Zermatt
Trip Start
Jun 14, 2008
1
8
13
Trip End
Jul 02, 2008
Zermatt,
Swiss Alps,
Switzerland
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Had breakfast, checked out and went to Rocks for the internet connection to update the blog. Went to the station and headed to Lauterbrunnen for the first of five legs for the trip to Zermatt. Wengen-Lauterbrunnen-Interlaken-Spiez-Visp-Zermatt gets you there in about 3 hours. The trip from Visp to Zermatt is not covered on the Eurail pass but was extremely scenic. Traveling down a deep valley, with the Zermatt and the Matterhorn at the end. Arrived in town, went to the TI as I had no idea where the hotel was. Got a map with the hotels listed and walked aroun 10 minutes to the hotel. Zermatt is very touristy, but in a cool Swiss way. 100 hotels, tons of restaurants and bars to satisfy the touristic needs. Quite the winter playground, but busy in the summer also. It wasn't until I reached the hotel that I had my first view of the Matterhorn, quite impressive in person
Zermatt Hotel
. Checked in and my room is on the third floor, second floor in Europans need to The Europeans count the floor above ground floor as the first floor, so Americans need to add one floor to their floor to get it right. One of the joys of European travel. My balcony has a great view of the Matterhorn, and fast flowing river from the mountains is next to the hotel with a constant raging river noise. Very soothing at night.
Sometimes when you travel, the place you are is a very small world. I went to the main drag to check out the town and sat down to have a beer at the Post Hotel with stools right on the main pedestrian street. A couple from the UK living in Luxembourg sat next to me and we chatted about Zermatt. Their first time also but they arrived a day before me. They hike up high in the mountains, so I got some insight from them. The highlight was when a very high fashioned lady walked by with an expensive bag with two small foo foo dogs sitting in it, on laying on top of the other with their heads looking out. The Brit said, "Bet you don't see that in the States!!!" I then had dinner by the hotel, sitting outside around three hours later. The same couple spotted me and came over and said hi. The killer was the next morning I was in the hotel breakfast room eating and who stops by and says hi. 100 hotels in Zermatt and they are staying in mine. That part never had come up in our previous conversations. Small world!!
Bought a pass to go from Zermatt to Rothorn Paradise, which is at 10,200 feet. A through the mountain funicular for 6 minutes, a ten minute gondola ride and then a 10 minute cable car ride and I was on top of Rothorn mountain at 10,200 feet. It was just a beautiful day. Rick Steves says that when Matt Lauer of the Today Show came to Zermatt, he broadcast from the Rothorn Paradise for the unimpededI remember seeing the views of the Matterhorn. I remember seeing that show "Where in the World is Matt Lauer" a couple of years ago. Went back down to the gondola station and then hiked about 45 minutes past a lake and then to a restaurant for a break. Back down, came to the room to work on this and get ready for the evening. Should be some nice pics, check them out.
