MAY 2002

Switzerland was in my agenda for a long time and it was actually the best trip I have ever had in Europe. Although it is relatively an expensive country, we booked our return flight to Zurich from Ryanair for 20 pence (yes only 20 pence + airport taxes!), so overall it was not that expensive.  

Zurich

Zurich is the largest Swiss city with a population of about 400.000. it is definitely the economic centre of Switzerland, famous for private banking, but Zurich also has a picturesque old town, excellent hotels, restaurants, shops and very lively nightlife.

Geneva

Geneva is the third biggest city in Switzerland. It is beautifully located at the south west of Lake Geneva. Geneva is probably the most cosmopolitan city of Switzerland. It is a very important place for congress, meetings, trade and banking. Therefore, it is one of the world’s most expensive cities. It houses the European Headquarters of United Nations as well as some other international organizations such as Red Cross and Red Crescent.

The museum of Red Cross and Red Crescent displays educational exhibitions, audio visual displays and short films about the organization’s history and humanitarian relief.

Lake Geneva is the largest Alpine lake. You can take a trip by a paddle steamer on the lake and visit cities like Lausanne and Montreaux. We bought a 5 days Swiss-Pass. It makes you feel free to travel all over the country with all type of transports (except Jungfrau train!).

Lausanne

Lausanne is located at the shores of Lake Geneva. It is a very nice place to relax and a great area for cafes, pubs, restaurants, shopping, parks and museums.

One of the famous museums in Lausanne is the Olympic Museum located in the Olympic Park in Ouchy. It contains the history of the Olympic games through pictures, videos, documents, coins, stamps, watches, etc.

Ouchy is a busy little port located on the lakeside south of Lausanne. Next to the train station, you can see the Chateau de Ouchy, now a hotel, museum and restaurant. Here the infamous peace treaty between Turkey, Greece and the Allies was signed in 1923.

Montreaux

Montreaux is known to be the best preserved of all Lake Geneva resorts. Its waterside with palm trees and flowers is 10 km long and is marvellous for walking. We spent only half a day in Montreaux, not because it is somewhere not worth to spend more time in, but we really had to run to catch the next train for Interlaken.

Interlaken

Interlaken is located in between two crystal clear lakes: Brienersee and Thunersee. That is what Interlaken means. It also has beautiful mountains and there are so many different means of transport to take you up to the mountains which have excellent ski resorts, beautiful walking and climbing paths and spectacular panoramas.

With difficulties for everyone’s fitness level and many trains and trams helping you along the way; hiking is an activity that presents Switzerland’s natural beauty in the most peaceful way.

Balmer’s Herberge Youth Hostel

Every time you run into people travelling to Interlaken, the question comes up: “Did you stay at Balmer’s?”

It is the oldest hostel in Switzerland and there are always people from all over the world coming and going.

The hostel has all facilities and the staff will help you with the many activities in the area. The accommodation is not the Hilton, you may have to share your room with strangers or have some drunken backpackers next door, but you are not there to sleep anyway! 

JUNGFRAU- Top of Europe

The Jungfrau is the highest point in Europe and if you believe, there is a train that goes to the top point!

We did not want to spend all the time in the train and decided to climb the mountain until we get really tired, then we would take the train. The weather was perfect and we climbed about 2/3 of the mountain up to a point where there is no more climbing path and we took the train.

The ride up to Jungfrau begins like any ordinary train journey but after a while, you change trains and begin to travel inside the mountain. In fact, most of the top third of your journey is in tunnels.

The train stops inside the tunnel near the top, so you can get out and look through the glass at an observation area. We were so lucky to have an excellent day: bright sunshine, white blankets of fresh snow, blue sky and a fantastic view. What more could you wish for? After taking pictures, we all got back on the train and finished our climb to the top of Europe.

At the top, there is another observation area, restaurants and an eternal glacier! There are tunnels through the ice and various ice sculptures to admire. The walls, ceilings, and of course the floor are all ice and you have to walk very carefully so you don’t fall. 

When you take the elevator to the top floor of the observation tower, there are plaques marking this as the highest place in all of Europe. “THE TOP OF EUROPE - JUNGFRAU”

If that is the case, then the toilet I found there has to be the highest toilet in Europe!!! That was a relief!!!

Amazing…

Any text, picture or information on this website cannot be used, copied or re-produced without my permission!

Copyright © Tamer Yavuzturk 2004, All rights reserved.        Last updated : Today

tyturk@hotmail.com