The Swiss Alps

For the first time in the last 50+ days, I forgot I was travelling. There is always something that lets you know that you are on the road; the pack on your back, always checking itineraries, making reservations, finding food that isn't in the fridge, seeing new things, language and anything else that is different than the everyday things of home. Travelling is always blatently at the surface or at least part of your consciousness.

After trying to leave Spain for about a week due to the Easter holiday and train schedules, then staying a night in Milan -- which was a good place to get stuck for a day (see pics below) -- due to a workers strike on the train, we finally made it to the swiss part of the trip.

We visited the capital, Bern and made some day trips from there. Then, we found ourselves in Interlaken. It is at this time that my mind wandered from the thoughts of travelling. The smell of the alpine air, clear views of snow capped peaks, blue glacier lakes, waterfalls, evergreen trees. No city sounds; just the breeze through the trees and chirping of birds and crickets.

Switerland is flawless in what they do, cater to tourists. The Swiss are efficient -- surprising to me in Europe -- very clean, nice helpfull people. The problem... it all comes at an expensive price.

Bern skyline

Lake Luzern, crisp clean alpine air

...and agian

Interlaken

Where swiss cheese comes from!

This could almost be in Idaho...

Brienz in the Jungfrau area

The Swiss Alps at Brienz

Castle in Milan, like I said, it was a good place to get stuck for a day

Bam, The Duomo!

...and inside, that is a cathederal, can you here the organ music filling up the empty space?

Prayer candles