beautiful place but because of the weather, the pictures Mike took of the scenery didn't run out very well. So I am attaching a picture he took of me while we were on the site-seeing cruise on the lake. If you want to learn more about Luzern (also spelled Lucerne) you can go to http://www.luzern.com/en/welcome.cfm. We plan to go back on a day that the weather is better. We also didn't have the right clothes with us for this kind of day. When we get our shipment, things will be easier.

OK, I'm going to IKEA today to look around at furniture. I also need a plastic container to store Orange juice in. Mayo comes in a tube, Milk and OJ come in a cardboard "brick" or bag that you cut open (making it messy to use and store), and granola comes in a bag. Someone warned me that packaging would be different... was it Kathryn or Mari?

Ciao!!!