In Bern after hiking in the Alps

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Peggy: Cow bells, cheese, chocolate, mountains and efficiency--it's all true about this\r

landlocked country without any natural frontiers, without a common language, culture,\r

or religion. What we have experienced is a delightful journey in the French and \r German speaking parts of Switzerland. After Leysin, we spent two nights in a small\r mountain village (Gimmerwald), accessible only by cable car or a very steep 2 hour\r hike. With rolling duffels for luggage, we opted for the cable car and its rapid\r ascent up the rock face of a glacial valley. We saw snow on the summits of the \r Jungfrau and marveled at the shower in the glass phone booth next door to the guest\r house. The village school house (for 19 students) seemed well equipped with multiple\r computers, and numerous pairs of Birkenstock sandals in the student cubbies....!\r This is a dairy farming community, but the cows were still mostly up in the higher\r pastures. Firewood is stacked everywhere under eaves in preparation for the winter\r snows soon to come. We awoke in this village to mist and fog, but after some school\r work (yes algebra even up here!), saw the clouds lifting and ventured forth higher\r into the mountains (on foot) . We felt like we were home in NH, in autumn, with \r the yellow leaves falling, and then SNOW! Sunshine, clouds, snow and fog alternated\r

throughout the day as we gawked at the high peaks of the Eiger and Jungfrau, while\r listening to the cowbells of nearby settlements. Esther, our guest house host provided\r organic ground beef for our spaghetti supper, as well as yogurt and milk and cheese\r for breakfast. It is a precarious existence as a dairy farmer these days (government\r subsidized here as well as in the states), so income from a guest house and small\r dairy sales are appreciated. Snow blanketed the village that night and we snuggled\r under our duvets (down comforters for our non-European readers). A couple of days later we enjoyed another great hike with close up views of the north face of the Eiger, and lots of snow falling on us!\r

Although our French language capabilities are reasonable, our Swiss German is \r non-existent. Fortunately, English seems to be the second language, so we can make\r the necessary transactions that way. We stumbled upon our second best 'museum'\r in Europe yesterday, the glass blowing factory in Hergiswil (south of Luzern). In\r English, we were walked through the 200+ years of glass blowing in Swizerland with\r a combination of audio and visual programs, then gawked at the men working with \r the molten glass and crafting it into vases, bowls and ashtrays right before our\r eyes. (We also noted the lack of required safety equipment--craftsmen moving the\r molten glass wearing sandals, short sleeves, shorts and no eye protection. All \r seemed healthy and calm however!) Taryn and Alec each had an opportunity to blow\r a glass sphere, which now we have somehow to figure out how to ship home. A superb\r and illuminating morning!\r We've also learned about the cheese making process in Gruyeres, Mr. Cailler and\r his chocolate making (factory nearby with lots of free samples afterwards!)and today\r will explore the ancient clock tower here in Bern. Then onto Paris where we will\r meet up with Duncan again and he will dazzle us with his advanced French skills!\r All continue to be healthy and engaged with the journey. Hope you are too! \r \r (Scott:) still working with airtreks folks to get the photos loaded, including the Spain entries. Will let you know.... Thanks for all your emails; we love to hear news from back home!