Bristol Bern

... The Hills Are Alive". You wouldn't fret looking like an idiot, because only the cows would be watching. That's the main industry at Gimmelwald, farming cows. The town is VERY tiny. Their park was about 10'x8' with 2 opposing benches. I agree with Steve that it's worth a quick visit, but don't know about that whole "If Heaven Isn't What It's Cracked Up To Be..." thing. I can think of other places I'd prefer to spend eternity as about one ...

... the river and countryside. I suppose it is alot like Luxembourg except people were nicer in Bern. I have to get uused to the fact that everyone can speak English here. I didn't do much the first day. I lost my train ticket to Lauterbrunnen ($40 down the toilet), and thought I lost my guidbook and hostel key but another backpacker from the room accidently took them, no harm done. I just walked around a little and watched Jerry McGuire. It's nice just to relax and watch t.v.<br> <br>

... and went for it. It was a rush and when I hit the water it was cold but not as cold as I&#8217;d expected, so I was pleasantly surprised. I saw for about seven minutes, but swimming in the river Aare is really just floating and letting the strong current take you. As I was getting out, I did get a little scraped up on the rocks on the shore, but it was totally worth it.<br><br>After returning to the ...

... So much for the budget. <br><br>We dropped our stuff and started walking around Bern. The shopping arcades are amazing. We shopped for the rest of the afternoon. Jen got a dress, a shirt and a sweater and she loved a lot of other things but she was good the rest of the day. For dinner we had take out Pizza in our room and some Champagne and beer. We fell asleep relatively early as we had done lots of moving around and walking.<br>

... parks and lush terraced gardens. Nearly every view in the town is storybook picturesque. A stroll down the main street brought us past a series of small fountains with statues atop them. Our hosts assured us it was okay to drink from any fountain in Bern, but we only took a small sip from one. Between the fountains, near the town center, is a large clock which tells both the time--in 24-hour increments--as well as the season ...

... in the process of building new enclosures for the bears, so I can only hope the next ones are a little bit more luxurious for them. We became more and more fond of Bern as we strolled through the old town, along the cobbled streets. They have so many shops that are below street level in what must have been old cellars. The magnificent Gothic cathedral Munster was a bit disappointing as the outside was partly obscured by scaffolding, and the inside was closed for some religious ...

... cloths what so ever). And i knew it was going to be an embarrassing question to ask but i had to do it. 'excuse me, is there an easier way down to the cable cars from here?' they had a little chuckle at the stupid tourist sitting on her rock eating her sandwich in the snow and said no, you have to go back the way you came! ****. Back down from the mountain Dauberhorn (2941m) sliding and slipping a few times (making my hipster jeans a bit brown at the back!). i gave up trying to ...

... deciding to go back to Basel to dry out there. Took some time exploring Basel and Lausanne before heading to the southern parts of Switzerland. Stayed in a small hotel in Stels with magnificent views of the mountains, checked out "Heidiland" (Mele's idea), explored the only National Park of Switzerland in the Engadine (where we saw some native animals of Switzerland - Ibex, Chamois, and the cute little Marmots), and the ...

I'm in love with Switzerland. Plain and simple. I liked it the last time I came, but this time I have fallen in love. The weather is gorgeous, scenary spectacular, accomodations immaculate, company very pleasant, and the chocolate brings it all together. Today the weather was perfect - clear blue skies, 12 degrees which is perfect hiking weather. I went up into the alps and walked around to waterfalls and to mountains ...

... some wacky rules (I will go into those a little later)! After about ten minutes of trying to get the water to come out of the shower head, I gave up and decided to have a nap instead. It was a wonderful nap. Regan called and woke me up and I asked her how the shower worked. She told me so then I could have a shower...yay! I was so excited I ran into the bathroom and turned it on (forgetting that the shower head is one of those moveable ones, that just sits on the ...