There are two things that I really enjoy about Rigi: it has two railways going up and down the opposite sides of the mountain to offer different views and both railways are included as a normal rail line with no supplement charged. What I didn’t do so well was visiting Read more…
On a recent ICE trip from Berlin to Bremen, I read in the Süddeutsche Zeitung that the German government will cut VAT for train tickets in 2020 to just 7% (about 10% off ticket price at present 19.5% VAT rates) and consider raising taxes for flights. I am in total Read more…
If I’ve written, complained, and praised the German railways, Amtrak, Vancouver’s West Coast Express, Thalys, the Euro Star, and China Railway Highspeed, I might as well do it for the Swiss railways while I’m here. Between June and Christmas, I’ve visited 57 Swiss cities, 3 German cities, and 5 peaks Read more…
Thun, pronounced as “toon” as in “cartoon”, is probably one of the most liveable places in Switzerland. Thun is also the name of tuna in German, though if you ask if tuna comes for this lake the locals will roll their eyes at you. Trust me, I tried. Located right Read more…
The best way to reach Spiez is by bus 1 from Thun, remember to sit on the left so you get a great view of the Bernese mountains around the Thunersee. When you reach Thun, you’ll be able to see the whole town from the bus stop at the train Read more…
While I hesitate to put too many photos on my other posts about Swiss cities, I have no problem being liberal with photos for Solothurn. The whole attraction of Solothurn is its 17th century Baroque architecture; it’s just like Dresden except everything is original. The crown jewel of Solothurn is Read more…
Like any other touristic Alpine town, Zermatt relies heavily on the skiing activities on its surrounding slopes for an income. Starting off as a destination for the wealthy that could afford to take weeks off on holiday, the first holidayers came in when the narrow gauge railway was open. The Read more…
Colloquially known as “Toblerone Mountain”, that peak actually has a name – the Matterhorn. Now say it again with a German accent. There you go. Use the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn to go from Visp to Zermatt on the same scenic route that the Glacier Express uses. Be sure to ride Read more…
Cue James Bond theme for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service because this is the peak where it was filmed. The Piz Gloria is perched on the top of the Schilthorn at nearly 3000m above sea level, but if it wasn’t for the Bond film it might have never been completed. Read more…
At over 1,700m above sea level, Hoher Kasten has the third highest revolving restaurant in the country beaten only by the ones on Saas Fee and the Schilthorn. Located in Appenzell Innerrhoden, which itself is surrounded by Appenzell Ausserrhoden on three sides, which itself is surrounded entirely by St. Gallen, Read more…