Jill's "Wow" MomentSunrise in Murren
The first morning in Murren I woke before sunrise and went out on the balcony of our hotel to work on my travel journal. As the first daylight was shining on the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau the only sounds were water gurgling down a waterfall and cows mooing. |
Lex's "Wow" MomentThe Olympic Museum in Lausanne
Being a huge Olympic fan, it was thrilling to see the Olympic torches and medals from the modern Olympics. We saw Jim Craig's hockey jersey from the Miracle on Ice, the Speedo that Mark Spitz wore to win seven gold medals, and Usain Bolt's singlet. However, my favorite may have been to see Katarina Witt's figure skating costume from her 1988 Olympics Carmen performance. |
Elyse's "Wow" MomentHiking the Swiss Alps
In Switzerland, every city has a mountain, every mountain has a view, and every opportunity to hike the trails is an unforgettable experience. From the snowy Schilthorn to sunny San Salvatore, it's easy to get immersed in the natural beauty that is Switzerland, and to understand how this magnificent yet demanding terrain influences the people who live there. |
Jody's "Wow" MomentFields of Wild Crocuses on the Mountain View Trail
With only a single full day to spend in Murren, it seemed the afternoon would be a perfect time to lounge on the balcony at the hotel munching on sugared almonds and lazily watching the paragliders soaring overhead. However, Elyse and Justin urged us to do one more trek while in this hiker’s paradise, so off we went up the steep and rocky path behind the hotel. Up a multitude of steep steps, across tangles of roots, and after fording a stream whose bridge had been washed out by the springtime thaw; we finally arrived at the summit of the Mountain View Trail. The valley spread below us in shades of velvety green, crisp mountain peaks were in the distance and just below our feet were thousands of wild crocuses poking their heads out to enjoy the sunny day. This was truly a slice of heaven. |
Rick's "Wow" MomentThe View from the Schilthorn
My "wow" moments on Rick Steves' Tours frequently involve scenic views and this one is no exception. The views from the Schilthorn are spectacular - all 360 degrees of them. You have to see them to believe them. |
Justin's "Wow" MomentThe Lion of Lucerne
Usually I am not a particularly big fan of statues, but seeing the Lion of Lucerne is a powerful experience. While full of symbolism, it does not require an art degree or knowledge of Swiss history to understand. Majestic and mournful, the lion forever lies on the brink of death atop a small ledge overlooking a pond in a peaceful garden. The natural rock walls that frame the scene have long, deep diagonal lines, which invariably invoke a torrent of rain or arrows falling down on the lion from above. With such moving memorials conveying the true cost of war, it is no wonder the Swiss have such a deep commitment to peace. |