The Young Maiden

One clear memory I have of visiting Switzerland with my grandmother in 1984 is taking the narrow-gauge railway up to the top of the Jungfrau. Steve and Jenny had also been, but when we calculated the costs of taking nine of us up to the top of the mountain, we decided that, unless it was a perfectly clear day, it simply would not be worth the expense. Each ticket was at least $80. Fortunately for the pocketbook, it was overcast! Instead we took the train up to the Kleine Scheidegg station and hiked down. Once again, we were surrounded by breathtaking scenery.  

We discovered that the trails are lined with electric fences to keep the Swiss cows away from the hikers, giving off a slight shock when touched. Further, it occurred to someone that if we all held hands the shock would be stronger as it transferred down the line. The kids found this not only fascinating, but also hilarious. I opted to be the photographer!

Before we left the Jungfrau, we climbed up the Trummelbach Falls. The snow melt from the Alps gush down crevices in the mountains, creating a waterfall within the mountain.

We spent the evening in Interlaken, wandering chocolate and t-shirt shops and finally settling into a traditional fondue restaurant for dinner.

The Matterhorn

While backpacking through Europe in the early nineties, Steve fell in love with Switzerland and the Alps. I turned the planning over to him for this portion of our adventure, and he did a great job creating memories for our family. 

 We arrived at Zermatt in the evening. Unbeknownst to us, only electrical cars were allowed in the city, so I got very strange looks as all nine of us hummed around the town in our nine passenger van! Finally we were warned that, if caught, the fine would be hefty. I couldn't get back down the mountain and to the train station fast enough! We unloaded two nights worth of clothing and took the train up to our hotel, which turned out to be the most authentically Swiss bed and breakfast around.

 The next morning we set off to hike down the Matterhorn. After taking a narrow-gauge railway that chugged up the mountain, we climbed off with the most spectacular views before us. The day was crystal clear. We took photo after photo and then began our descent.

 Not far down the mountain, a children's play area provided a great spot for a break. Spontaneously, we started having timed relay races on the equipment. Jenny and Steve took the competition to a new level, beating everyone's time.

 Our descent began, and we spent the next several hours marveling at the scenery.

 We had a few hours to spare so we asked the host at our bed and breakfast what he recommended for a crowd like ours. Without hesitation, he sent us to the Zermatt Adventure Zone. This turned out to be one of the kids' favorite activities in their three months abroad. Everyone could participate in something they loved, except for Mia, which doesn't always happen with us. The kids and Steve hung high in the trees, tip toed across ropes and  zip lined in the shadow of the Matterhorn.

 On our way out of town, we stopped in a store for a little Swiss chocolate to tide us over before dinner. The woman at the cash register pulled down her largest bar of chocolate. We opted for the smaller size.