Hotel de la Foret Crans-Montana

... the casualties of the Matterhorn.
Zermatt itself is tiny, with only electric taxis. It is much colder than Lauterbrunnen even though it's on the border of Italy.
Switzerland is strange. It has no language of its own. In Bern, Lauterbrunnen and Zermatt they speak German but in Montreux they speak French, even the train announcements change languages. It gets confusing, so I just stick to greeting people in English most of the time. When I had arrived here I was fuming a bit because I ...

I decided to change hostels because I really didn't like this one. I am not fond of the international hostels. They're like hospitals, although the buffet breakfast was nice and I liked their cat. I was woken up by screaming, unruly kids. Some parents aren't parents. I was happy to change. The sun had also come out and so I snuck on the train from Montreux Tilletet to Veyvey which is only 5 minutes away. The place is much nicer and has free food and a kitchen. I actually got an entire 6 ...

... and beggars, especially here. I have gotten to the point where when I saw the man praying for money I just wanted to kick him. I have been told that there is work in Switzerland if you don't mind the cold and a little hard work.
It has been a while since I have encountered any of them, but it really made me hot under the collar. I have also found that I am much more suspicious of everybody, everytime someone approaches me I am a little more on my guard.
I think I also saw an old ...

... it would be delayed for another hour. I was fuming, as I payed alot of money for the round trip to Mt Schilthorn. So I took it as a sign to try the mountain. It was pretty awesome walking into the mist and looking down into the valley.
It was at first difficult. There are usually arrows pointing the way and sometimes there is rope to guide you but it was slippery and I am glad I bought some gloves because sometimes you had to slide your way down on your hands and feet ...

Unfortunately the weather was terrible. It was raining this morning but I decided to make the most of what I could Mannlichen as I thought I would go on a small hike between there and Kleine Scheidegg. Wengen and Lauterbrunnen are ok in the wet but Mannlichen was not. I suppose it was too high and the weather couldn't hold. It was very windy and I swear the rain was ice flakes. Twenty metres in front of me there was only white. It was quite amazing ...

... that I have much to compare it to, but I wouldn’t argue with that. Pictures will tell that story.

Shortly after I got to the hostel I met Bill, a retired engineer from Baltimore. He’s a pretty experienced hiker and I decided to go with him on a "six hour" hike the next day. That six hour hike turned into nearly 10, but it was entirely worth it. I can’t count the number of ...

... to the tourist information center to find some good activities for the afternoon. And get this, we ran into the same couple from Maryland that we had dinner with last Thursday night in Luzern. We both looked at each other, surprised and just laughed. To be at the same place at the same time is so interesting.

We decided to head to the Trummelbach Waterfalls (http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/ho me/summervacations ...

... it seemed so quiet that I wondered what we would fill our days with, however now we have run out of time with so many more things I wish we could do before we leave. There are so many hiking trails on all sides of the Valley, mountain bikes to hire, more cable cars to ride. You really could spend more than a week here in summer and have plenty to do. Yet it feels so relaxing at the same time, as the air is so fresh and the scenery is so beautiful. We will ...

... the mini bar bottle/shot of red bull liqure on the bar 3 times, skull the shot, put the lid in your mouth and shoot it in the target. If you get it in - you get a free one. I get a free shot but missed the target but hit the cash register and got it in the bin much to the barmans delight - if I had played my cards right I may have even gotten another free shot! I can see how that game could become addictive. &a mp;a mp;n bsp;

... street parade, which is a large techo event with costumed dress and flamboyant individuals. Miscellaneous: Swiss Backpacker News - budget travel guide Every male over 20 years old must train in the army for 3 weeks each year with a 20% reduction in salary. There is no exception; even if you are helping your father out on the farm they will find a replacement. They have a defensive army and the Swiss troops cannot fight outside their country, but they can defend the Pope. Every ...