#AHaLoInEurope: Alpine Adventure Above the Clouds

 

Traveling broadens your horizon. It enriches your mind and your spirit. But traveling uses up a lot of your time and treasure. It would be a waste if you missed something on your trip you should’ve seen or experienced. It happened to me several times and I regretted that so much. If you’re planning a trip, I’d like to help you avoid missing out. So, let my blog show you what to look out for. Prepare for your trip by traveling with me through this post. Or you might still be in the praying and dreaming stage. Manifesting your dream into reality starts here!

A Happy Solo in Mt. Pilatus

For a confirmed chocoholic like me, Switzerland will always be synonymous with that velvety, scrumptious, stress-busting treat from the confectionery gods.

Our dessert of Swiss Chocolate Brownie
served at the Queen Victoria

And Switzerland is also synonymous with stunning landscapes especially the Alps which I have been dreaming of capturing through my lenses.

Charming as they were, the Swiss cities we visited paled in comparison to the majestic vistas of their countryside. So, it was a dream come true for me to have an alpine adventure in Mt. Pilatus, a mountain massif, part of the Emmental Alps, overlooking Lucerne.

In Alpnachstad, we were greeted by the image of a playful dragon called PILU. The logo was a nod to the myths that have surrounded Pilatus since the Medieval times. Legend has it that dragons inhabited the mountain’s crevices in days of yore.

The ride up to Pilatus Kulm, the summit, was exhilarating. We climbed the sheer mountainside on a cogwheel train over the world’s steepest railway. The glass panels of the train provided an unimpeded view of the Alps.

Earlier, when we got off the bus, I was worried that the autumn weather will not allow us to enjoy the scenery. It was dark, gloomy and cold. But as we reached the top, above the clouds, the sun was radiant. I was even surprised to see some guys sunbathing with their shirts off while our tropical bodies were wrapped in thick jackets.

There are a number of things to do in Mount Pilatus other than sunbathing above the clouds:

       

1. Stay the night in historic Hotel Pilatus-Kulm which was built in 1890 and has hosted notable guests like Queen Victoria

 

1. Marvel at the alpine scenery from the viewpoint

 

1. Take the panoramic Dragon Ride Aerial Cableway

 Walk the Dragon Path to the caves.

 Dine like royalty beneath classic chandeliers

 

1. Buy pasalubong from the souvenir shop.

The ride down was more breathtaking. Thick, pearly white clouds created the illusion of a lake nestled between the peaks. It was the perfect image to cap my alpine adventure above the clouds.

#AHaLoInEurope: Charming Old Towns in Swiss Cities

 

Colorful bay windows in Augustinergasse, Zurich

Traveling broadens your horizon. It enriches your mind and your spirit. But traveling uses up a lot of your time and treasure. It would be a waste if you missed something on your trip you should’ve seen or experienced. It happened to me several times and I regretted that so much. If you’re planning a trip, I’d like to help you avoid missing out. So, let my blog show you what to look out for. Prepare for your trip by traveling with me through this post. Or you might still be in the praying and dreaming stage. Manifesting your dream into reality starts here!

A Happy Solo in Bern and Zurich

 

Ancient history. Vestiges of times past. A time when ladies wore flowing gowns and knights were armor-clad. These visions of days gone by have always fascinated me.

 

So, is it any wonder that what I enjoyed the most in our tours around Swiss cities was their Altstadt (Old Town)? Meander with me, through my photos, down a maze of narrow cobblestone alleys, medieval buildings and picturesque squares.

 

Bern

 

Bern or Berne, the capital city of Switzerland, sprouted around the 12^th  century along a bend of the Aare. The Aare is the longest river whose whole length begins and ends entirely within Switzerland. Its waters flow through the Bernese Alps and loop around the Swiss capital.

Aare River

 

Our first stop was to say hello to the city’s mascot, heraldic animal and emblem, the brown bear. I was surprised to see one on the wires high above the trees.

 

The live ones in the Bärengraben (Bear Pit) looked cute and cuddly. But, of course, only from afar (I’d limit snuggling to stuffed teddy bears).

 

Bern’s Altstadt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well-preserved medieval core that has blended well with the modern world.

Notable buildings we viewed on our tour of the Old Town are the Berner Münster, a Swiss Reformed cathedral, the largest, tallest and most important late medieval church in the country

 

and the Zytglogge (Clock Tower), a landmark tower built in the early 13^th century.

 

Just before the clock strikes the hour, a crowing rooster heralds a whimsical puppet show with dancing bears and a jester. Then the time god Cronos turns the hourglass. Finally, the bell is struck by a gilded knight in time with Cronos’ swinging scepter. Absolutely captivating and worth the cricks in the neck we had to endure while waiting for the hour!

 

Zurich

 

Zurich, while being the country’s largest city, a financial and economic hub,

Bahnhofstrasse – main downtown street of Zurich
and one of the world’s most expensive and exclusive shopping avenues

 

also has a charming Altstadt with rustic shops,

 

an abundance of fountains with flowers,

 

quaint buildings,

 

serene public squares,

 

and imposing churches.

 

Peterskirche (St. Peter’s Church)
has Europe’s largest clock face on a church tower

I will forever hold dreamy memories of Switzerland because of its Old Towns.

 

As always,  I close this article about Swiss Altstädte with a watercolor tribute – “Gerbera von Zürich” (Gerberas of Zurich) 

inspired by blossoms displayed on the city sidewalk.