Waterfalls and Footprints

Trip Start Nov 05, 2006

Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of Switzerland Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Friday, December 26, 2008

Super busy day today. I took two day trips in one day. This was possible as December 26th is St Stephens Day here and a national holiday, and as such all the shops are shut, the towns are dead. At the railway stations it's possible to pick up snacks but don't think about going to a supermarket. All the trains and public transport is still in full working order though, which meant I could use my Swiss Flexi Pass to full advantage. I have come to the conclusion that it is overpriced for the amount that you can use it on the trains, although unlimited, you'd have to be travelling all day every day to get your money's worth.

First trip was to Schaffhausen, at the very north of Switzerland near the German border, and only an hour from Zurich. Perfect day trip. The purpose of this trip was to see the largest waterfall in Europe, the Rheinfall. It's 150m wide, and 23m tall and absolutely nowhere near as spectacular as Niagara Falls. I will take this opportunity to cuss my guide book. For those of you who take a Lonely Planet guide away with you (not as a bible, just as a rough guide mind you, no pun intended) we expect some fact checking or even for the writer to have actually been to the place. So to set the record straight, when exiting Schaffhausen station, get the number 1 bus in the direction of the waterfall and get off at Migros supermarket in Neuhausen. Then follow the handy painted yellow footprints on the pavement which will take you all the way downhill to the falls. It's a steep climb back up though! Yes, I will be submitting this information to Lonely Planet. The town smelled lovely and smokey, like log fires, which is currently my favourite smell. Too much info.
See next entry for trip numero two!