Finally, Switzerland !

 What a beautiful country!  From first views, through breaks in the clouds, as our flight approached Zurich, the country is such a beautiful quilt of mountains, forests, manicured, fields, blending into neat homes, villages, and cities.  Upon landing at the airport, we walked off the plane and into the city of Zurich without being stopped at any checkpoints!  Un-needed form completions!  We are staying in the “altstadt”, old part of the city filled with amazing buildings of classic architectural design surrounded by endless cobblestone streets and alleyways.

                                       A cobblestone street in Zurich altstadt  

First challenge here was to find our way to the train station on the lower level of the flughafen, figure out which gleis (platform) to stand at, and then which car (1st or 2nd class) to enter.  Arriving at the hauptbahnhof, we stumbled through its many options (four levels including a shopping mall, intercity trains, local trains, trams, and busses.  By luck, we found the TI and discovered we were in the correct place to board a tram to our hotel.

This is our first trip where we rely mainly on train travel.  But it is appropriate for Switzerland.  As a visitor, I highly recommend the 25% discount on the Swiss Travel Pass that you qualify for.  This pass can be purchased online and applies to all public transportation throughout the country plus many museums and gondola rides.  The trains are frequent and serve all areas. Distances are short. Using the train, with its German-language signs and advisories, forces us to become more intimately connected with our surroundings. We can relax and take in all the scenery. The village of Wengen, our next destination, does not allow private vehicles.

                                  Homes viewed on a walk around Wengen

      The view from our hotel room in Wengen, Jungfrau Mountain

Wengen has proven to be heavenly.  The entire area is dominated by Jungfrau and other surrounding mountains.  The views are like from a storybook.  Reminded me of the children’s story HEIDI. Small herds of cattle graze on grassy hillsides.  Each is fitted with a cow bell which can be heard from afar. On steeper slopes, sheep and goats are kept.  These are small fields with intervening forest or rocky outcroppings.

                                         Goats are kept on the steeper slopes

       The village of Wengen as seen from an ascending gondola.

The entire region is interconnected by trails, gondolas, and cog rail trains. Everything runs on time in a seamless fashion.  There is no trash visible; all buildings are well-kept. Switzerland is first class and at first class prices.

We have been corresponding with the owners at Hotel Edelweiss for almost 18 months due to our previous trip being Covid cancelled, while our deposit was still there.  We received updates on tourism, their personal situation, and a Christmas letter; so, it was a friendly correspondence.  Now we were able to meet the owners and staff.