Switzerland July 2007

[mark smyth]

I really want to go there!!

[Maggi Young]

If photos such as these are not enough to convince a casual onlooker of the fascination of the exquisite little plants of the mountains, then I don't know what else could better make the point.
Majestic scenery and rugged terrain and stunning wee flowers with a deceptive frailty... it's the epitome of all we love, isn't it?

Franz, I was first in Switzerland in 1958... I still love the chocolate, too.


Mark, have you seen Ms Grogan lately... she's like a scrawny wrinkled pixie.

Cliff... I should think a man of your age has played more than enough football for one day, anyhow.

[ranunculus]

My apologies Mark....but what does Alter Images and Clare Grogan mean???
Am I showing my great age...or a complete lack of common sense?

I too LOVE Swiss chocolate Maggi and Franz....thank you for your very kind comments (by the way Franz, do you know who Clare Grogan is)?  I still idolise the Big 'O'.


A few more to save Mark the journey...

Sedum
 Sedum
 Ridge Path
 Ranunculus View
Pulsatilla vernalis
 P.vernalis
 P.Vernalis
 P.Vernalis
 P.Vernalis
 P.V

[ranunculus]

....And Richard Hawley, Clifford T. Ward and Jeff Buckley, of course....

Some more from the heights....

 Pulsatilla Alpina Close
 Pulsatilla Alpina Close
 Pulsatilla Alpina Apiifolia Close
 Pulsatilla Alpina
 Primula Farinosa
 Primula Elatior View
 Poppy Field
 Poppy Field
 Poppy Heart
 Polygala

[ranunculus]

...Etc, etc.....

Pulsatilla Vernalis Close up
 Pulsatilla Vernalis Close
 Pulsatilla Vernalis
 Pulsatilla Vernalis
 Pulsatilla Vernalis
 Phyteuma
 Pedicularis
 Path To Mountain
 P Alpina View
 Murren Garden Cameo

[Maggi Young]

Mark's gone offline so I'll clue you in, Cliff.... Clare Grogan is an actress ( now more TV presenter) who was in the British film "success"  "Gregory's Girl" and  she sang with a 1980s band ( modern beat combo to you) called Altered Images, their greatest hit (??) was a squeaky song called "happy Birthday"... but not with the traditional tune. There, how's that?

[ranunculus]

....Thanks Maggi ....I gathered it was rock related...but WHAT relevance did it have to this posting?


The final batch...my digit has a repetitive strain injury. Enjoy please!  (and my head hurts)!

NearTrummelbach
Murren Cows
Mountain View
 Mountain Restaurant.
Loiseleuria Scene
 Geranium.
 Gentiana Kochiana
 Gentiana
 Gagea
Dryas View

[Maggi Young]

 some of your images had the title "alter image".. that was enough to set us off!
 Thanks for this super set of pix , you deserve the rest of the evening off!

[mark smyth]

sorry for side tracking a wonderful thread

[ranunculus]

My apologies Mark...I'm usually the first to spot this sort of tangent inducing opportunity....I simply couldn't see the jelutong for the pinyons!

After watching the excellent 'Mountains' and 'Wainwright Walks' on the television I am now climbing the steps to my nest.

Goodnight all.....dream of Wengen and those flowers....

[Paddy Tobin]

And a communal prayer ascended to their various gods that next weekend's soccer games would be rained off.

Paddy

[ian mcenery]

Wow Cliff what a show. Making me feel that I need another mountain fix.

Which operator if any did you did you go with or did you organise this yourself?

[ranunculus]

Not a football fan then Paddy?       Hurling perhaps?

Thanks for the comments Ian....we really can recommend Wengen as a perfect 'alpine' destination.  Can't remember which operator we used (Sue will no doubt remember this evening), but I do know that they were totally proficient, especially with the transfer of luggage (exactly as Diane has described in her wonderful report). We also enjoyed a trouble free train transfer that enhanced the travel experience and thereby the holiday. The views from our hotel room were literally 'to die for', overlooking, as they did, the Lauterbrunnen Valley way below. See attached images...

Cephalanthera  (Woodland orchid)

[Paddy Tobin]

Cliff,

I'm a wet day sport's enthusiast; if it's raining I will sit at the television and watch what is on otherwise I stay outdoors. As a young chap I played hurling, football (Gaelic) and some soccer but I never moved on to appreciate watching  others playing. The enjoyment was in the doing not in the watching. Yesterday I did, unfortunately, watch Waterford suffer defeat in the All-Ireland hurling semi final at the hands of Limerick despite the fact that they were firm favourites.

The photographs are outstanding; really enjoying them.

Wenger is obviously an excellent location. My dear wife has been very impressed by the photographs also, is considering it as a possible destination for next yeat but has a number of questions: Are the hotels good? What star rating? Is the food good? Swimming pool available? Anything else to do besides admire scenery and flowers?

Paddy

[ranunculus]

Hi Paddy,
Thanks for the kind comments.  I think we can reassure Mrs T. that Wengen has some REALLY classy hotels, four and perhaps five star no doubt, a swimming pool (and several in the hotels), an excellent range of shops, restaurants, traffic-free streets, a relaxed but flourishing night-life (if required) and is near enough to Grindlewald, First, Murren and the lakeside villages that surround Interlaken (which boasts 'advanced' shopping, parks, museums and a casino)......oh and there are many miles of high, medium and low level hikes if you are permitted a little exercise Paddy?

....And you KNOW just how wonderful the flowers can be!!!

http://www.wengen.com/
http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/berner_oberland/wengen.html

If you do decide to go then please don't forget to buy the excellent Swiss travel passes AND before I forget...we had one day of light drizzle in two weeks of glorious sunshine!

....And...NO...we are not on commission!