On a rain-soaked misty morning we decided to use the poor weather to our advantage and travel rather than sit around thinking about what we could have been doing. We had intended to do another cable and rail ride to Kleine Scheidegg (easy for me to say) but conditions were poor. The trip south towards Italy unavoidably crosses huge mountains. We used the Grimsel Pass, the Furka Pass and part of Gothard but couldn't find the long tunnel. We did find spectacular and breath-taking scenery. The highest points are barren, snow-capped, rocky and the narrow switchback (hairpin) bends are harrowing, especially for the person closest to the safety rail. That would be Jood. Often there was little between the passenger door and a long way down. The kids played on my ipod and told stories. We took pix and videos to prove how scary it was and made it over at a gentle and safe speed. The mists continually rolled in and revealed new and impossible views, punctuated by bursts of sunshine and then rain.
We took a walk near the Rhone Glacier and through a series of tunnels dug out inside it. A freezing but interesting experience underneath the thick walls of ice. The rocky environment, mainly hard shales and granite, inspired the many travellers who have come through this part of the world to erect mini rock sculptures all over the place. This added to the surreal landscape at this high altitude.
We are now camped in Bellinzona (southern Switzerland near Lugarno) and the feel is already very Italian. Tomorrow we'll be changing accents and practicing our "grazis", "ciaos" and "more gelatos"...
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