August 16th post

August 15

leaving Fussen, southern Germany and onto Switzerland.

I can't and pictures never will capture the countryside. Most of my pics today are form the bus, I just keep clicking and through out the blurry ones when I get back on the computer. The scenery is amazing! I hope you can enjoy the experience through the pics. (I actually writing this blog on the 16^th – wait'll you see today's pics.!)

the trip into Switzerland is really wonderful; and even has a Luther connection – Zwingli was the Swiss reformer while Luther was in Germany.

Fascinating Swiss – as you go through some of the tunnels you will see what looks like emergency doors. When the tunnels were built, they also built bomb shelters. They keep tins of food/water/oil for a 1-2 year supply. At the end of every 2 years the contents are restocked and the tins go on sale. Oh, I failed to mention – there's room for 20,000 people (in that mountain alone). Reasoning: the Swiss will be here, no matter what comes. Pride or selfish pride? Gotta take a break and view the scenery.

Just are returning from Trummelbach Falls and Interlochen. The falls are a glacial falls inside a moutain. Cold, wet, thunderous – wow. Then at the bottom it turns into a gentle meandering river. What an experience. Took a tram halfway up, then walked ot the top, and walked all the way down – 462 steps, in case you're windering; then at the bottom there's a 42 step rise to view the first section again. Most of the group got to the tram ride, a dew didn't do the steps and came back down.

The mountains were all acloud today – couldn't see Jungfrau (13,000+ feet) and Eiger (really wanted to see that, having seen the Eiger Sanction so many times. But still amazed by the mountains we could see. Massive waterfalls barreling down the rock faces everywhere. Nice place to visit, but reall expensive. Ice cream bar costs 3.50 swiss francs – over 4.00 USD. Had lunch at an alehouse. And yes, of course, another glass of beer!

Karina did CHOCOLAT shopping – bought for friends and selves. We're currently climbing into the clouds – can't see the valleys below. Coming out the same way we went in, so can appreciuate what we couldn't see earlier.

Kathy S. Has been looking for her Mountainman – but thus far has only found the mountain.

Sorry, kid.

Can you believe it? Interlochen!

Heading back to Lucerne. What a day! Have internet access so will hopefully get the messages forwarded.

Guten Tag.

d.


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