Walking down to breakfast in our hotel at Zermatt, we noticed great excitement. Members of our group rugged up to the nines were dashing out of the hotel with their cameras. The sun was shining, there was no cloud and the word was out – you could see the Matterhorn.
Jeanette and I rugged up, and camera in hand we headed hastily downtown to the viewing spots of which there are two good ones. The first and nearest to us was on the steps of the town hall. They had helpfully put a giant Alpine horn there with its end pointing towards the Matterhorn but it was not needed today as the mountain was bathed in sunshine and loomed over the town.
I stopped and shot a few shots just in case any clouds showed up then we hurried on to the best viewing spot which is on a bridge down past the church. There were a few people already there, cameras blazing away, and we joined them and got our photos then spent a while just admiring the magnificent mountain before the cold drove us back to the hotel.
We joined up with our group and headed down to the Zermatt station where we caught a train to the town of Tasch which was the closest our bus could get to Zermatt. Picking up the bus, we then headed to the town of Montreux which is a very elegant town on the shores of Lake Geneva in the French speaking part of Switzerland.
Many of the buildings in this town have been built in the Art Nouveau style of which our hotel was a striking example.
We had a walk along the shores of the lake through beautifully manicured gardens all teeming with flowering plants.
Though you could encounter some scary locals.
The ferries that service this lake are restored paddle wheelers from the 19th century. Their long narrow lines are really pretty. Here is “La Suisse” steaming away from the dock.
Standing near them just transports you back to another age.
Later in the day we caught the ferry “ L’Italia “ down to Chateau De Chillon.
This Castle dates from the 12th century and was used by the Dukes of Savoy to tax merchants using the trade route that ran alongside the lake.
Hardys’ Travels 
So glad the Matterhorn appeared for you!! What weather! I do love to see the look for happiness and awe on my cousin’s face! Beautiful. And thank God for Peter and his schnapps! You are certainly intrepid travellers. xoxo Diane.
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Of course – look of!!
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Hi Diane
Yes Jeanette is in her element whereas her elderly husband is bucking at the knees a bir. Still it’s an amazingly beautiful country and I would not want to miss a bit of it.
Xoxo Brian
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