This is going to be a quick post, since it really is just about the mountain.
Zermatt, for those who don’t know, is a mountain town at the base of the famous Matterhorn (not just a ride at Disney). I loved finally seeing the Matterhorn, but didn’t care much for Zermatt. The town is REALLY f*cking expensive and I found it to lack a soul. Or, the quote Herb Caen when he wrote about a certain CA city, there’s no there there.
The mountains are stunning and you can take a couple of expensive gondola trips to the top. One of these is worth doing. Don’t do both. If I had to pick one, it would be the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. The views of the mountain are incredible and you get to go inside a glacier, an opportunity that probably won’t be available for much longer. The endless string of camera wielding tourists going through the glacier probably aren’t helping things.
I am going to leave you with a nice slide show of the scenery. Penguin really enjoyed being in the cold again.
Matterhorn view from town
Happy traveler
More mountain
I love the clouds
They move in and out all day
Color is nice too
I am probably too old to try this, but it looks like a blast
The Bernina Express train near Alp Grum in the Swiss Alps
I‘m on the top of the wor-ld, lookin’ down on creation…..That song went through my head a lot while I was in Switzerland.
After our time in Alsace (FR), we headed for Switzerland. Fresh air, Mountain views…Ahhh. We took the Bernina Expess and the Glacier Express. These two train rides are considered among the most scenic in the world and are part of a network of scenic trains. On my next visit, which will be during winter months, I can connect all the scenic trains and see all the mountains. Can’t wait!
The Bernina Express connects the towns of CHUR and TIRANO (in Italy). I got off the train in Poschiavo, still in Switzerland.
Chur itself doesn’t have much that is terribly interesting, but it is a big enough town that you can get in and out on regular trains to see the surrounding areas. One of things that is close by and fabulous is the Rhine Gorge. It is called the “Grand Canyon of Switzerland” which I think is a bit inaccurate. This gorge IS amazing, but it is alpine and the Grand Canyon is desert. Anyway, It still loved it and loved the hike around it.
Slideshow
After Chur I took the train to Poschiavo. This is a great little town. It’s in Switzerland, but the language and culture are all Italian. It is situated on a beautiful lake which made for nice walks. I loved everything about this little town and hope to visit again some day (again, when there is snow). From Poschiavo you can go back up in to the mountains to see the view you rode past on the way down. If you ever take the Bernina express, make mental notes of the towns that looked nice then go back on the local train.
Slideshow
Close to Poschiavo is the wonderful Glacier Garden at Cavaglia. The local canton (Swiss for county) have spent a fortune making this place accessible and easy to visit. It’s only open in the summer months and as you walk around you understand why. It would be TREACHEROUS in ice.
Slideshow
The mountains of Switzerland are truly amazing. I would have loved to have been there a month earlier for more snow views. I hope to return to see the areas in all their winter glory some day soon.
TRIP TIPS
Switzerland is VERY expensive. Your best option in this stunning country is self catering lodging; AirBnB or Aparthotels. Save money by cooking in your hotel. Even the simplest of lunches will run you $35/person. COOP is the local chain and I found most of them to be quite good.
Switzerland does not use the Euro. If you have a Euro debit/credit card, check foreign transaction fees before using.
The scenic trains like the Glacier Express and Bernina Express are lovely and have big, panoramic windows. However, they do not open. Taking a local train won’t have the same amenities, but you can open the windows to get better pictures. I think the best way to do this, if you have time, is to take the panoramic train and make notes then take a local train, getting on an off in the places that looked the nicest.
