Travel days are never fun, and it's especially hard leaving a place that you really like....but we know what lays ahead, so packing the car wasn't as depressing as it could have been. Chamonix turned out to be a fantastic place with so much to see and do...we are already making a mental checklist of the things we would do the next time we are there.
Before hitting the road we decided to walk around and snap a few more pics
Jo wanted to hook up with some guides....these ones were about her speed
The first ever winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix in 1924. We decided to swing by for a few podium shots
Proof that Canadians visit Chamonix....we think
And one last shot for the road....this is a small foot bridge that crosses the Arve river.
Then we hopped in the car and hit the road. Up and over the Col de Montets...tons of great places to hike, and almost more motorcycles than cars. Note to self....come back and do a bike tour of the Alps! It didn't take long and we were in Switzerland and driving through the vineyards around Martigny. Then up and over the Col de Forclaz....I love driving these roads, but I'm not so sure that Jo shares that sentiment. If you come to Europe and rent a car you need to be a pretty comfortable/confident driver to tackle to mountain passes. If you are, then you're in for a ton of fun....wait for the drive from Switzerland to Italy next week :-)
It didn't take long and we made the turn I to our favourite place on earth. The Lauterbrunnen Valley is a gem and although I've been to many interesting places, it's somewhere that I will always come back to. It just feels like you're home when you enter and the valley opens up before you.
We checked into our usual spot and went for a short walk around town. Not too many changes since we were here last, which is good because we love it the way it is. We picked up a few supplies at the local store and snapped a few pics....not many as the best is yet to come.
After unpacking a few things we headed for dinner......yum!
Oh and a frosty beverage to wind down after the drive
Then we went for a stroll along the river which runs the length of the valley. We managed to spot a few BASE jumpers doing their thing.....I still want to drive that some day. We got back to town just in time for the Swiss National Day festivities. We staked out a seat outside our hotel and the marching band stopped to play a song just for us, at least that's what we told ourselves. After the band, the Swiss maidens, the mountaineers, the trappers and the yodellers went by then all of the towns residents and tourists joined in behind. We all marched down towards the sport centre.....as this was happening there were bonfires being lit along the way...out in farmers fields and in the middle of the sheer rock walls of the valley.
We all reached the end of the route and there was a massive bonfire burning there. It's hard to judge scale from the picture, but the structure itself was about 40 feet tall and the flames close to twice that height
After some speeches by dignitaries, a round of yodelling, and the Swiss National Anthem, a fireworks show started. To say it was amazing is an understatement. Not only was it a great display of fireworks, but to see them light up the 300 meter tall sheer rock walls around Staubbach Falls was a real treat. Even more impressive was the sound that reverberated up and down the valley with every blast. At the same time fireworks were going off in the little towns that sit atop the high cliffs. It was a full on 360 degree sounds and light show.
In addition to the official show, all the residents are having parties and setting of fireworks. It's been over and hour and it's still going on. If you ever get the change, be in the town of Lauterbrunnen on August 1st!
And now it's off to sleep......the Swiss Alps are calling our name.
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