ZERMATT,SWITZERLAND

We boarded the train and headed to the mountains.  Once again, beautiful countryside capped with the mountains.  

This was our third and last train.  Our second train from Bern to Visp was so crowded and no º assigned seats.  I sat with some ladies who informed me it was some type of holiday.  

We arrived in Zermatt and were lucky enough to catch the hotel shuttle right away.  We wanted to get up to the mountain because the forecast called for snow and rain the following day.  Cars are not allowed in Zermatt so these llittle electric vehicles are used by the rstaurants and the hotels.  

We got a sandwich at the local coop and purchased our tickets for the train to Gornergrat which has views of the Gorner Glacier, the Matterhorn, and the tallest mountain in Switzerland- Monte Rosa (15,200 feet)

As we left Zermatt the Matterhorn came into view.  The train takes 35 minutes to get you from Zermatt to the top of Gornergrat with other stations along the way.   I had picked the right side of the train and enjoyed a view of the Matterhorn all the way up the mountain.  Sharon had picked a seat on the other side of the train and she didn't get to see it until we neared the top.  

We arrived at the top of Gornergrat with it's magnificent viewpoint at 10,270 feet.

There's a little station at the top which has a restaurant and of course some souvenir shops.  

Sharon in front of the Matterhorn.

Terry in front of the Matterhorn.

Sharon and Terry in front of the Matterhorn.

The Matterhorn.

The background is another chain of mountains including the Monte Rosa, the highest peak in Switzerland (15,200 feet).

A small chapel located on the mountain. 

We headed back down the mountain.  This time we sat on the right side of the train but this was my view most of the time.  Sharon was making up for those hots  she didn'g get on the way up.  That was OK I think I had enough pictures of the Matterhorn.  I'm sure you're thinking the same thing.  

Now we needed to explore the little town.  

We had to have a little drink and give thanks for the great day.  We were so lucky to have such a beautiful day to view the Matterhorn and the surrounding mountains.  

The first ascent of the Matterhorn was by made by Edward Whymper, Lord Francis Douglas, Charles Hudson, Douglas Hadow, Michel Croz and two Zermatt guides on  July 14th, 1865.   Douglas, Hudson, Hadow and Croz were killed  on the descent when Hadow slipped and pulled the other three with him down the north face.  Whymper and Taugwalder ( the guide) who survivied were later accused of having cut the rope below to ensure that they were not dragged down with the others,but the subsequent inquiry found no proof of this and they were acquitted.  ( The snapped rope is in a glass case in the museum).  

The big building in the background is the Zermatterhof Hotel.  It has been a landmark in Zermatt since 1879 when the citizens of Zermatt constructed the hotel themselves without payment. By the late 19th century, the remote mountains village of Zermatt had become an up-and-coming summer resort. The Monte Rosa and Mont Cervin hotels of the Seiler family were already welcoming guests.  The parish priest of Zermatt, Josef Ruden, came up with the idea that the old families of Zermatt should build a hotel for their own benefit. 

Between 1876 and 1879, the citizens of Zermatt made Father Ruden's vision a reality:the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof with 94 rooms and 150 beds, it was now the largest hotel in the village.  To avoid burdening the community with excessive debt, the citizens had to º commit to working on the project without payment. Unfortunately the hotel was closed when we were there.  We visited between seasons and several hotels and restaurants were closed.  

Several clusters of traditional shacks, called mazots, set on stone stilts ( to keep out mice) and topped by stone -slab roofs can be seen off the main drag.  Little more than a century ago the mazots and the church were the only buildings standing in this town.  

The view of our balcony on this sunlit day.  

This was such a delicious meal - veal cooked Zurich style with Rosti ( hashbrowns)!

Sharon enjoyed rosti with cheese and ham!

We woke up the next morning and clouds were surrounding the countryside.  A beautiful mist!

Again, the view from our balcony.

We walked to town after enjoying a great breakfast in the hotel with the intention of visiting the Matterhorn Museum.  We found out it didn't open until 1400 so we wandered around the town.  

Pictures in front of a watch store.  What could be more appropriate.  

Well, maybe a Swiss Chocolate shop.

Down the street - the rain falling gently. 

Found this barrel 

with this cute sitting area inside. 

And the rain turned to snow!

Such fun to be in the mountains and have the snow fall.  Big, heavy flakes!

Time to take out the selfie stick.  Sharon was doing some shopping so I thought I'd get the stick all set up so we could do a shot together in the snow.  

It's working!

Always to takes awhile to get the camera located just right.  

Almost.

Better.

Best, except I have my tongue sticking out.  

We had purchased a few things so we sent back to the hotel --  This is the view from balcony at that time.  

Finally 1400 and we set out to the museum.   Most of the museum is underground, as it's meant to look like an archeeological dig where you can unearth the history of Zeermatt and its famous mountain.  

It focuses on the 19th century, when Zermatt saw the advent of mountaineering and the golden age of tourism.  What had been a tiny, backwater village became a major detination, known worldwide.  

You can see reproductions of an old hotel, church, barn and other buildings from Zermatt's past.  The displays show typical furnishings, tools, stuffed alpine fauna, as well as exhibits on the city's mountaineering history.  

A replica of the Monte Rosa Hotel.

A picture of Teddy Roosevelt in the hotel.  

The mountain guides' hut, you can press the buttons to see the different routes up the Matterhorn.  Only half of the people who attempt this climb make it to the top.  

One of th pictures which I failed to get is of Ulrich Inderbinden, who climbed the Matterhorn more than 370 times the last when he was 90 years old.  Indderbinden died in 2004 at the age of 104.  Mountain climbing must be good for you.  Perhaps I shall take it up.  If I can do it till I'm 90 I have 20 good years of  climbing ahead of me.  I'll have to give it some thought.  

The Monte Rosa Hotel.  It too was closed.  

But we did find a nice place to stop and warm up and dry out.  

Time to eat once again - rack of lamp in a pesto crust with boiled potatoes and spinach.

Sharon had asparagus, potatoes and smoked ham with hollandaise sauce.  Very good food at the Hotel Polluck.  

Our trip home began again in the little electric car which took us from the hotel to the train station.  

Once on the train and heading to our frist change of trains with our now not so light luggage we just enjoyed seeing the beautiful surroundings now dusted with a layer of snow.  

Loved the roofs on the buildings - large shingles now surrounded by snow.  

Great windows on the Swiss trains.  Full size and very clean!  

A little reflection but still pretty pictures.  Lake Maggiore, the second largest lake in Italy.  

We arrived home safely after a most enjoyable week in Switzerland.  This weekend we head to Lake Como and that area and than only a few days left until we fly back to the states.