Aug 01 Swiss National Day

Today (Aug 1) is Swiss National Day commemorating what many consider to be the "Birthday of Switzerland" when an alliance was formed between the Cantons of Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden in 1291. The celebration, similar to the 4th of July in the U. S. includes community events and fireworks.
The country of Switzerland as we know it today with its Confederation of 26 Cantons has existed since 1815. Each Canton is semi-autonomous, much like the states in the USA. Switzerland is governed by 7 members of a Federal Council. Each member is elected for a 4 year term and heads one of seven government departments. The Council President serves for 1 year and then the Vice-President assumes that role. Like the U. S. there are 3 branches of the Federal Government. The Federal offices and Parliment are located in Bern. The ultimate goal is government "by the people" and it is said that no country allows its citizens to have their voices heard and to vote on more issues than Switzerland.

"Augustweggen", bread baked to celebrate Swiss National Day.

(displayed in a bakery window in Schwyz)

July 31 Lucerne and Schwyz

On Saturday we moved from Lauperswill in the Emmental region to a farm house overlooking Schwyz in central Switzerland. On the way, we made a stop in Lucerne to visit the old covered bridge and the Lion Memorial.

Flowers along the old covered bridge in Lucerne (aka Luzern).

Paintings under the roof of the old bridge.

View of the Alt Stadt from the covered bridge crossing the Reuss river.

The Reuss flows through the town out of Lake Lucerne.

The Lion Memorial (5 minute walk from the covered bridge).

Commemorates Swiss mercenary soldiers killed in the French Revolution.

(for details Google Lucerne Lion Memorial)

The sculpture itself is quite moving.

Road to the farm above Schwyz where we rented an apt for the week.

Our hostess is Frau Fassbind.

She is in her 80s but helps milk the cows in this barn morning and evening.

The cows are moved to and from the barn along this road.

The farm house (the apartment is on the lower level).

Frau Fassbind lives on the main level.

View from the farm to Lake Lucerne (on the left) and Schwyz below.

A smaller lake (Lauersei) is on the right.

The Gross (large) and Klein (small)

peak Mythen overlooking Schwyz.

There is a hiking trail to the top of Gross Mythen.

Schwyz is near the birthplace of the Swiss Confederacy.

The Swiss celebrate their National Day each year on August 1st.

July 30 Driving in Switzerland

Someone asked what it is like to drive in Switerland. Well for the most part it is a lot like driving in Nebraska. The rules of the road are basically the same and the courtesy of other drivers (or the lack of it) is also similar.
What is different are the roads themselves. Because of the hilly and mountainous terrain, the roads are never strait. One is always turning. Switzerland makes extensive use of round-abouts and stop lights are much less frequent.
On the main 4 lane roads, the speed limit is 100 km/hr (60 mph). The limit on the secondary roads generally varies from 40 to 80 km/hr (25 to 50 mph).
Tbe secondary and country roads follow century old routes originally developed for carts and wagons, They are narrow (or seem that way) as they rarely have shoulders or places to pull over. They often have centuries old buildings close to the roads (constructed before the days of the automobile) and occasionally they come right up to the edge of the road.
The secondary roads are shared with locals on bicycles (due to the limited parking, locals frequently ride bicycles to go shopping) and motorcycle riders, so it is necessary to continually be alert to traffic conditions both in front and behind. Bicycle riders, pedestrians, and buses have priority.
The country roads are often only wide enough for 1 or 1.5 cars - but the country side can be remarkably scenic and when we can, we try to take these less traveled routes (our gps helps keep us on the intended route as there are many country roads that are not on the map). Most of the country roads have an asphalt surface unlike the gravel roads in Nebraska which makes them pleasant to travel.
So, in general, once one becomes familiar with the road signs and the narrower roads, driving becomes realatively easy and much the same as in Nebraska.

Most country roads and farm lanes have an asphalt surface.

Sometimes, the country roads for cars seem 

like they should only be walking paths.

When two cars meet on a one lane road, the car going

uphill has the right-of-way and the car going downhill 

must back up to a turn-out.

July 29 Solothurn to Gruyeres

Yesterday we made a circle tour in the French speaking part of Swizerland through Solothurn, Biel (aka Bienne), Neuchatel, Fribourg, and Gruyeres (well known for its cheese).

Alt Stadt (old city) Aare river view  in Solothurn

The Aare is the only large river that flows completely within the Swiss borders. After originating from the glaciers in the Swiss Alps, it flows into Lake Brienz, Interlaken, Lake Thun, Bern, Lake Bien, Solothurn and a few other medieval cities before joining the Rhine not far from Laufenburg.

Car free Alt Stadt in Solothurn.

Solothurn Alt Stadt plaza tower

Bakery Schoggigipfel (chocolate croissant) for 2.50 Swiss Francs 

(about $2.50) (1 Stk.= per piece/each)

Hill top village of Gruyeres and the old Chateau (to the far left)

(the area is well known for its cheese)

Views in the village of Gruyeres

The chateau at the north end of Gruyeres

View from the Gruyeres chateau to the valley

July 28 Schloss Trachselwald

Switzerland is dotted with old castles (Schloss in German) which in earlier centuries served as fortresses. Yesterday we stumbled onto one in the small village  of Trachselwald about 15 km from Lauperswil. Believed to have originally been built in 1250 (with later additions and renovations), it is open daily for visitors and today it serves as a setting for weddings and other events. We arrived about 4:00 and had the place to ourselves.

View of the castle from the access road.

Approaching the entrance

Inside the entry gate

Interior courtyard

The castle prison tower

The "Peasant War of 1653" resulted when Bernese money

was devalued and the peasants revolted.

Once the revolt was defeated, the peasant leader'

Niklaus Leuenberger was arrested and held in this tower

for a time, then transferred to Bern and executed.

Steps from the entry level to the prison cells on the 

upper floors (note the massive  beams)

Prison cell with bed and chains

If only these  walls could tell their stories

Narrow spiral stairs to the upper floors (4 levels)

It was a tight fit

Looking down into the spiral staircase

View from the top floor window.

Probably only the guards had access to this view.

The prison cells had very small windows to the courtyard below.

The castle garden looking from the entry

Later that day, we learned (from the internet) that Niklaus (Klaus)

was born in Ruderswil only 2 miles from where we are staying in Lauperswil. 

There is a memorial to Klause next to the road entering Ruderswil. It reads:

Klaus

LEUENBERGER

Chairman

in the

Pheasant War

Born in Ruderwil

1615

Executed in Bern

1653

He fought for his country's

freedom and welfare

July 27 Recipe, Adelboden, Spiez, and Thun

A blog is never complete without at least one recipe - Ingredients:
1 banana
1 jar of Nutella (creamy chocolate haselnut spread)
Preparation:
Cut a fresh banana into bite sized slices and place on a plate.
Add a dab of Nutella to each banana.
Place in freezer till frozen and enjoy as a snack or dessert.
Oh my!!!
Credits: An invention by Barb. :-)

A view from Adelboden (a ski village much like Vail).

View from Wanderweg (walking path) in Spiez (on Lake Thun)

Harbor in Spiez

Swans in the Spiez harbor.

Locals enjoying an afternoon by the lake in Spiez.

The old Schloss (castle) in Spiez

Adult admission to the castle museum was 10 Fr (about $10)

Old chuch near the castle.

View to Lake Thun from the castle courtyard.

Pictures from Thun

After flowing into Lake Brienz and through Interlaken, the Aaar river (now free of much of the glacial flour) flows through the city of Thun on its way to Bern. In Thun there are two covered bridges with small dams. There is a rope tied to one of the bridges for surfers.

Walking path along the Aara in Thun.

One of the covered bridges and small dams.

Surfer riding the waves holding to an elastic bungee rope tied to the old covered bridge while people watch from the walking path.

A summer carnival near the Alt Stadt (old city) in Thun.

(Aare River in the foreground)

There are strolling paths on both sides of the river.

Visibility in the river water was about 3 meters (approx. 10 feet).