So now we're on our way to Bern Switzerland. Bern is about 2 hours by car from Visp so we had a nice scenic drive. I wish I would taken a picture but Rolf has a sweet Audi S6 wagon that made the trip that much better.
Maybe he was driving a little too fast because this guy showed up behind us. Luckily they we'ren't interested in us.
Along the way we stopped at this castle, Chateau Chillon. It's on it's own pennisula so it can not be over taken by land or sea. It's a museum now but we didn't go in. Elaina and I are all museumed out.
Now in Bern, Rolf wanted to take us to this shopping mall. Not to shop though, he said that the architecture had to be seen and he was right. It was totally new and fresh, especially for a shopping mall.
This is a major highway that drives underneath and out the other side of the mall. I was curious as to who mantains the tunnel? The mall owner or the city highway department? I know, I'm a nerd.
Here's the interior, it's a staggered 3 and 4 level mall. You can't walk more than 50 yards without going up or down an escaltor to another tier. This is very appealing to the eye and to the mind it makes you lose track of how far you've really walked. The old long straight malls that we have in the states are intimidating to the mind and not very inviting to walk along. This one makes you want to know, "what's next".
They even have trees inside!
Elaina likes the ceiling treatment in this store. Try and ignore my big head.
This is where you put your garbage while walking along the mall. There is a slot for every type that you may have, plastic, paper, glass, batteries, and food waste. Very clever as it also keeps trash cans out of the walking path.
Elaina and MORE chocolate
Now we're in downtown Bern walking the city, it's very chilly this day. Here is the capital building, this is where all of Switzerland's congress sits. Cool fountain too.
Some people playing chess outside of a cafe. They don't know each other they just all jump in and create teams.
This is probably the nicest train station we've seen on our trip. It has a little shopping area and eateries. See those blue and purple lights in the background?
Bern used to have stone walls barricading the entire city during the first world war. They kept these walls in tact and now they are the structural walls of the train station. They highlight portions of the wall through the station, it's a nice historic touch to such a modern and contemporary building.
This is the Einstein House. It was closed for tours but this is where he came up with his famous formula of relativity, E = MC2.
Along the main street in Bern there are tons of these little shops that are under ground. The doors open up and you just walk down.
At the end of the street there is this HUGE clock tower, it's not only a clock, but a coo-coo-clock. Very Swiss.
Elaina couldn't control herself! I refused to buy it for her!!!
On our way to dinner over looking the river.
At one end of the bridge they have bears on display because that's what Bern means, bear. This bear must be upset, he uprooted all of his trees they planted for him.
This was the bridge we were just on.
Time for a little drink before dinner. PROST!
Elaina and Benita really got along well like I knew they would. They couldn't communicate with each other very well but they somehow found a way to make fun and laugh at Rolf and I whenever they could. They were always laughing?! Elaina is a firm believer that 'smiling' is a universal language, she and Benita used it often.
I wanted to order the sausage again but I had to resist. Elaina couldn't help herslf though.
Big beers are always welcome. No time for picture taking, must drink!
After dinner back at Rolf and Benita's place we looked at their wedding pictures which came out really nice. She made us these after dinner drinks. Fresh strawberries with a sugared rim and a grappa alcohol made by Benita's father with grapes from Rolf's vineyard! Elaina and I need to learn how they do it. They make everything themselves and they do it WELL!
The next morning they had another great spread for us. The food is just sitting there because I'm still in the bathroom getting ready. Rolf was worried we weren't going to make our trian because we were leaving Switzerland this morning. Sorry Rolf!
We made our train on time with a little jogging and heavy breathing. Rolf and Benita were so good to us we can't wait to come back and see their new place once it is built in a few years. Here they are bidding us farewel.
Robot really liked them too!
This was the last time we saw Rolf and Benita, they ran along side the train as we took off, how sweet! We'll miss you guys!!!
Next stop, AMSTERDAM!!!
Maybe he was driving a little too fast because this guy showed up behind us. Luckily they we'ren't interested in us.
Along the way we stopped at this castle, Chateau Chillon. It's on it's own pennisula so it can not be over taken by land or sea. It's a museum now but we didn't go in. Elaina and I are all museumed out.
Now in Bern, Rolf wanted to take us to this shopping mall. Not to shop though, he said that the architecture had to be seen and he was right. It was totally new and fresh, especially for a shopping mall.
This is a major highway that drives underneath and out the other side of the mall. I was curious as to who mantains the tunnel? The mall owner or the city highway department? I know, I'm a nerd.
Here's the interior, it's a staggered 3 and 4 level mall. You can't walk more than 50 yards without going up or down an escaltor to another tier. This is very appealing to the eye and to the mind it makes you lose track of how far you've really walked. The old long straight malls that we have in the states are intimidating to the mind and not very inviting to walk along. This one makes you want to know, "what's next".
They even have trees inside!
Elaina likes the ceiling treatment in this store. Try and ignore my big head.
This is where you put your garbage while walking along the mall. There is a slot for every type that you may have, plastic, paper, glass, batteries, and food waste. Very clever as it also keeps trash cans out of the walking path.
Elaina and MORE chocolate
Now we're in downtown Bern walking the city, it's very chilly this day. Here is the capital building, this is where all of Switzerland's congress sits. Cool fountain too.
Some people playing chess outside of a cafe. They don't know each other they just all jump in and create teams.
This is probably the nicest train station we've seen on our trip. It has a little shopping area and eateries. See those blue and purple lights in the background?
Bern used to have stone walls barricading the entire city during the first world war. They kept these walls in tact and now they are the structural walls of the train station. They highlight portions of the wall through the station, it's a nice historic touch to such a modern and contemporary building.
This is the Einstein House. It was closed for tours but this is where he came up with his famous formula of relativity, E = MC2.
Along the main street in Bern there are tons of these little shops that are under ground. The doors open up and you just walk down.
At the end of the street there is this HUGE clock tower, it's not only a clock, but a coo-coo-clock. Very Swiss.
Elaina couldn't control herself! I refused to buy it for her!!!
On our way to dinner over looking the river.
At one end of the bridge they have bears on display because that's what Bern means, bear. This bear must be upset, he uprooted all of his trees they planted for him.
This was the bridge we were just on.
Time for a little drink before dinner. PROST!
Elaina and Benita really got along well like I knew they would. They couldn't communicate with each other very well but they somehow found a way to make fun and laugh at Rolf and I whenever they could. They were always laughing?! Elaina is a firm believer that 'smiling' is a universal language, she and Benita used it often.
I wanted to order the sausage again but I had to resist. Elaina couldn't help herslf though.
Big beers are always welcome. No time for picture taking, must drink!
After dinner back at Rolf and Benita's place we looked at their wedding pictures which came out really nice. She made us these after dinner drinks. Fresh strawberries with a sugared rim and a grappa alcohol made by Benita's father with grapes from Rolf's vineyard! Elaina and I need to learn how they do it. They make everything themselves and they do it WELL!
The next morning they had another great spread for us. The food is just sitting there because I'm still in the bathroom getting ready. Rolf was worried we weren't going to make our trian because we were leaving Switzerland this morning. Sorry Rolf!
We made our train on time with a little jogging and heavy breathing. Rolf and Benita were so good to us we can't wait to come back and see their new place once it is built in a few years. Here they are bidding us farewel.
Robot really liked them too!
This was the last time we saw Rolf and Benita, they ran along side the train as we took off, how sweet! We'll miss you guys!!!
Next stop, AMSTERDAM!!!
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