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. 

Tandem 7 & Euro Trip Part 1

I returned to Skydive Toronto in mid-June to complete my seventh tandem jump from an altitude of 12,500 feet.  My last jump was in 2022, so it was time to get reacquainted with the sensation of falling to Earth at terminal velocity.  I originally wanted to retake the solo skydive course I completed three years ago, but it’s no longer offered.  Only the Gradual Freefall and Progressive Freefall programs are available.  Both programs span the entire jumping season.  I don’t have a problem doing another tandem jump.  A jump is still a jump in my books.

I felt excited, nervous, and empowered, when I arrived at Skydive Toronto in the late morning.  The empowerment came from watching Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning at a movie theatre the day before.  I figured if Tom Cruise can survive doing dangerous stunts at his age, then I can survive another tandem jump.  Of course, I should point out again “there will never be a perfect skydive.”  There’s always a chance something can go wrong.  No continual insurance exists and everyone involved is responsible for the jump to be successful.

The first part of the experience is signing legal paperwork, having your weight taken, and completing a safety briefing.  Then it’s on to getting fitted for a jumpsuit and wait for your name to be called.  Remember to Dump Before You Jump.  (Go to the washroom).  I was fitted into a harness after my name was called.  My tandem instructor & cameraman also introduced themselves.  We proceeded to the propeller plane.  The plane was packed with other thrill seekers & tandem instructors.

The plane took off into the blue sky.  I quietly hummed the Mission Impossible theme as the plane ascended.  I find the 15-minute flight more tense than the actual jump because you have time to think.  Best to think about other things to distract you from the inevitable. 

The red signal light switched to green, and everyone put on their goggles.  My cameraman opened the side door, letting cold air into the fuselage.  He looked down located the landing zone.  He signaled me & my tandem instructor to move towards the open door.  The time had come.  I held onto my harness straps as my instructor quickly did his final checks.  The cameraman hung outside the plane.  And then all three of us were falling.

The jump/fall was exhilarating as always.  I don’t shout or scream because there’s no time.  I focus on breathing through my teeth.  I kept looking at the cameraman and periodically gave two thumbs up to say I’m okay.  The main parachute deployed after 45 seconds.  The cameraman continued falling for a few more seconds before deploying his parachute.  The descent to the landing zone was around 5 minutes.  The landing was a success.

I gave a quick a speech to the camera and then high-fived my instructor.  Another tandem jump in the books!  The laces on my shoes didn’t come loose.  I stayed a little longer after my jump to relax and take photographs of the establishment.  Here's the video of my 7^th jump.

The second highlight of my summer was the euro trip my dad & I took in July.  The primary destination was Switzerland, but the trip began in London, England, and moved through France.  Switzerland has been on my bucket list for years and I figured now was a good time to visit, especially with what’s been happening in the world.  My dad & I figured if World War 3 suddenly started, we would be in the best place to survive.  Switzerland is the only country in the world that has enough fallout shelters for its population and then some.

We flew Air Canada Business Class to London Heathrow Airport.  The service was great and the flight was much more comfortable.  No crying babies & snoring seniors.  I passed the time watching movies and sneaking a nap.  We cleared UK Customs, exited the terminal, and took a train to central London.  We checked into our hotel, did a bit of exploring, and then rested for the night.

We made our way to St. Pancras Railway Station, or as I like to call it, St. Pancreas, the following morning.  Our guided tour of Switzerland was booked through Great Rail Journeys (GRJ).  We met the other tourists and our tour guide in front of the GRJ office.  Everyone boarded a Eurostar train to Paris, France.  My dad & I crossed the Channel Tunnel for the first time.  The train staff served meals during the crossing, most likely to keep passengers occupied.  There was only darkness on the other side of the windows.  Upon arriving in Paris, we walked to the Gare de L’Est Train Station and took a TGV to Strasbourg.  This was my first time on France’s high-speed rail in 19 years.  The TGV averaged at 315km/h.  Canada really needs trains like this.

The tour group overnighted in Strasbourg and then boarded a train for Basel, Switzerland.  Entering Switzerland for the first time felt . . . neutral.  Joke aside, it was great.  We transferred to a different train that took us through Zurich and dropped us off at the town of Chur.  We had to walk a few blocks to the hotel.  We were given time to settle in and then met in the hotel’s restaurant for dinner.  Our tour guide formerly welcomed us to Switzerland and informed us of what was planned for our time in Chur.  We enjoyed our first Swiss dinner and retired to our bedrooms.

The first train trip was from Chur to Poschiavo and back on the Bernina Express.  The train travels all the way to Tirano, but we didn’t have time to go that far south and back in a day.  We were given our own train coach.  I took hundreds of photos along the way and filmed several portions of the return trip.  Expect several videos on my YouTube channel soon.  The Swiss landscape is mountainous and majestic.  The mountains are much taller than the ones around Arctic Bay.  The highest point in the trip was Alp Grum at 6,860 feet or 2091 metres.  Long rows of large avalanche fences stretch across many slopes of mountains.      

I should note that taking photos was a challenge because there are many tall trees next to the tracks.  I’m guessing this is to combat avalanches during winter.  Best to just snap a lot of photos while the train is in motion and hope you get several good shots.

Poschiavo Centre Square.

The tour group spent a few hours in Poschiavo.  It’s a large town tucked inside a valley.  My dad & I walked the narrow streets in the old town centre.  We had to switch trains at St. Moritz on the way back.  We returned to Chur in the evening.  We enjoyed another Swiss dinner at the hotel before retiring for the evening.

We were given the next day to explore Chur on foot.  My dad & I explored the old town centre and then took a cable car up to Brambrüesch.  I was glad I didn’t get a nosebleed.  Once again, the views were splendid and I took many photographs.  We returned to Chur by the same cable car, walked through the town centre, and then enjoyed lunch at a busy restaurant.  We explored a bit more of the town on foot and then returned to the hotel.

The second train trip was from Chur to Brig on the Glacier Express.  This portion of the train line ascends & descends to new heights & depths through the Swiss Alps!  Chur sits at an altitude of 1,919 feet (585 metres) while Brig is at 2,198 feet (670 metres).  The peak is in between at Oberalppass at a whopping 6,669 feet (2033 metres)!  More on that coming up.

Lunch was served and I commend the staff for remaining balanced while the train was in motion.  To prevent spills, the staff “assemble” your main meal where you sit.  First, they set a large white plate, bring the portions in individual bowls, and then carefully place them on your plate.  My meal was tortellini.

Oberalpsee Lake greeted us as the train reached Oberalppass.  The mountains on both sides were covered in greenery, rocks, and avalanche fences.  Our tour guide told us that even cows graze at this altitude.  I’m glad I didn’t get a nosebleed.

The train ride was all downhill after Oberalppass.  We descended in circles & S patterns into the valley below.  We saw farms and cable cars on the sides of mountains.  We rode through Andermatt & Fiesch.  One location that caught my eye as we neared Brig was the GOMS Bridge.  It’s a 280-metre (918-foot) long suspension bridge that stretches over the Rhone River at a height of 82 metres (269 feet).  Unfortunately, the train doesn’t stop here.  If I ever revisit this part of Switzerland, I’ll film myself walking across the bridge in both directions.     

We arrived in Brig in the early evening.  We walked to the hotel and checked into our rooms.  The tour group enjoyed dinner at the hotel restaurant.  Our tour guide welcomed us to Brig and briefed us on what to expect for the next few days.  We retired to our rooms for the evening. 

 

                                                         

                                                                   To Be Continued . . . 

Update #1: Apologies for the long wait, but I finally completed & uploaded my Bernina Express videos to my YouTube channel.  Click on the following links to view:

·         Part 1: Poschiavo to Alp Grum

·         Part 2: Alp Grum

·         Part 3: Alp Grum to Ospizio Bernina

·         Part 4: Ospizio Bernina to Bernina Legalb

·         Part 5: Bernina Legalb to Morteratsch

·         Part 6: Morteratsch to Celerina Staz

Update #2: Apologies for the longer wait, but I finally completed & uploaded my Chur videos to my YouTube channel.  Click on the following links to view:

•         Chur Cable Car: Views Between BB & MK
•         View Of Chur (2025)
•          Chur Cable Car: The Descent