July 10 Off to Mannlichen from Grindelwald Grund via a cable car. It is the longest telecabine line in the world. The hiked - Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg (50 mins), again is one of the classic Alpine stroll. Gentle downhill. Easy. Great scenery, and a sense of being on top of the world. Offers an 'in your face' view of Eiger, Monch & Jungfrau and the Eigernordwan where over 50 climbers have died.

Everyone, almost everyone who comes to Berner Oberland has to do the Jungfraujoch trip to the "Top of Europe", the ultimate Alpine outing. The tracks tunnel through the Eiger and Monch and end at the highest rail station in Europe. Two stops are made on the way to look through the "windows" cut in the mountains. My travel advisor said it's an overrated and overly expensive trip. You can't see the Alps if you're on it!

I took the train down to Wengen instead. A car-free village and smaller than Grindelwald, also with a good view of the massif. From Wengen, it is an hour hike to Lauterbrunnen. It is located in a deep, narrow, valley with sheer walls.

After admiring the milky plume of Staubbach Falls, which drops nearly a thousand feet from the cliffs at the edge of the village. More waterfalls plunged from the mountainsides across the valley and down the cliffs. For more alpine photos, click here: Mannlichen - Lauterbrunnen.

Afternoon trip (train ride) to Gstaad via Zweissimen. Gstaad is another famous jetset village and has one of the best world class tennis facilities. (The international Rado Swiss Open ATP tennis tournament was currently being held. It is the most important sandcourt tournament in Switzerland and attracts world-class players.) It is a very nice place and very classy village in a valley surrounded by mountains. There is a long, twisting main street full of designer shops that cater to the ultra rich who comes during winter. I was only there for an hour for it started raining again. It seems they have a good sunny weather in the morning and then rains in the late afternoon.

July 11 Departed Grindelwald for a daytrip excursion to the capital Bern. It is known for it famous historic Clock Tower. Built in the early 13th century as a city gate, the historic Clock Tower features the astronomical clock built in 1530 and the figure-play. With its 4 miles /6 kilometers of arcades, Bern boasts one of the largest covered shopping promenades in Europe, which makes this compact city on the Aare peninsula a paradise for shoppers and pedestrians.

Then back to Lauterbrunnen to Murren. Murren (pop. 600) is the highest village in the Berner Oberland (1645 meters) and it sits on the edge of a shelf 800 meters high atop a sheer wall rising from the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It also a car-free village. It's reached by a nine-minute, steep, funicular and memorable 15 min 'Panorama Trip' by narrow-gauge train. Then you take another 15 min. ride by train to the village. Overnight at Hotel Alpenruh (CH-3825). Breathtaking view of the massif and valley as expected.

July 11 Took cable car up to top of Schilthorn (9,745 foot peak)for breakfast at Piz Gloria, the solar-powered revolving restaurant which featured in the James Bond movie, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." It was cloudy at times but on a good day, the view of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau range is magnificent.

After breakfast, I took the train to Grutschalp. Hiked along the valley ridge back to the alpine village of Murren (1 hr). An excellent scenic stroll at and above the tree line. You never lose sight of the Jungfrau and companions.

Then down to Gimmelwald (½ hr), the closest one to come to a typical Swiss mountain village. Then a steep climb up to Spielbodenalp and the Sprutz Waterfall. Wildflowers are best, the hillsides and meadows crowded with blossoms. Again you contemplate another view of the Alps. For a considerable periods of time, I was all by myself without seeing anyone else! Then descend down the slope to Murren (2 ½ hrs). By now, I am struggling on my downhill descend. My knees are hurting big time. It's good that today is my last day of hiking.

July 13 Left the Berner Oberland for Zurich via Bern. A few good sights, a fine lake and great shopping along the Bahnhoftrasse which rivals Fifth Avenue and via Condotti. That's if you can afford those Swiss watches. Almost all shops were closed on Sunday. Otherwise, I find Zurich to be very dull.

July 14 Departed Zurich.

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