Part 1 – Trains and trams
Arriving in Lauterbrunnen
Although much of our time traveling this trip was in Italy and Spain, Switzerland was our first destination. It could have easily been its own trip as we needed warmer clothes and heavier hiking boots, which we only used in Switzerland. It was an incredible sunny day when our train arrived in Lauterbrunnen. It is a hanging valley with giant cliffs on all sides. There was a long horsetail falls (Staubbach Falls) that was visible as we entered the village. It turned out to be quite close to our lodging. (see it in the photo)
To Murren, Grindelwald, and Zermatt
It seemed crazy to go from Lauterbrunnen straight up the cliff on a tram, but that’s how we got to the higher train. That train of two passenger cars took us the short distance to Murren, where we took two trams up to the top of the mountains. It was a 360 degree view, famous for being used in an old James Bond movie.
At Grindlewald we took a small train up and deep into the mountains, and hiked part of the way back. I loved seeing the green pastures rolling down from the woods, with the sound of cowbells and views of sturdy old wood houses with their massive overhanging roofs. It had turned rainy and wet, but not too cold.
The weather in Zermatt did turn colder and rainy. There we again took the trams to different parts of the mountains with vast beautiful views of the Matterhorn and surrounding mountains. It was awesome to see the Matterhorn from the village as well. Rain and cold present challenges for sketching, but I was able to find roof overhangs for a little protection when it was raining.
See the map below for the specific areas we were in.
Please check back for the sketches of our further travels in northern Italy, and in Spain.
SketchTravel
These are great! Zermatt and Switzerland in general is at the top of my list of places to visit.
Thanks @sjarvie5. It was all so amazing to see. I loved riding the little trains up and up through the green fields and mountains. Definitely worth the trip.
Cool, been there and your sketches are giving the right tribute to the place!
Thanks @airmatti. It was amazing to see.