Trip to Spiez and Interlaken.

Last Monday, April 6, we drove about 20 miles to Spiez and then 20 more to Interlaken, south of Bern. The day was nice, the lake (Thun Lake, or Thuner See (or Thun Sea) was pretty, and the mountains huge and impressive.

I hope I can get these pictures posted.


This is the statue of the founder of the city of Bern. I'm sorry it's more of me and not all of the top of the statue.




















This is Alice in front of a flower garden at the Castle of Spiez.














Bigger view of the castle. It's been renovated many times, and in each century (since the 12th), they just add more. It's not big. We couldn't get in, because the tourist season hasn't started yet.














The old and tall part of the castle is NOT a Renaissance palace. It seems to have been built for defense (in the 12th century). In German, this is called the "Wehr Turme," which means "War Tower!" Get the picture? I guess they made it tall so that they could, as a last resort, drop stuff (rocks, boiling water, or worse) on invaders who might have gotten inside the castle walls. I really can't think of any other reason for building it so tall.



















Speaking of a "War Tower," check out this huge castle we saw near Strasbourg back in Sept 2007. To be posted later, if I can find some pictures.




Took a picture of the lake and mountains, not knowing if it would show anything but haze. But it turned out o.k. We're looking north, and the mountains are smaller (but they're still big) and have lost their snow. To my back are the big mountains, covered with snow.


















I think it would be better just to send you professionally take photos. Look at these sites: (I hope to find some later.)





You can't believe how many different watch companies there must be in Switzerland. And how many languages the watch stores speak!! (I count 11 on the first two signs. Is that really Russian, Stacy?) On the second two signs, look for all the names of watch companies you know.