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Travel Photos – Europe: Switzerland
Locations visited in Switzerland included Lausanne, Zurich, Ascona, Lavertezza, Zermatt, and Klein Matterhorn.
The week-long International Conference on Clouds and Precipitation afforded me a trip to Zurich for a week. It immediately followed the WMO International Cloud Modeling Workshop in Clermont–Ferrand, France the week prior. We drove from the latter to Zurich over the weekend, which provided lots of sights to see but not much time to dwell in any one place to take many photographs. Besides, we had nearly a week planned after Zurich to tour more of Switzerland before returning home via Paris.
Zurich to Ascona
We took a scenic route leaving Zurich and passing through Chur to the southeast before heading southwest to Locarno/Ascona. We stopped intermittently to enjoy the sights but didn't linger much. We passed near to Liechtenstein but decided it best to come back in a future year to visit that country with more time. Upon arriving in Locarno, we immediately relaxed in the wonderful waters of Lago Maggiore. The water temperature was absolutely ideal on this August night and the hotel and center of town were perfectly situated a short stroll away.
Side trip: Lavertezza
We followed the hotel's advice for a day trip and visited the town of Lavertezza a short drive away. Not only was the town picturesque, but the river feeding into Lago di Vogorno was superb. For centuries, the crystal clear mountain stream has carved through rocks and created visual masterpieces of layered rock. Downstream, an incredible dam was masterfully constructed in combination with the existing cliffs. This site was used for a dramatic jump in the opening parts of the James Bond movie Goldeneye.
Locarno to Zermatt
Another hectic driving day followed, but we were determined to see the Alps in all their grandeur. For the portion from Realp to Oberwald, we let someone else do the driving: a train engineer. A car-carrying train took us through the Furkatunnel. Afterwards, we were refreshed for the remaining drive down a dramatic valley to Visp where we slept in a tiny room above a bar. The following day we awoke early to hop a gondola as early as possible from Zermatt up to Klein Matterhorn. This was the Alps alright. Even though we are usually accustomed to high altitudes from living in Colorado, we had been at lower altitudes for over two weeks and the rapid ascent up the mountain suddenly hit us both. We didn't stay at altitude any longer and came back to mid-mountain for a warming cup of cocoa.
Zermatt to Italian border
After that brief bout of altitude sickness, the descent put us back to normal and we decided that more summer-like temperatures would feel terrific; after all it was August and we had no winter clothes or outerwear for an extended stay in the Alps. Therefore we made a rush decision to be swimming in the Mediterranean Sea by daybreak. It was a grueling drive to go from Zermatt at midday over the crest of the Alps on the Italian border at Grand Saint-Bernard, then through Aosta, Torino, and finally reach the Italian Riveria at Spotorno. However, upon waking the next morning, we were able to relax on the beach and swim in some of the nicest water of our lives.
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Suggested reading & related info:
Book: Rick Steves' Switzerland (Rick Steves)
Book: Fodor's Switzerland, 44th Edition
Book: Frommer's Switzerland
Web: Switzerland travel guide by WikiTravel