Sometimes the mountains are just too big for the camera! In this pic we’re looking toward the Jungfraujoch in the Berner Oberland region of the Swiss Alps. The mountain on the left is the Mönch which stands at 4,110 meters / 13,484 feet. If you look closely you can see a small building perched on the saddle to the right of the Mönch. (You might have to zoom in.) That building is called the Sphinx. The Sphinx is an astronomical observatory and the second highest public viewing platform in Switzerland. The Jungfrau Railway, which opened in 1912 and is the highest railway in Europe, carries passengers THROUGH the Mönch and drops them below the Sphinx inside the mountain. A series of tunnels and elevators give visitors access to the observatory and to walking paths across the enormous glacier on the other side. The view from the top is outstanding! Would you like to see this for real? Give us a shout when all this pandemic craziness is over. We can set you up with a nice inn-to-inn hiking or mountain biking tour in the Berner Oberland, or you can enjoy some active travel by train. How about all three? #DreamNowTravelLater
Pic of the Day: Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle is a must-see when traveling in Scotland. The present castle is not terribly old. It’s a reconstruction completed in 1932. Still, the human history on the island goes back to the 6th century and perhaps even further. The first fortified castle was built on the island in the mid 13th century but was later partially-destroyed during the Jacobite uprising of 1719. After lying in ruins for nearly 200 years, a gentleman named Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 and spent 20 years rebuilding the castle into the lovely edifice that we see today. With moody skies and a low tide, Eilean Donan Castle is absolutely spell-binding. Photo by Catherine Pranskatis.
You definitely want to visit this chapel the next time you hike in Switzerland
This little chapel is called Maria zum Schnee (Maria of the Snow), and it’s one of the prettiest chapels in Switzerland. Built in 1697, and perched on a rocky outcropping called the Messfluh at an elevation of 1950 meters, this little Kapelle (Kapelle is the German word for chapel), occupies a commanding view of some of the highest peaks in the Swiss Alps. The prominent mountain peak in the background is called the Fletschhorn (3985 meters) which is part of the Pennine Alps, home of many of Europe’s tallest peaks. On a sunny day, it’s an amazing experience to hike to this chapel and have a picnic, admiring the panoramic views of the Swiss Alps. To the right of this photo (just out of the frame) is the famous Matterhorn which rises above the village of Zermatt. You cannot drive to the Kapelle Maria zum Schnee. You have to hike to it or take a cable car. Of course hiking to this chapel is highly recommended. The surrounding village of Bettmeralp, with its cozy wooden chalets and sun-drenched balconies, is a delightful spot for hikers to unlace their boots, relax for a bit, and savor the Swiss Alps.
Would you like to discover the best regions for hiking in Switzerland? Click here.
The Kunstgewerbe Dörig is one of the coolest workshops in Switzerland
Behind this door lies one of the coolest workshops in Switzerland. The shop is called Kunstgewerbe Dörig, and it’s located in the village of Appenzell in the eastern Swiss Alps. Kunstgewerbe Dörig is run by a gentleman named Roger Dörig, a fourth generation craftsman who creates absolutely exquisite work in leather and metal. Roger is an expert saddler, but it’s his finely crafted ornaments in silver, brass, nickel silver, and gold that are very special and unique to the Appenzell region. You can see Dörig’s work everywhere in Appenzell, and personally, I can’t imagine experiencing Appenzell without seeing Dörig’s work. His work is a big part of what makes Appenzell feel very Swiss and gives it an authentic and endearing sense of place. Dörig’s shop is 137 years old, a testament to the craftsmanship his family cultivated since 1883. Would you like to peek inside the shop? Click the following link and enjoy. https://www.roger-doerig.ch/ #DreamNowTravelLater
Pic of the Day: Hiking the Beautiful Scottish Highlands—Beinn an Eoin and Baosbheinn
Happy Earth Day! Behold the beautiful Scottish Highlands as viewed from the hiking trail to Beinn Eighe in the Torridon Hills of Wester Ross. The peak on the right is called Beinn an Eoin. The mountain on the left is the Baosbheinn. The local red deer were bugling on the day I shot this photo. We are SO fortunate to live on this beautiful planet! #KeepDreamingOfTravel #EarthDay
