Switzerland, Summer 2003

 

Effingen is where my Great, Great, Great Grandfather was born in 1802 and from where he emigrated with his children as a widower in the 1830's. Farmland. I can see why they first went to Ohio and then settled in Kansas.

Effingen, Canton Aargau

We went to Basel for a day, just to see what it was like.

Basel

 

The town we stayed in, made famous by the fictional death of Sherlock Holmes when Moriarity pushed him off the rock face at Reichenbach Falls. It looks pretty sleepy, but it was hopping on Erste August, the Swiss National Holiday, celebrating the founding of the Swiss Confederation.

Meiringen

Eiger and Moench are in these pictures, a 2 hour walk from Gretschalp (?) to Muerren.

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Grandfather's Walk

 

You can't tell it from the pics, but this was a bicycle day, taking them on the train and boat to Giessbach Falls, riding to the next village along the lake and taking the boat, train back home.

Giessbach Falls to Isletwald


This is a hike from Hohfluh in the Halsiberg Alpen region down to Meiringen

Hohfluh to Meiringen

The spectacular Planplatten to Balmeggerhorn trip. Train, cable car, gondola, chair lift, hike, chair lift, walk around a lake, gondola, bus, train.

Planplatten to Balmeggerhorn


Reichenbach Falls, playing with light and water

Reichenbach Falls

 

My wife and our 8 year old took a bus to Rosenlaui where you pay entrance to the gorge. On the other side of the gorge you can hike to the foot of the glacier. We didn't go all of the way, but got some great views.

Rosenlaui Glacier and Gorge

 

My first trip, I made friends with a guy my Dad's age, who traveled to the US for work in the 60's and for fun in 94, including New Mexico. This trip I stopped by his town to pay a visit. He took me for a drive to some place with good views of Saentis, the big mountain in the area. We also drove to Appenzel, an ancient town famous for cheese and being a little "odd" While there, we were fortunate to see a few minutes of women's beach volleyball on sand imported to the centuries old street. Back to my Hotel for a couple of beers and he left me to my own devices. There is a walk Landgeschriftsmandsweg or something like that that means, The Way of Handmade or such.

Urnaesch

 

 

And some  Odds and Ends

 

Schaffner Family Home