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SWITZERLAND The trip to Switzerland in 1999 was the first trip we took as a group through the tour company of Alumni Holidays Abroad. And what a trip it was!
If, by chance, you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, you would have especially enjoyed Meiringen’s connection to Holmes by visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum...
Did you know that Switzerland is called the fountain of the earth? Cold clear water flows continuously from the Alps and one can go to any of the several outdoor water fountains and refill a water bottle, secure in its cold freshness. One has only to turn to any hillside to find a glorious waterfall. You certainly know of Switzerland’s policy of neutrality, but did you know that they follow the age-old dictum: “If you want peace, be prepared for war?” Everywhere are signs of military activity since all able bodied men have compulsory military service. All have guns and practice three weeks of every year until age 32, then three two-week refreshers over the next ten years and compulsory annual shooting practice until age 50. Switzerland also has the second-largest merchant fleet of any land-locked country.
We spent a day in Lucerne with its beautiful lake and covered bridge.
Some of us traveled up the cog railway to JungFraujoch – where we dined at the Top of Europe and toured the ice caves carved into the glacial ice.
We also visited several historical sites including the Ballenberg Open-air Museum of 70 restored historical buildings...
...had two outdoor lunched provided by our hotel in scenic locations,
...and had lectures on mountaineering and mountain rescues and the hydroelectric plants. In addition, we met with local residents to explore today’s lifestyles in Switzerland. We even sang songs while hiking glacial trails. What a trip! We made new lifetime friends...and that was only the first trip of a wonderful series.
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We
really liked the educational component of the journey and the
fact that we only had to unpack once. We stayed at the small
city of Meiringen nestled in and serving as the supply and
shopping area of the mountains of the Bernese Oberland. 
While
we were there in September, the cows came down from the high
summer meadows to winter in the warmer and safer lower pastures
and barns. It is a time of celebration, with lead cows and
their big bells and floral decorations.
