M2. Thun cheese market & Kambly biscuit factory - 8 Oct

A city day, a mountain day and today a food oriented day. Packed our cases ready for this afternoon's relocation to Heiligenschwendi then travelled down to Thun which was in full swing market mode. In the Balitz area additional stalls offered cheeses of every variety from areas near and far. The tastes were very varied and I am sure one would become a connoisseur of cheese if one lived here for long. As usual I have too many photos to choose from!

   

 

Stopped for a short time to listen to the music associated with the cheese festival.

 

Next we caught the train to Konolfingen and on to Langnau then a bus to Traubschachen were the Kambly biscuit factory is located. Here they offer free tastings of the huge range of buiscuits both sweet and savoury. On a previous visit we had just come from a meal elsewhere, this time we arrived around lunch time! That said, we mostly shared 1/2 a biscuit each as there are so many to sample. Have to say we were tempted enough to buy a few varieties to take home. Had drinks in their resturant before reversing the trip back to Goldiwil. There are some wonderful farm houses, guest houses and churches in this region. I tried to catch photos of them as we past.

Collected our cases from the store room and caught the bus to Heiligenschwendi were we were met by our smiling land lady and driven to the little chalet which will be 'home' for just over two weeks. 

 And now as I prepare to sleep I hear the landlord across the road playing the trumpet and good memories of our previous time here come flooding back.

M1. Trümmelbach & Lauterbrunnen 7 Oct

After a foggy start we were again blessed with a sunny blue sky day. Today we made our way back to Interlaken and on up to Lauterbrunnen. We were surprised and delighted to be in the same train carriage as a lovely Chinese girl who travelled through the Simme valley with us yesterday. Photos were taken and addresses exchanged - one of the joys of travelling. From Lauterbrunnen we saw her on her way to Murren and the Shilthorn and we took bus 141 along to the Trümmelbach falls. There is no way that photos can help describe the experience. Firstly you take the lift up inside the mountain to around the sixth level of the falls which were cut down through the mountain hundreds of years ago. From there you can walk up to the top which was a little bit intimidating for me. Luckily the roar of the water drowned out the odd expletive that may have escaped my lips! I have to say I became much braver for the walk back down. The falls are so impressive as the huge volume of water twists and turns through the canyons it has created.

 

The view out of the mountain from certain vantage points was also great and gives some perspective to the height you reach inside.

At the bottom we decided to walk back to Lauterbrunnen and just enjoy the peace and grandeur of the valley and the surrounding mountains. A few minutes after we set of we were 'dive bombed' by a base jumper in his dark red winged suit, who flew directly over our heads, skimmed over the tree I was walking under and landed in the field a few meters away. For once my camera was not open and it all happened so quickly I did not capture it, though I did photograph his mate landing a few seconds later. This is such a dangerous sport and it was scary just to watch it! There is also a constant stream of hang gliders drifting off the various mountains.

 

My camera ran hot for the rest of the walk with a photo opportunity every few steps along the way.

After a brief shopping stop in Interlaken we headed back to Goldiwil and then later we made our way over to Heiligenschwendi for choir practice. So good to see all our friends again and to be introduced to some great new songs.

L1. Sion 6 Oct - part 1

Woke to the promise of another blue sky day. At Thun station we met a Swiss friend whom we originally met on a Schiff on Thunersee in 2014. Together we set off for Visp where we had a quick look around. I love looking at the florist shops they have such creative ideas.

From Visp we caught the train to Sion and immediately transferred to a bus to La Morge   From here we walked down to, and around a small lake which is a bird sanctuary and today it also had lovely reflections od the surrounding hills.

After a short time we caught the bus back to the old part of Sion. Such an interesting city dominated by two hills one with the ruins of the Chateau Tourbilon and the other with the intact Eglise de Valerie. This is a French speaking area of Switzerland and some knowledge of the language is very useful.      

 

 We decided to climb up to the Valère Bascilica and found a little resturant there that served superb quiche with salad for lunch. Next we looked inside the church which we all agreed was special because of its age and simplicity. The pipe organ was quite unique and I loved the old doors and gates.

 

One more photo selected from many - this shows the Flag of Canton Valais along with the Swiss flag.

L2. Montreux 6 October - part 2

After a great morning in Sion we decided to extend the day by continuing on to Montreux for coffee (as you do!) The train passes through the hilly vineyards of Valais, the city on Martigny and Aigle (which is on our itinerary for later). Difficult to photograph from the train because of overhead wires.

 After a passing glimpse of Chateau Chilon we arrived in Montreux. Walked a small section of the lakeside promenade. Delighted to find that this year's sculpture theme is 'music'. I managed to photograph a lot of them so feel another photo book coming on! 

 

Caught the train up over the pass to Zweisimmen. Great view looking back for a last glimpse of Lac Leman shining in the late afternoon sun.

Difficult to photograph the beautiful Jaun Pass and Simmental as the light deminished but here is one of the nicely decorated station at Saanen. Altogether a wonderful day!

 

K2. Lucerne and Meggen Castle - 5 Oct

Yesterday was a mountain day so today was a city day. Took the train through the Emmental to Lucern where the annual Autumn festival is underway. The area around the lake near the train station has a fun fair atmosphere with rides and stalls by the dozens. There was a wide variety of items for sale including the specialty cookies in heart shapes with messages on them - Lebkuchenherzen.

 

This ride is certainly not for the faint hearted especially as the cold fog is still hanging in the air!     

From this area we then did a quick walk up to and across the covered bridge with its beautiful flower boxes. Although we have been over it a number of times in the past a visit to Lucern would not be complete without seeing the bridge and the old town behind it.

 

 

 

From the city we caught a bus to Meggen Lerchenbühl and walked down to Schloss Meggenhorn (Castle). This is a private estate on the shores of the lake. Although all the views were not visible it was good to be able to explore the extensive grounds, gardens and vineyards. There were Gardeners busy with precise hedge trimming and also the vineyard was a hive of activity with the grape harvest in full swing.

 

   

We wandered down to the lake to the huge statue which we had photographed from the boat on a previous trip

We walked on from the castle grounds to Meggen passing more impressive houses and estates on the way. I liked this little building in the grounds of one of the estates

 

From here we walked up to the bus and made our way back to Lucern station for our trip back home through the Emmental. One more photo from the bus as we crossed the bridge near Lucern station showing the Canton flag, ship with Swiss flag and Ferris wheel in the background.

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