Swiss Air
Today is a photo post. This was one of the many airplanes at the Swiss Transportation Museum in Luzern.
Archive for the ‘Swiss Day Trips’ Category
Swiss Transportation Museum
24
Feb
Swiss Transportation Museum
This weekend we took a trip to Luzern to visit the Swiss Transportation Museum. It is a trip I had wanted to take for some time, but for whatever reason I just hadn’t gotten around to it. Part of it was probably the fact that I thought it would be more of a ‘Man’s Museum’ and I wasn’t sure my wife would enjoy it. After all what do you expect when you are going to see a collection of old trains and cars.
What I found was something much more than just a collection of trains and cars. There were also boats, planes, a submarine under restoration and the only collection of ski lift chairs I have ever seen. All of the exhibits were really fantastic and interactive. Everything looked to be brand new. I don’t know if that was just Swiss cleanliness or the fact that the place was in fact using a lot of the latest technology for its exhibits.
I was amazed at the size of the place as well. The museum is built on a large campus with several buildings and we spent a good 5 hours walking around. More amazing than that was the fact that my wife actually enjoyed it.
In the courtyard between the buildings there were also plenty of interactive things for kids. There were scooters and bicycles as well as a huge sand pit with a bunch of construction related toys to play with. I would imagine that the place is hugely crowded in the summer with all sorts of rug rats.
It was definitely worth the trip and the 28 CHF admission fee. Keep in mind if you are going to take public transportation you can get a 10% discount on the entrance fee by buying you ticket together with you train ticket. Just ask at the ticket window.
One of the highlights for me was the automated parking robot that displayed the museum’s car collection. It is a bit hard to explain, but think of all the cars as if they were sitting in an enormous shelving system. About 5 levels high and maybe 10 vehicles wide. For the demonstration show a huge robotic carriage would pull the full sized cars off the shelves and bring them down to display them in front of the visitors. It was really an awesome sight to see. I took a few pictures so maybe I’ll post them in a future post.
Hot Air Balloon Over The Alps
13
Feb
Balloon Over Chateau D’Oex Switzerland
Today I spent some time going through some more photos from our trip to the Chateau D’Oex balloon festival. I liked this balloon a lot. I guess it is a bit stereotypical in its style compared to some of the more elaborate balloons we saw. But sometimes I think simple is good.
Western Spirit Rides Again
06
Feb
Western Spirit Over The Swiss Alps
Two weeks ago we went to the 2011 Chateau D’Oex International Balloon Festival. It was the second time we had visited the the balloon festival. This time around we managed to get a room at a bed and breakfast right in town so we could forgo the morning commute to the launch site.
We arrived late on the Friday night that the festival began and stayed for Saturday and Sunday. I was a little disappointed that the weather didn’t allow for any flights on Saturday. I attempted to go skiing on that day which was a bit of a disaster due to lost gloves, mountain fog, and really icy conditions on the slopes near Gstaad, but that is another story.
One of my favorite balloons from the last time we visited the event was Western Spirit, piloted by a couple from the U.S. I was glad to see that the team had made it back this year as well. We were so close to having a chance to meet the team as well.
For the ‘mass accenccension’ Which sounds somehow like a church event, we took up a position a few hundred meters above the launch site on a mountain rode. Western Spirit ended up landing only about a quarter mile from where we were, but alas, there was an impassible gorge between us and the balloon so I guess we’ll have to wait until she rides again.
Hiking In Adelboden
21
Dec
Hut on a winter hiking trail near Adelboden Switzerland
I had a chance to use a gift certificate for a hotel stay recently. The gift was given to me this summer by some friends and I hadn’t had a chance to use it. My wife and I were waiting for some good weather this fall to use our Smartbox gift certificate but the weather just never cooperated. Seeing that the certificate was going to expire in February 2011 we decided to take our chances and book a weekend in Adelboden.
It was just the start of the ski season in Adelboden. Although I didn’t manage to make it to the slopes we had some fantastic weather on Saturday afternoon and did some winter hiking.
We also had a chance to meet with a work colleague and friend that has a small flat in Adelboden. It was a nice opportunity to see the local side of the town culture. We meet a few of her friends and visited a few local watering holes. It was interesting to watch the locals. From what I understand the locals are really just getting ready to go into hibernation. From some of my conversations I learned that as the tourist season ramps up the locals don’t go out much. Places are too crowded and it just isn’t worth the trouble.
What I also learned was that many Swiss in this local resort towns only have jobs for about 8 months a year. They work for the summer tourist season and then the winter season. In between the seasons there isn’t much going on so many of the hotels, stores, and resturants close. What also struck me is that sometimes the locals don’t even know where they will be working during the next tourist season, jobs are guaranteed and it is common to move around.
If you think about it working only 8 months a year means the locals have to practice an extremely good form of financial planning and discipline. Not that I wouldn’t expect anything less of the Swiss. The reality is these seasonal works are still paying rent, utilities and buying food even during 4 months of the year when the are not getting any pay check.
The hiking and scenery in Adelboden were fantastic but what was really interesting were all the little things are learned about the local Swiss culture from my friend. Hopefully I’ll get to go back someday and have another chance to mix and mingle with the locals.
Finally to the guys that gave me the gift certificate, thanks, it was perfect and we had a great weekend.
Fall Hike In Apenzellerland
25
Oct
A Small Creek Along Swiss National Hiking Route 44
Last Saturday we took a hike along the Appenzeller Weg hiking path number 44. My wife and I had thought this would probably be on of the last weekends to enjoy the fall colors so we got up early, and I sue that term loosly and boarded the train to Urnäsh.
The hike was billed as a 3.5 hour easy jaunt through the fields and woods between Urnäsh and Appenzell. Knowing my obsession with the camera and the fact that we hit a detour or two we ended up taking about 5.5 hours to complete the hike including a lunch break.
The hike was beautiful and something I would like to try again in the summer. While the fields were filled with trademarked swiss milk cows, the trails were strangely deserted. I didn’t even see any of the now famous naked Swiss hikers associated with the region, how disappointing.
We ended the day in s’ Tübli resturant in Appenzell where I order one of my favorite versions of Alpener Macaroni. The dish is called Tüblimaggarone. It is a house special and the secret is substituting the traditional bacon (speck) with small slices of Cervelet sausage.
I highly recommend s’ Tübli. They have a great menu, great food, and reasonable prices. My wife and I escaped with drinks and dinner for two for 39 CHF, which is a steal in this country. Most dishes are priced between 18-25 CHF if you eat off the daily menu.
Sunday Hike Through The Woods
10
Oct
Sunday afternoon we did a section of the Aargauer trail between Wildegg and Aarau. The relatively flat hike runs along the banks of the Aare river. Most sections of the trail are wide and flat and this hike is not strenuous at all.
We left just before lunch and had packed small lunches to eat along the trail. We found a nice bench along the river and plopped ourselves down about an hour and a half into the hike. As we started to eat I was just waiting for someone to hike by and say “en Guete” (Bon Appetite). Of course not too long into my first course of a ham and cheese sandwich a group of hikers uttered the obligatory phrase and I final felt like I was enjoying a properly blessed Swiss lunch.
As we finished our meals and went on our way we stumbled along a few other groups snacking on lunch, and of course I returned the “en Guete” favor. Some how the longer you are here you develop a knee jerk “en Guete” response. When food is in sight one must utter those magic words.
Alpabzug in Urnäsch
19
Sep
Urnäsch Alpabzug, Bringing The Cows Home
This year marks the second year in a row I have attended the Alpabzug in Urnäsch. The traditional fest marking the parade of farm animals down from the high mountain pastures in the alps to the farms in the valleys.
The colorful event is by far one of my favorite traditional swiss festivals to photograph, and this being my second visit meant that my photographs were also much improved. I knew how to shoot the parade to get the best angles.
Much of the time attending these cow parades is spent waiting. Just sitting by the side of the road until the next farm family wanders through the town with their heard. In between people file into out door garden restaurants to pass the time, only to run to the streets when they hear the approaching ring of the cow bells.
If you missed Urnäsch and are still looking to visit one of these festivals you are in luck. There are still a few left in the coming weeks. There is a nice list of cow parades (alpabzug) for 2010 on the the Swiss expat blog on the ACC site.
This years highlight, almost getting run over by a cow. Luckily, my friend caught the entire thing on video. There are plenty more photographs to go through. Maybe I should set up a week long series.
Hiking Near Lower Segnesboden
13
Sep
panoramic image
Last weekend we did some hiking near the Flims / Laax ski area. We took the panoramaweg from the Naraus ski lift station to the Lower Segnesboden area. The nearly 1.5 hour hike to Lower Segnesboden is one great view out over the Alps and ends in with the reward of a fantastic view of an amazingly flat high mountain meadow complete with cows, small running mountain streams, and am impressive mountain backdrop.
This little valley is a pefect spot for a picnic stop if you you like to pack a lunch for your hike. If you are more into lunch at an alpine hut you can stop at the nearby Segneshütte where you’ll find the traditional alpine fare including bratwurst, goulasch soup and spaghetti.
I spent a good hour tramping around the meadow looking for good angles for panoramic photographs. Jumping streams, hoping around cow pies, it was a great time, and made for some really great pictures. I would love to go back if I can find an excuse.
Hiking in Flims
05
Sep
Mountains Above Flims, Switzerland
This weekend we made a last minute decision to head to Graubunden to see a few sights we had on our list. Most notable we wanted to see the ‘Grand Canyon’ of Switzerland.
While the canyon was nice, the combination of the fantastic weather and amazing panoramic views from the mountains above Flims and Laxx made for an unforgettable weekend. At times I really felt like I was in a dream. How could one place be so beautiful. I almost felt a like letting out a scream like double rainbow guy, but somehow, I managed to keep my emotions in check.
Amazing, But what Could It Mean!?!
I think it means I need to spend some more time in Graubunden. That’s clear.