Train to Zermatt

This was a long day! We got up at 6:00 a.m. in order to leave the hotel by 7:00 a.m. and get to the ferry. We arrived by boat and left by boat. So we were driving on the other side of the lake by 7:30 a.m.

We had some challenges, more than a few wrong turns and u-turns needed, but in the end we figured out the right way to go. We ended up in heavy rain on a very steep pass: "Farka Pass". I don't know how high it was, but it was high, and a narrow, treacherous road. In places, two cars could not pass at the same time. There weren't many cars on it, leading me to wonder if we were going the right way. Close to the top, we encountered the first signs of civilization: an open restaurant, so we stopped for lunch! It was a simple lunch: I had goulash, Brock had meatloaf and french fries, and we had an apple strudel with hot orange sauce for dessert. But it really hit the spot.

We didn't get many photos of the road due to the rain, but here is one shot that shows the switchbacks, along with a train tunnel on the right:

Speaking of tunnels, we went through a multitude of tunnels today, and one took about 15 minutes to drive through! It's amazing how the Swiss have engineered their roads.

We passed by a glacier!

There is also a glacier you can see on the Matterhorn.

We finally arrived in the town of Tasch, where we parked Bella in a large garage and caught a train for Zermatt. There are no cars in Zermatt, and the only way in and out is by train.

We finally arrived at our lovely small hotel, the Hotel Bella Vista, by 3:30 p.m. We were glad to be there! Two sisters run/own the hotel and do a magnificent job. Our room has a balcony with a view of the Matterhorn! It was raining hard when we arrived, but then the weather cleared and we could see the famous mountain - stunning!

Here are other views from our balcony - the neighbors have some grazing sheep, and you can hear the bells ringing from their necks:

The hotel has a really amazing spa, sauna, jacuzzi tubs, steam room, the whole works. So we enjoyed using these facilities and getting super relaxed.

We ate a traditional Swiss meal at the hotel tonight; cheese fondue and "Raclette" (cheese and potatoes) - it was all delicious! Cheers!

We wish we could linger in the hotel's luxurious spa forever. But the tour must go on. Tomorrow, if the weather cooperates, we plan to go up on a tram to the top to see the Matterhorn up close (I hear it's at 12,000 feet), and then maybe another tram too to do some hiking. Then we will have a 3-hour drive to Geneva, where we will stay for 2 days.