#53 From the Top of the Alps to Lakeside Lucerne

After breakfast in Interlaken, we climbed into the coach for the short ride to Kleine Scheidegg at the foot of the Eiger. In a light rain, we boarded a cogwheel train for the scenic climb to Europe's highest railway station, at the Jungfraujoch (perched at 11,333 feet above sea level). Called "the Top of Europe," we found a restaurant, observatory, a gallery of ice sculpture, and breathtaking views of the glacier-clad Bernese Alps. Partly within the glacier, we enjoyed a little reception at the ice bar.

Magically, the clouds lifted and the sun peaked through so we could see the views of the peaks of the Eiger, Jungfrau, and Mönch surrounding the viewing platform. Some other hardy folks were strapping on their ice shoes and going for a hike on the glacier. I preferred my hot chocolate and tour of the Lindt chocolate shop. On our descent from the summit, we loaded onto what is advertised as the most modern gondola in the world, the Eiger Express, opened in February of 2022. The ride was smooth and the views were of the summit and the valley below were stunning. The skiers will love this state-of-the-art lift.

After an afternoon to relax in Interlaken, we left the next day to tour Switzerland’s capitol, Bern. The city center has medieval origins and has been recognized by UNESCO as a Cultural World Heritage Site. Perhaps its most famous sight is the Zytglogge (Bernese German for "Time Bell"), an elaborate medieval clock tower with moving puppets. Crowds gather hourly to see the mechanical show.

We also walked through the city Rose Garden and saw where the resident city bears live in their fenced-in quarters on the side of a hill. From there we went into the town for a tour, lunch at a beautiful hotel, and of course, some shopping.

Switzerland is one of those places where you can’t believe that each day you will find a city that is even prettier than the one you just left. It happened every day. After leaving Bern, we came to settle in Lucerne for the last two days and nights of our trip. We checked into a beautiful hotel facing the expansive lake with stunning views of the alps in the distance. We had plenty of time to explore the charming town and stroll the lake and riverfront.

On a walking tour, we found the famous Lion carved into of the face of a limestone hill. Perhaps the most famous place in Lucerne is the Castle Bridge. Since the city straddles the Reuss where it drains the lake, it has a number of bridges. These include the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), a 204 m (669 ft) long wooden covered bridge originally built in 1333. It is the oldest covered bridge in Europe, although much of it had to be replaced after a fire in 1993.

Partway across, the bridge runs by the octagonal Water Tower (Wasserturm), a fortification from the 13th century. Inside the bridge are a series of paintings from the 17th century depicting events from Lucerne's history. Sadly many of these were lost in the fire.

Painting on the Castle Bridge photo by
Joan Naidorf

If there is a lake, then of course, there will be a scenic boat ride across it to some picturesque village where some celebrities have their summer homes. We had our farewell dinner with the some of the local music. On the way back to Lucerne, we were treated to the sight of a brilliant sun setting over the city scape of the town. This was a fitting ending to a trip packed with natural beauty and friendly travelling companions. The beauty of Switzerland is not just catalogued in art museums, it is in plain sight all around us. With the right planning and with modest effort, that vision of beauty can be yours too.

#53 From the Top of the Alps to Lakeside Lucerne

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