Today we say Welcome! or more appropriately: wilkommen!! to the newest member of our Future Adventurers Club: Mrs. Jackie Van Dyke! She is even learning to yodel and will be performing for us this Christmas with other members of her yodeling group: The Van Dyke Family Yodelers. 🙂 Don’t worry, Caleb and Jessica, they will also be performing over skype so you won’t have to miss out! In case any of you are wondering who is in her five voice group, joining our New Adventurer Club member Mrs Van Dyke are Mr Van Dyke, Rhonda, and Jacqueline as the four core members! The fifth voice is a rotating position that is awarded to one lucky Van Dyke family member at a time.
So, Willkommen, Frau Jackie Van Dyke, um unsere Abenteurer Club! You may relay to Mr Van Dyke, Rhonda, and Jacqueline that they may also join our Club if they stop eating all the cupcakes and cookies we give YOU!! 😉
Today’s phrase word is Intra-country-transportation. The Intra-country-transportation network in Switzerland is immense! According to Wikipedia: The Swiss public transport network has a total length of 24’500 kilometres and comprises more than 26’000 stations and stops.
The electrification of Switzerland’s railroads began early in the 20th century and was completed in the 1960’s. All lines are 100% electrified, only a few local trunks to industries are operated by diesel engines (museum railroads not counted).
Dan, you will be happy: The punctuality of Switzerland’s public transport system is supervised and the goals of 95% arrivals with less than 5 minutes delay and 75% with less than 1 minute delay are regularly achieved in the monthly statistics.
Here is an overview of some routes, highlights, and general information on the Swiss Intra-country-transportation: http://www.myswitzerland.com/
Following are a few routes that are more than just basic transportation getting you from point A to point B. But seriously, how can any train ride through Switzerland be anything but beautiful! There are many many more, but these are just a sampling.
- 10 most beautiful panorama train trips: http://www.
swisstravelsystem.com/en/home/ discover/panorama-pleasures. html - Around Murren
- Männlichen – views of the Jungfraujoch http://www.myswitzerland.com/
en-us/transport-travel/ getting-around/public- transport/maennlichen-in- front-of-the-bernese-oberland- s-giants.html The majestic Männlichen is located at1000m above Wengen and almost 1300m above Grindelwald Grund, proposing beautiful views as vantage point over the Lauterbrunnen Valley and Grindelwald. - First – more than a dream – http://www.myswitzerland.
com/en-us/transport-travel/ getting-around/public- transport/first-even-today-a- dream.html Here not only the upper and lower Grindelwald glaciers seek the limelight, instead the four-thousand-meter-high Finsteraar, Schreck, Lauteraar and Fiescherhörner also stick their necks out! - Jungfrau Railway – http://www.myswitzerland.
com/en-us/transport-travel/ getting-around/public- transport/panoramatravel- jungfraubahnen.html To the top of Europe: an excursion to the Jungfraujoch is the pinnacle of a visit to Switzerland. And no wonder – stand on the “Top of Europe” and the world of the Alps is at your feet! - Bernese Oberland – Railway – http://www.myswitzerland.com/
en-us/transport-travel/ getting-around/public- transport/bernese-oberland- railway.html The Bernese Oberland valley railroad was opened in 1890 and has been been electrified since 1914. It connects Interlaken (Interlaken East) with Grin with Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. Besides serving the resort towns, it also enables access to the world famous Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe. - Harder – viewing platform http://www.
myswitzerland.com/en-us/ transport-travel/getting- around/public-transport/ harder-a-viewing-pulpit- between-two-lakes.html Views over Interlaken, the place “between the lakes”. An ideal short excursion in order to catch a glimpse of the Jungfrau region and gather a few ideas for your next excursion. - Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe http://www.
myswitzerland.com/en-us/ transport-travel/getting- around/public-transport/ jungfraujoch-top-of-europe. html The majestic Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau summits, together with close-up views of the longest glacial flow. The Jungfrau railway travels from the heart of the mountains to Europe’s highest lying mountain station at 3454 meter altitude. - Sulwald – something different http://www.
myswitzerland.com/en-us/ transport-travel/getting- around/public-transport/ aerial-cable-car-isenfluh- sulwald.html From the sunny Isenfluh mountain village an almost nostalgic red cable car brings guests up to the Sulwald hamlet. In cabins that carry eight people or have space for a cow! - Schynige Platte railway http://www.
myswitzerland.com/en-us/ transport-travel/getting- around/public-transport/ schynige-platte-railway.html The Schynige Platte railway, which opened in 1893, is one of Switzerland’s pioneering lines. The cog train climbs at a sedate 12 kph up to Schynige Platte, passing many panoramic viewpoints overlooking Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, where the great Swiss artist Ferdinand Hodler painted some of his famous landscapes, more than 100 years ago. - Niederhorn – three-star views http://www.
myswitzerland.com/en-us/ transport-travel/getting- around/public-transport/ niederhorn-from-the-lake-to- the-vista-of-a-mountain-trio. html Perfect postcard views from the boat – and a stop-off on the Beatenberg sun terrace above Lake Thun. The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau also present themselves on the way to the Gemmenalphorn, and you catch a glimpse of ibex as well. - Schynige Platte – romantic rail http://www.myswitzerland.
com/en-us/transport-travel/ getting-around/public- transport/schynige-platte- sets-the-stage-for-the-eiger- moench-and-jungfrau.html Already the journey with a nostalgic cog railway and open carriages is an adventure in itself – and the higher you climb, the better the breath-taking views of the mountains that open up all around you.
- Männlichen – views of the Jungfraujoch http://www.myswitzerland.com/
- From Preda: http://www.
myswitzerland.com/en-us/ historic-railway-trail-from- preda-to-berguen.html (this is actually a hike along the tracks, not a ride in the train. Did you guys do this last time you visited?) - AroundAppenzell:
- Kronenberg – the family mountain – http://www.myswitzerland.com/
en-us/transport-travel/ getting-around/public- transport/kronberg-at-the- foot-of-mount-saentis.html As conglomerate rock in the forming of the Alps, Kronenberg precedes the Alpstein. A cable car takes you from the Jakobsbad station to the vantage point with mountain guesthouse… - Hoher Kasten – above the Rhine Valley – http://www.myswitzerland.com/
en-us/transport-travel/ getting-around/public- transport/hoher-kasten-the- world-is-turning.html Striking views are yours to enjoy from the viewing platform between Appenzell country and the St. Gallen Rhine Valley, as well as from the remarkable ridge direction Kreuzberge. The cableway from Brülisau has been making its way for you to view top sights since 1964… - Ebenalp and Wildkirchli – http://www.myswitzerland.
com/en-us/transport-travel/ getting-around/public- transport/ebenalp-through-the- cave-to-the-wildkirchli.html A lready Neanderthal men were here where today a cableway sweeps visitors up and over the rugged rocks of the once populated Ebenalp caves – and a great departure point for various discoveries…
- Kronenberg – the family mountain – http://www.myswitzerland.com/
Well, enjoy the links – whether you click on them and read the details or just look at them in this email 🙂 Does anyone know what the code is yet? 🙂