This is a Youth Hostel

Swiss youth hostels are amazing, actually the average staying is 50.
Great places at great rates

Ciao!!

The Alps

Hi all, well the weather didn't clear, no hiking so had to buy a ticket to get above the clouds. Went up the famous Schilthorn where 007-Her Majesty's Secret Service was shot. And here it is, got above the clouds - you see the big three here, left to right the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. An amazing site, wish I could hike under them. Stayed in the little town of Gimmelwald, incredible hostel, beer bar and the best food in town. Beautiful little village high up on the mountain. Will try again tomorrow to get a hike in, but if not on to Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Bern has an old city, wrapped around by a river, it's a World Heritage Site.
-Bill

Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland

Hi all, yes now I really am in the Alps!
The weather is turning, I'm finally going to get a hike in!
Will be back with you with some pictures.

-Bill

August 15 - Bettmeralp

Ok, now I'm in the Alps!
-Bill

Bellinzona - Locarno - Lugano

Hi again all, August 13 - 15, 2010

Got a chance to visit 3 beautiful southern Swiss cities, deep in Italian zone (Chao!)
Bellinzona (meaning war zone), has World Heritage site medieval castles, 3 of them. It's in a deep valley, on a High knowl, perfect for a defensive castle. Built back in medieval times it became the site of many battles between the Germanic tribes in the north and the Italians in the south. Also played a role in WWW II.
Locarno has a film festival each year at this time, tried to catch the last day but got rained out!
Here we go again, no hikes...but getting touring in. Lugano also, a wonderful city on the lake.
Saturday morning caught the Sat morning market, an impressive street fair, cheeses, veggies, crafts.

Tomorrow head for the REAL alps, hope to hike by a glacier....

Yours in travel
Bill

Luzern - Rain, Rain Go Away

August 11-12, Luzern

Hi all,

Well no hiking today, rain all day. Decided to go to the Transportation museum. Amazing place, again the Swiss know how to do museums. Where else do you have a commercial airliner and a cutaway of a steam engine. Fun museum ( I guess for engineers) But very kid friendly, they ride all over the museum in scooters. Tomorrow, will head to south Switzerland in the Italian portion of Switzerland. This will be a challenge, 4 different languages. Do I say Guten tag, Bonjourno, or Bonjour!

Luzern is a beautiful city, and changes very little over the years. I was here in 1964, in my college days. I compared a picture I took then of the river edge near the old water tower bridge, no noticeable change. :). Try that in Southern California !

Catch you down South - Arrivaderchi

- Bill

Appenzeller Town

August 11 - Train to St. Gallen

August 11, St. Gallen, Switzerland

Hi all,
Well I find myself catching up on the blog. Several days of busy traveling and difficulty finding Wi-Fi..here we go:

The main train station in Zurich is one of the largest in Europe. Lot's going on here, check out the arrival/departure board! The Swiss have this system down, all trains amazingly on time. Boards tell you exactly when train will arrive. Makes it easy. Went east out to St. Gallen, small city with a World Heritage site Monastery and Library. Look at pic of the Library, delicately carved shelves, floor. Ancient books many medieval and some dating back to 300BC. Then went to Apenzeller town, cute little country town with it's own, conservative culture. Here the town votes in the main square by a show of hands!!

On to Luzern tomorrow, hope weather holds up.
-Bill