More History in Switzerland as we climb.....

Searching everywhere in Martigny for the known Roman left-overs, the Roman Amphitheatre, we stumbled into the Museum dedicated to the famous Bernadino mountain dogs. Here we met George the original, stuffed but still smiling and I might say many of his followers.

 The Roman Amphitheatre was located right next door and well hidden under platforms and modern seating arrangements...ready for the on-coming wrestling display.





George sprang to attention almost when he realised
 he had visitors from Australia (almost). I've included the winter photo, snow and all, to give some idea of the size of the original complex high up in the mountain. And so we began our climb, winding narrow roads, however whenever History caught our attention, we had to stop. Fancy Napoleon and his thousands of dedicated followers joining us in our expedition...we were only interested in the life-saving dogs after all. But soon our point of interest changed.
In 1798 following the French Revolution Napoleon invaded Switzerland, his forces taking over Bern (1198) and thus establishing the Helvetic Republic. This was not a popular move but all has been forgiven and the nuggety little Frenchman is now being remembered all the way up the mountainside. His amazing trek marked across the mountain top directing thousands in an attempt to cross into Italy. And so did we, almost......

Go Back! Go Back! You are leaving Switzerland! God's own country!












Over 46 thousand troops under his command? How would he feature on Facebook today with so many friends? That's not him by the way pointing to Switzerland...I suspect it is St Bernardine showing us the way to the hospital.

A bit of History in Switzerland!

Yes from day one we managed to cross off items on our bucket list without even trying. We stumbled on the Devil's Bridge. Switzerland's most famous landmark, the one and only access available to anyone who might have wanted to access Switzerland to the South during 1410. If you can read German it is all written on the plague below.

 It was my first opportunity to use my new Fisheye lens hence the weird stomach-churning images. My male model was not aware that I was doing this but I think I managed quite well.

The bridge at the top of the picture is now a railway bridge which leads through den Gotthard mountain.

Below someone has left a thank you in remembrance that somehow it must have been God's Will then to protect Switzerland from the Devil's Plans to infiltrate free Switzerland.
Each photo can be enlarged by simply clicking on it/not this time it seems...I have tried...maybe I need to publish it first.

 

Brrrr! Ice caves and Ice glaciers!

You might say dear reader that all glaciers are made of brrr. ice ! But no, there are some made of gravel, soil and all sorts of mountain material.
So lets freeze ourselves for a minute or three or even twenty...long enough to warm up the battery of my camera in each pocket and then go on...snap and click at the ice created images inside the ice cave at the Jungfrau mountain range.

 These ice sculptures must be replaced every 24 hrs or so as their melting rate is rapid enough to distort their meaning very quickly. I couldn't believe the times quoted but I wasn't going to wait around to dispute them.

Perhaps it was the heat of their love that helped melt every ones heart?
My camera battery decided that enough was enough already...let me into your pocket!!! just to warm up a little...and it worked!









Who this guy is I can't disclose but he has obviously been sectioned a few times already...even if he was suitably attired in cap and all. You know that 90% of your body heat is lost through the top of your skull hence....wear a hat...without blowing your top! Ha!  Google has moved him down the page. And, no matter how hard I try his position on this page is pre-ordained!

Better put in a calming photograph to warm my humour!!

 Off to the Rhone Glacier! Here an ice cave has been created by the locals. A visit by the tourists who might want to cool down rapidly brings in a small income to those who want to keep the ice glacier intact. A canvas covering keeps the damaging sun rays off.
Some geologists would rather photograph the rocks...this I can understand...I needed a lone figure for my

 photograph anyway!

 This pleasing and warming outlook was taken from the bottom of the Rhone Valley...for those interested in spending their Sundays in reflection and indoors!

As promised....

How could I not keep my word? This experience was out of this world...yes, out of the Aussie environment for sure but also as advertised, the highest point of Europe.
To be able to get there we had to catch the first train of the day at 7.07am (we had given up the driving idea as there awaited us a 200.00Euro fine if we tried that again).
 The highest meteorological weather research station in Europe faced us. Not much work on that day, for some! The weather was like a hot summer's day We shed layer after layer the minute we stepped out of the heated reception building.

 But I managed to find some signs of the BIG WINTER! Only a few icicles were to be found hiding under a ledge or two. But then we saw the giant tooth sticking out into the sky. Click, click and we found ourselves slipping and sliding about on the icy snow. Of course no one saw me fall...lucky me...at my age we women are invisible as you might know. Nevertheless my camera did hit the ice as it landed...or as I tried to raise myself rather.....no damage!
Little did I know that my geological understanding was about to begin again. And I don't mean just looking around in amazement waiting for someone to come and pick me up but trying the narrow paths and climbs which were stirring my interest. Hadn't one fall been enough ? I asked myself as I took up the challenge before me. If they could do it (the young ones sunning themselves around the other side of the mountain), so could I.

 Of course the temptation was always there to stop for lunch like all those sensible people were doing.

  These photos are the evidence, I've decided, that ROCKS not only excite Geologists but very ordinary ....photographers, mountain climbers, walkers and maybe even retirees. Don't you agree?

More of the land of milk, cheese, chocolate and wine!

And no, I didn't put on any weight but yes I did indulge but who wouldn't have? Did you know that the chocolate that everyone buys anywhere and swallows with out thinking about it much is representative of one of Switzerland's tallest mountains. In fact it is the tallest and is described as being on the top of Europe. The triangular shape looks just like the Jungfrau mountain top. I'll include some mountainous images next time.
Back to my French-speaking family bringing down not only cows from the mountains but also their loved goats...of course goats' cheese is most popular and available in Switzerland.

 Do you think they'll keep this photo till I'm 21?, he asks. It wasn't my idea to ride in this cart!

The more things change....

The more they stay the same!! And life is a beach! Isn't it?
Or is it experiencing another culture? Or is life a mountain? A glacier or seven? A winding mountain road, your heart in your mouth as the on-coming vehicle surprises you? Or is it a country so small that you have to traverse it once or twice to fill in your week? What about a glorious Lake view with boats, ferries, mountains in the distance, leaves changing colour, tourists walking about and stopping here and there for a bite to eat.Hard to resist? Then again, there are the museums, the endless churches, the Palaces, the shopping malls, the foreign languages keeping you in the dark. French, German, Italian and, oh yes, thank God for English. Now that is a useful speak...nearly everyone can understand that even if you do speak Australian English. As one hotel manager  in Moscow said to me 'It is quite unusual, most Australians I can't understand, but you I have no trouble understanding.'
What about our experience in the fast train, 4hrs between Moscow and St. Petersburg, enjoying ourselves with new best friends, Russian sitting opposite. Two other Russians suddenly popped their heads between the seats and called....'All Americans are loud and noisy!' Maybe, we laughed! But we knew we were Australians, loud and noisy and thrilled to be enjoying the company of locals!
What about the Australian sense of determination....mountain road? Room for only one car, one truck? No worries? We managed it. Why not drive to the top of the Jungfrau/Matterhorn? The road is there to be used or is it? But everyone catches the train! They do? Yes and there is a 200.oo Euro fine for any car found on that road.  OOPS!!
The view below was the Italian border...the home of the famous St. Bernard dog...all dogs were sleeping when we visited but we could visit their hospital and chapel etc..A museum depicting their history kept us busy in the valley below but again, the dogs were sleeping and not interested in visitors. They did have a lovely grassy area to play on when in the mood.

We had typical Russian lunch in this brightly decorated B/B arranged by our tour guide- pickled vegetables, green salad, Bortsch soup and bread. Perhaps we also were offered beef stew, yes we were, for the main course.

Photographs below showed it was time (almost too late) to recover all cows and sundry from the mountains where they had been grazing in the summer. This was in the north-east of Switzerland and a fun day for all concerned. Huge traffic jams faced us as we tried to return to the freeway at the bottom of the valley.  

 Perth coastline at its best! And why wouldn't it be?
There is no place like home!!!