Swiss Chalets & Houses

As you might expect the architecture was interesting in Switzerland.

The houses were so perfectly "Swiss Chalet" just like on postcards. Especially out in the alps, the farm houses were adorable and every window had an over flowing flower box.

It's just amazing how they built houses very high into the alps in spots you had to wonder how they were able to reach.

Such detail. Even looking up you were treated to designs on the undersides of overhanging roofs.

Love all the flowers. I saw this consistently throughout Switzerland. They took a lot of care to decorate with planted flowers.

Colors and textures!

Who wouldn't love living here?

And so many of the houses were quite, quite old. I'm not sure what they feed their flowers in Switzerland (milk?) but it's working.

I'm inspired to pay more attention to the window boxes on our own house now!

This is the last of the Switzerland post! I think I've got it out of my system now. Time for fall and Hallowene posts!

Swiss Bikes

Bike were everywhere in Switzerland... just as in everyother European country I've visited. The train stations had "bike parking lots" that were jammed full.

Bikes in Europe are great... so well built with special details. Look at the leather seat on this one!

Did you know... "In Almost Every European Country, Bikes Are Outselling New Cars"? We could use a little bit of that.

Shops in Bern and Thun

While Aaron was in class in Switzerland (which was the entire point of the trip) I had time to wander around Bern and Thun. Unlike the US shops close early, 5pm and are not open on Sundays. When they were open, I enjoyed browsing and window shopping.

Even if it's raining in Bern, you can stay nice and dry as you are shopping because all the streets have arcades. After the city burned down in 1405, it was decided that all sidewalks should be covered with covered sandstone arcades.

Albert Einstein even wrote to his fiancée in 1902.. "Both sides of the road are completely lined by old arcades so that one can stroll from one end of the city to the other in the worst downpour without getting noticeably wet,"

Another unique feature in Bern was the use of basement space. Along the street you would see cellar doors similar to what Dorthy was trying to get to during the Wizard of Oz tornado.

The Bernese make good use of these basements by occupying them with shops.

You could even find cafes down through those cellar doors.

Similarly, in Thun, there were two levels of shops. Not necessarily basements... but there were ground level shops which then had sidewalks on their roofs with access to another level of shops.

Fodor says it better... "On the Old Town's main shopping thoroughfare pedestrians stroll along flowered terrace sidewalks built on the roofs of the stores' first floors and climb down stone stairs to visit the "sunken" street-level shops."

Such good use of space.

Swiss Doors

There are so many interesting details to take in when traveling in old cities. We kept pointing out the ornate doors. And what is that little thing on the lower left?

Aaron thought the doors were way too short.

See what I mean? Look at these lion door handles.

Swiss Water & Fountains

One of Aaron's Swiss classmates told me that Switzerland's only natural resource is water. It flows down from the Alps and is fresh and clean. Pictured above is a grate that covers a stream that flows under the main street Kramgasse (Grocers Alley). Apparently is used to be open, but too many cars drove into it and got stuck so they placed grates over it.

Every city we visited seemed to have a large amount of fountains. Especially Bern! Bern has over 100 fountains! Many of them have decorative sculptures which are listed here.

The strangest one is this Kindlifresserbrunnenm aka ogre eating babies. Wha?!

These Brunnen (fountains), used to be the city's water sources and meeting spots. They can be found throughout the city.

The Zähringerbrunnen fountain in front of the Zytglogge. Check out the girl drinking from it on this website. Oh and here.

All the Swiss kept telling us we could drink the water from the fountains as many do. They said it was clean and fresh. The cleanest water in the world. Aaron didn't hesitate.

I got sick once in Italy from drinking the water but I finally gave in. I'm happy to report neither of us got sick.

Smashed Swiss coins

I have been collection smashed pennies from tourist spots for many years now so I got pretty excited when I saw what I thought was a penny smasher in Switzerland. But they don't have pennies in Switzerland so it was a Swiss Franc smasher!

I only found one more machine, at the top of Jungfrau but they will certainly stand out in my smashed coin collection.

Bears in Switzerland

I mentioned before how bears were a sort of mascot of Bern, Switzerland.

It seems like I found bears all over Switzerland though.

On doors...

Murals...

Fountains...

The bear in this sculpture was an especially helpful sort of bear.

Swiss Birds

As soon as we started exploring Zurich, I had suspicions that the Swiss had shipped in swans and strategically placed them in picturesque spots to up the visual appeal of their cities.

They were very willing to pose for photos.

Yes, thank you. That is very nice.

Ahhh. Now I see why they are willing to pose. Bits of delcious baked goods tossed to them on a regular basis.

A good photo made even better with the addition of swans.

Another bird encounter... a little more strange. At the top of Jungfrau... where it was cold and windy and blustery, we found these black birds hanging out.

They were pretty friendly. Posing for pictures and hoping for a handout. I couldn't imagine HOW they got so high up in the mountains! I watched them fling themselves from the Sphinx and plummet down into the white clouds. Nutty!

UPDATE: Turns out those birds at the top of Jungfrau are called Alpine Choughs. Thank you to Allycatz for letting me know in my comments!

Swiss Cats & Dogs

I missed Oscar, Hugo and Stewie when we were in Swizerland, so I liked seeing cats and dogs out and about, even took pictures when I could.

In Switzerland, you can could take your dog into restaurants and shops.

Sometimes they went in on their own... hah!

Patiently waiting in Thun.

Kitties were often wandering the cobblestone streets.

Luckily there aren't as many cars there.

Domo in Switzerland

When we went to Hawaii last year and San Diego this summer, we forgot Domo and he hasn't let us forget it. I made sure he came along to Switzerland. Here he is in Zurich.

Domo on Üetilberg overlooking Zurich.

Domo on Lake Thun by the Swiss Alps.

Domo loves sightseeing.

Swiss Chestnuts

Chestnuts appeared to be very popular in Switzerland. I first noticed them for sale from vendors on the streets. They roast them right there and you buy them in a little paper sack.

Every street seemed to have a roasted chestnut stand. I got a small bag and they tasted pretty much like they do when my mom roasts them. Aaron was desperate for a beverage after eating two. (dry)

I even found some lying on the ground in Thun.

This flower arrangement in the Oberhofen Castle included chestnuts which made me laugh. My parents have a few chestnut trees and those burs are deadly (not literally). So sharp and if you step on one... OW!