Day 20 - Swiss mountains and pop culture points
- manicmondeo
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Switzerland always puts on a show with its epic Alps.
There’s a real contrast between the serene and dramatic. Idyllic Heidi-style villages of quaint wooden chalets bedecked with colourful blooms set against the most rugged and sharp mountains, snow-capped with waterfalls thundering down to milky-jade rivers.
It began almost immediately as we saw snow wedged in shadowed saddles of the Surselva region. That snow soon looked paltry as we began the ascent of the Oberalp Pass.
With Craig at the wheel, we wound our way round hairpins and past cows wearing alpine bells. The views were more spectacular with every metre ascended.
At the top, of an altitude of more than 6,700 feet, we were close to the source of the Rhine, the river that would guide us most of the way home.
Then came the famed Furka Pass at nearly 8,000 feet. Stopping a few times to absorb the views, we also visited the Belvédère Hotel.
Fans of James Bond may recognise it from a scene in Goldfinger. Now abandoned, it stands as a reminder of bygone glory days and is a popular photo stop for touring cars.
There were some waterfalls here but none matching our next stop. The Reichenbach Falls are truly incredible and well worth the climb to the viewpoint we found.
Another pop culture reference here too, as it’s where Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty do battle in The Final Problem, with Holmes plunging down the 820 feet cascade.
As we would later discover during a brush with Basel and its chaotic road system, driving around Swiss cities isn’t one the delights of visiting the country.
Lucerne seemed to have loads of car parks but there were only vague signs pointing in the general direction. However, once sorted, the City of Lights proved to be a beauty. The 14th-century Kapelbrücke is a covered bridge bedecked with flower boxes and religious iconography. It’s quite the sight.
With an apartment booked while enjoying traditional Swiss food (cheesy goods and meats), we ploughed on.
Our destination was Colmar in Alsace, France. This beautiful city is full of decorated half-timbered buildings and small canals.
It had been a stunning day, capped off with an impressive England victory in the World Cup.
Songs of the day
Jase: For What Is Chatteris? by HMHB
Craig: All Over the World by ELO
Ian: Amazing Things by Runrig
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