{Spring Break Trip} Switzerland

Our next and final stop of Spring Break 2013 was Zermatt, Switzerland. Steve and I have been to Switzerland before, we went to Lauterbrunnen on our very first trip when we were stationed at Spang in 2002. We’d love to go back but we didn’t get around to it on this trip, so it’s on our dream list still. We’ve never been to Zermatt before and we wanted to see the Matterhorn and prove to Brian it’s not just a ride at Disneyland. We met up with our friends, the {R} family and stayed 4 nights in Tasch, just a few miles outside of Zermatt. We were in an apartment complex right next to a train stop, so we could easily go into and out of Zermatt, which is car-free anyways. 

 

It took us about 7 hours of drive time to get from Spang down to Zermatt, including a train ferry! The pictures below are from driving the car onto and off of the train ferry, which takes about 15 minutes and goes 14 kilometers under a giant mountain.

The ski resort in Zermatt is massive and actually spreads into Italy on the back side of the Matterhorn. There are many lifts and lots of cable cars and a few giant gondolas, like the one below that holds 150 people, which we took to the top of one of the mountains across from the Matterhorn for the view.

The day we were on the mountain was absolutely beautiful. It was a little cloudy in the morning but just as we got up to the view point, the clouds cleared from the valley and we had warmth and sunshine and amazing views the entire day. And some mild sunburns the next morning. The Matterhorn is just spectacular in real life. I tried skiing that day, but stuck to the kiddy area because I just wasn’t feeling it, my rental boots were killing me. But just helping the kids ski and staring out at that view all day was perfect. We stayed in the kiddy area for a good 4-5 hours and then schlepped all the way down the mountain via cog train, then boarded a bus to take us to the train station, took the train to Tasch, and then walked to our room. All of this with 4 sets of skis, 3 helmets, 2 sets of poles, a bag to hold all the gloves and such, wearing our ski boots and with 2 exhausted children who weren’t interested in helping carry anything. Skiing with kids is not enjoyable in any way. But one day they will be able to actually ski and carry their own equipment and it will be a fun family activity. I’m just glad ski season is over for now! Next year, I plan on really learning to ski and trying to go as often as possible so I can get comfortable and start to enjoy it. But regardless of skiing/equipment schlepping that day, the view was worth all of it!

 

On Day two, the kids and I explored the town of Zermatt with Darla and the R kids, while Steve and Casey skied the entire mountain and into Italy and back. They were gone all day and came back sore and telling of many adventures. (Brian and Emily: one day ask your Daddy about the time he accidently skied backwards down a black and didn’t fall. Keep in mind that fighter pilot stories only have to be 10% true.)

The picture below are of the old buildings in Zermatt. They all have slate roofs and are balanced on slate rocks. Most of them seemed to be used for storage now but a few were turned into cute little houses. The kids enjoyed kicking around in the snow piled up in the streets.

Above: Just before this picture was taken, we watched an avalanche come over the side of the cliff above town. It was a small one and didn’t do any harm but we didn’t know that when it started and it was quite a thing to watch! Below: All the kid having fun on the trains and a mountain goat in town. All the kids are here, except E, who was tearing up the slopes with his mom that day.