Thursday, Aug 31
Friday, Sep 1
Saturday, Sep 2
Sunday, Sep 3
Monday, Sep 4
Tuesday, Sep 5
Wednesday, Sep 6
Thursday, Sep 7
Friday, Sep 8
Saturday, Sep 9
Sunday, Sep 10
Friday, Sep 1 - The Alps
Slept 11 hours! Had a fantastic breakfast, again with a mountain view. Then we went down and got on the cable car to go up to the summit of Mt. Titlis, about 10,000 feet. It took 3 stops to transfer and go higher. The last cable car, the “Rotair,” rotated slowly as we ascended, so everyone could get a good view.
I’ve never seen such perfect sky and such spectacular views. Wow. Cows with bells that tinkled like wind chimes. Snow, huge fir and blue spruce, glaciers, craggy peaks.
At the top we got to tour a glacier cave and walk on the glacier and throw snowballs. Warm enough in the sun for shirt sleeves. People were skiing up there! We seemed to be among the minority as American tourists. Others were European, Asian, Indian, British. We ate a light lunch with one of the best views in the world.
On the way down we stopped at mid-level to hike around Trübsee, an alpine lake. It was pristine, surrounded by almost Scottish moorlands and steep, dramatic peaks. The air was so pure and clean. How lovely! What a wonderful hike. We stopped along the way to drink from a freshwater spring. So quiet, serene, and totally relaxing.
When we returned to the hotel (after a stop at a wine shop), we spent an hour swimming in the indoor saltwater pool. It also had a Jacuzzi and a “massage wall.” We swam with a nearly 180º panoramic view of the Alps, and had the facility virtually to ourselves. We decided we want a pool just like it – indoor with a panoramic view, and saltwater so we don’t have to use chlorine.
Dinner was grilled shark for me, roast rabbit leg for Pat. We had shellfish quiche as an appetizer (yum!) and chocolate and vanilla mousse for dessert. I would have to say this was a nearly perfect day. This is the soonest we have ever felt rested and refreshed on a European vacation. I love Switzerland! (We got sunburned faces up on the glacier.) Our bed had down pillows and comforter. There wasn’t much on TV in English, so TV was a waste of time.
