Euro Trip Part 2

Our hotel in Brig prepared a great breakfast spread for us and other guests.  You could fill up your plate(s) with smoked salmon, cold cuts of various meats, fruits, cheese, bread, and even donuts!  The tour group then assembled outside and followed the tour guide to the train station.  We boarded a train for Zermatt, a town located in the canton of Valais and near the Matterhorn mountain.  Zermatt is a well-known tourist destination for mountaineers & skiers.

We disembarked at the train station and walked out into the sun.  There were tourists walking around, but our tour guide explained there are thousands more during winter.  The town’s permanent population is close to 6,000 but can swell to 30,000 during winter.  Combustion engine vehicles are prohibited to prevent air pollution.  All vehicles are electric and surprisingly small.

We walked towards a large open square to get a clearer view of the Matterhorn.  The mountain rises to a height of 4,478 metres (14,692 feet)!  Thousands of mountaineers have successfully scaled the mountain since the late 1800s.  However, I should note the ascent is not easy and over 500 people have lost their lives trying to reach the summit.  Our tour guide gave us several minutes to photograph the iconic mountain.

Our tour guide led us through the old section of town, letting us view & photograph the architecture, and giving us a brief history of the community.  The walking tour ended in front of Pfarrkirche St. Mauritius Church in the town centre.  We were given a few hours to explore & shop on our own.  

My dad & I visited a Lindt Chocolates store and bought some chocolates.  We also looked at some expensive Swiss watches that we couldn’t afford.  We enjoyed a pizza lunch at a restaurant.  Our meal was interrupted by the sounds of roaring jet engines.  I stepped out to see if they were Swiss F/A-18 fighter jets, but the surrounding mountains made it impossible.  They must have been out on patrol.  The last place we visited was a gift shop and bought a few souvenirs.  The tour group boarded the train in the late afternoon and return to Brig. 

Switzerland’s extensive railway system operates at various heights.  The tracks go around mountains, through mountains, and up & down mountains.  Special rack railways, also known as cog railways, are installed in the middle of ascending & descending tracks to help trains safely move up & down at controlled speeds.  I was able to photograph these rack railways on the return to Brig.

The next day was a free day for everyone to explore Brig at their own leisure.  The sun was out, the sky was blue, and temperature was hot.  My dad & I explored the city centre and Stockalperschloss Castle on foot.  The castle “was built between 1658 and 1678 by Kaspar Stockalper, a silk merchant of Brig.”  The gates to the castle and garden were open so we decided to check it out.  The interior courtyard was empty, making it easy for us to take pictures.  There were a few people & kids in the gardens.

We returned to the town square and found a restaurant to enjoy lunch.  I decided to splurge and ordered a large steak.  I’m glad I didn’t eat breakfast.  The meal was delicious and I informed my dad that I would be skipping dinner.

The next day was the last full day in Switzerland.  The tour group boarded a train to Spiez.  The route ascended the side of mountains and travelled through high valleys.  I managed to get several good pictures of Visp, the municipality of Turtmann-Unterems, a lone paraglider, and of course, mountains. 

It was raining when we arrived in Spiez.  Thankfully, our tour guide instructed us to bring umbrellas.  We walked to Schloss Spiez castle located in the centre of town.  We spent around 2 hours exploring the castle’s many artifacts & displays.  The most famous owner of this castle is Adrian von Bubenberg (1434 – 1479).  Yes, that is his last name.  The visit concluded with a wine tasting. 

The rain stopped as we walked down to Spiez Schiffstation to board a ferry to Thun.  The ferry was full of passengers and takes about an hour to reach Thun.   You can order food & drinks if you’re hungry.  I took pictures of Thunersee Lake and the surrounding landscape.  You can find plenty of sailboats & sail boaters on this lake.

The tour group spent a few hours exploring Thun on foot.  Most of us visited Schloss Thun, a large castle in the centre of town.  It’s situated on top of a hill so be prepared to walk up a lot of steps.  There is a public elevator but it’s a little difficult to locate.  You’re treated to great views of the town from the castle.

We gathered at the train station and boarded a train to Brig.  It was a great feeling to sit & rest your legs after spending most of the day walking.  We were treated a great dinner at our hotel in Brig and our tour guide explained tomorrow’s return trip to London, UK.

The return trip began in the morning, checking out of the hotel, and walking to the nearby train station, hauling our luggage.  Whoever designed luggage with wheels should have received a Nobel Prize.  The train took us to Geneva where we switched trains and continued to Paris, France.  We disembarked in the French capital and boarded a bus that took us to Gare du Nord train station.  We went through security, waited an hour, and boarded the Eurostar train to London.  The main meal was served when we entered the Channel Tunnel.  A good distraction from the darkness of the tunnel.  We arrived in London in the early evening.

It was here where the tour group parted ways.  We thanked our tour guide one last time for his guidance & hospitality.  Everyone shook hands and wished each other the best.  The Switzerland tour had come to an end. 

Overall, the Switzerland tour was excellent.  I got to see another corner of the world.  Surprisingly, my dad & I didn’t see any nuclear bunkers.  I guess they’re well hidden.  Give the Classic Glacier Express trip a try! 

My dad & I spent a day in London before returning to Canada.  We used the subway (aka Underground) to travel to the city centre and explore the sites.  We saw the Houses of Parliament, the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, the London Eye, Downing Street, and the British Library.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to go inside the Houses of Parliament or ride the London Eye.  Long lines.  There’s always a next time. 

We took the train to London Heathrow Airport and checked in.  We use the Business Class line to get through security and proceeded to the Maple Leaf Lounge.  The most expensive item I found on sale at the Duty-Free store was a bottle of Royal Salute Blended Scotch Whisky for £16,000!  That’s about $30,000 Canadian!  It had been reduced from £20,000.  I didn’t buy it.  I just like photographing the most expensive items on sale at airports to pass the time.

The Air Canada flight to Canada was great.  Travelling Business Class makes the flight much more enjoyable.  We arrived home in the late evening. 

                                                           End of Euro Trip mini-series.