In March 2000 we flew to Zurich, Switzerland. We were able to use the train to get to other parts of Switzerland, but we rented a car to drive through Liechtenstein, and part of Austria and Germany.
We were able to spend a couple days in Zurich. This gave us plenty of time to look around, and the main Bahnhofstrasse shopping district was not far from our hotel. With the public transportation we could easily get around town and the surrounding areas.
Then we went to Luzern, Switzerland. We saw the Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, walked along the Musegg Wall, and walked all over the Old City Squares. We used this as a base for also going to the top of the Titlis (10,000 feet). Most of the people had skis or snowboards, while I had my camera just to take pictures of the spectacular views.
We were also fortunate enough to get to Interlaken, Switzerland where we could catch the cog railway to the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe (11,782 feet). They have a package deal that got us up there and back in a day. To get up there was quite a journey. From Interlaken (1,860 feet) the train reaches Grindelwald (3,393 feet) in about 35 minutes. Then there's about 30 minutes before the next train leaves for the 40 minute ride to Kleine Scheidegg (6,782 feet), at the foot of the notorious Eiger North Wall. From here the Jungfrau Railway climbs to the Eiger Glacier Station and through the Eiger tunnel, to the Eigerwand and Eismeer stations, with a five minute halt at each station. This allows you to enjoy some spectacular views through large observation windows, hewn from solid Alpine rock. Then 50 minutes beyond this you at last arrive on the Jungfraujoch.
We took a train back to Zurich to pick up our rental car. Driving through some beautiful passes on the way to Liechtenstein we encountered some snow. We had our passports stamped in Liechtenstein, and did a little shopping. The roads were beautiful in Austria. I always stayed off the main roads when I could so we could stop and take pictures. We continued into Germany driving the entire length of the Bodensee shore. The main towns of Lindau and Konstanz are at each end of the lake with little towns all along the way.
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