Switzerland 9 day itinerary feedback & critique welcomed
Aug 18th, 2013, 08:08 AM
#21
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Well Lausanne was our base while we explored the area from there over to Chillon. And we liked it--mainly because we had yet to head north.
Once we hit Bern and the Oberland, sorry, everything else paled.>
Yes indeedy - all else in wonderful Switzerland IME pales before the gems of the Jungfrau Region - the one region in a generally gorgeous Switzerland that will fulfill the dream Alpine wonderland picture etched in our minds' eyes - this should be the focus on any first-time trip to Switzerland IMO.
Once we hit Bern and the Oberland, sorry, everything else paled.>
Yes indeedy - all else in wonderful Switzerland IME pales before the gems of the Jungfrau Region - the one region in a generally gorgeous Switzerland that will fulfill the dream Alpine wonderland picture etched in our minds' eyes - this should be the focus on any first-time trip to Switzerland IMO.
Aug 19th, 2013, 12:16 PM
#22
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AZ...doesn't the sound of the cow bells stay with you long after you have left the BO? There is something so special about that sound...nothing says welcome to the BO like the gentle clang clang clang of the cow bell...dreaming of returning>
yeh yeh - when I think of say Grindelwald or Wengen or whatever place in the Berner Oberland I hear the gentle tinkling of cow bells in the near distance - heck even in Interlaken in the big meadow along the main drag you often have bell-toting cows.
yeh yeh - when I think of say Grindelwald or Wengen or whatever place in the Berner Oberland I hear the gentle tinkling of cow bells in the near distance - heck even in Interlaken in the big meadow along the main drag you often have bell-toting cows.
Aug 19th, 2013, 03:56 PM
#23
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PalenQ--We just got back from Slovenia. There are really pretty mountains there that remind one of Switzerland. But no sound of bells 24/7--so the mountains seemed like fake scenery in so many ways.
(We liked Slovenia, so I do not want anyone thinking I'm dissing the country.)
(We liked Slovenia, so I do not want anyone thinking I'm dissing the country.)
Aug 20th, 2013, 05:14 AM
#25
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But no sound of bells 24/7--so the mountains seemed like fake scenery in so many ways.>
Oddly enough I think the cows in Switzerland must be highly unprofitable to raise in one of the world's most expensive countries - I understand they have huge subsidies for them to keep a rural flavor - so in a way Swiss cows are fake too but they are also real and add such a romantic touch.
Oddly enough I think the cows in Switzerland must be highly unprofitable to raise in one of the world's most expensive countries - I understand they have huge subsidies for them to keep a rural flavor - so in a way Swiss cows are fake too but they are also real and add such a romantic touch.
Aug 20th, 2013, 06:40 AM
#26
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Pal...my Swiss cows are not fake...say it ain't so... 
Three years ago when we stayed in Lauterbrunnen I named the Swiss cows 'chocolate milk' cows because of their brown and white coloring.
When we arrived back in Lauterbrunnen last spring with our 27 year old son, and he saw his first cow he proclaimed, 'there's a chocolate milk cow'. That is now the official name of the BO cows.
I loved admiring/hearing them during our week in the area, so when we were out hiking and one approached me I was a bit startled/scared. That cow was as tall as me.
Three years ago when we stayed in Lauterbrunnen I named the Swiss cows 'chocolate milk' cows because of their brown and white coloring.
When we arrived back in Lauterbrunnen last spring with our 27 year old son, and he saw his first cow he proclaimed, 'there's a chocolate milk cow'. That is now the official name of the BO cows.
I loved admiring/hearing them during our week in the area, so when we were out hiking and one approached me I was a bit startled/scared. That cow was as tall as me.
Aug 20th, 2013, 07:33 AM
#27
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If you've ever been to Vergas, MN USA, a small rural farm town in northern Minnesota, (summer cabin) you will hear the cow bells there too. Of course, the scenery is flat as a pannekoken/crepe, so that is why I am leaving for BO in later September. This is by far one of my favorite places to escape to - I can't wait.
Aug 20th, 2013, 08:56 AM
#28
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Pal...my Swiss cows are not fake...say it ain't so.>
Well no they are real but only for show I've read - something the country values highly and thus subsidizes greatly - helps by not being in the EU on that one!
Well no they are real but only for show I've read - something the country values highly and thus subsidizes greatly - helps by not being in the EU on that one!
Aug 20th, 2013, 01:26 PM
#29
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You would have loved to be in Zurich a few years back where fake - real fake cows - life-size ones were placed around town - even all over the train station - I believe they actually did a world tour - yup Swiss and cows go hand in hand!
And there are annual Cow Parades:
https://www.google.com/search?q=swis...=1600&bih=1075
And there are annual Cow Parades:
https://www.google.com/search?q=swis...=1600&bih=1075
Aug 20th, 2013, 01:32 PM
#30
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We did a 10 day trip in Switzerland and you can see our itinerary and part of the trip report (which I unfortunately never found time to finish) with links to photos at
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ember-2010.cfm
It includes LOTS of details. We enjoyed our brief stay in Lucerne and especially the trip to Mt Pilatus. In the Berner Oberland, we based at the Hotel Staubach in Lauterbrunnen and did the Jungfraujoch, took the boats on Lakes Thun and Brienz (I would recommend the former over the latter), and enjoyed watching the para gliders in Interlaken, althought Interlaken itself we did not find attractive.
I see you have decided to stay in Lausanne, and the walk along the waterfront is nice. I would highly recommend taking the boat that passes by the Lavaux Vineyards on the way to Vevey - a delightful place to walk around - and Montreux, with its beautiful waterfront promenade. While that area isn't what people typicaly think of when they picture Switzerland, we felt very relaxed there and truly enjoyed it. We recommend eating at La Rouvenaz in Montreux.
Zermatt was very picturesque and we would love to return - just don't count on seeing the Matterhorn. It was very overcast when we visited and we caught only a very brief glimpse. But it did snow, so that was a treat for us. We stayed at the Hotel Daniela and were upgraded to a wonderful accommodation with a living room with fireplace and bathroom downstairs and a big bedroom and bathroom and a balcony upstairs.
Too bad that you have had to leave Stein am Rhein off your itinerary as it was a wonderful place to visit, and the train ride from Zurch via Winterthur passed some beautiful countryside.
Whatever you get to see, you will love it all as Switzerland is a beautiful, diverse country.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ember-2010.cfm
It includes LOTS of details. We enjoyed our brief stay in Lucerne and especially the trip to Mt Pilatus. In the Berner Oberland, we based at the Hotel Staubach in Lauterbrunnen and did the Jungfraujoch, took the boats on Lakes Thun and Brienz (I would recommend the former over the latter), and enjoyed watching the para gliders in Interlaken, althought Interlaken itself we did not find attractive.
I see you have decided to stay in Lausanne, and the walk along the waterfront is nice. I would highly recommend taking the boat that passes by the Lavaux Vineyards on the way to Vevey - a delightful place to walk around - and Montreux, with its beautiful waterfront promenade. While that area isn't what people typicaly think of when they picture Switzerland, we felt very relaxed there and truly enjoyed it. We recommend eating at La Rouvenaz in Montreux.
Zermatt was very picturesque and we would love to return - just don't count on seeing the Matterhorn. It was very overcast when we visited and we caught only a very brief glimpse. But it did snow, so that was a treat for us. We stayed at the Hotel Daniela and were upgraded to a wonderful accommodation with a living room with fireplace and bathroom downstairs and a big bedroom and bathroom and a balcony upstairs.
Too bad that you have had to leave Stein am Rhein off your itinerary as it was a wonderful place to visit, and the train ride from Zurch via Winterthur passed some beautiful countryside.
Whatever you get to see, you will love it all as Switzerland is a beautiful, diverse country.
Aug 20th, 2013, 02:41 PM
#31
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Ah...I would have loved to see the cows on parade. So much happiness in one place!
Is this just a 'regular' everyday cow parade or is this the parade of cows the villages have when the cows return from the mountains down to the valley?
Is this just a 'regular' everyday cow parade or is this the parade of cows the villages have when the cows return from the mountains down to the valley?
Aug 24th, 2013, 08:50 AM
#32
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Cows are sent into the hills in summer to graze and brought back in fall to barns - the parades are common in any area where such cow migrations take place - Alpine areas mainly, of course. So there are many I think.
