On Tuesday, we opted to visit three places nearby that have been high on our list of things to see in Switzerland. It has become a very short list after five months of intense exploring.
Our choices were the Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg near Brienz and the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Reichenbach Falls both in Meiringen.
This trip would involve a train ride to first Interlaken which was no problem. Once their, we needed to catch another train to Brienz.
Problem.
For the second time in less than a week, the Swiss train system had a SNAFU. It seems that a train had broken down on the tracks blocking the tracks from Interlaken to Brienz so we would miss the 12:04 train we were hoping to catch.
Not to worry, the Swiss train system comandeered two city busses and we pushed off for the 15 minute ride to Brienz only five minutes tardy!
Brienz Bus Station
The bus station and the train station next door both do sit on the shore of Lake Brienz.
They love their goats in Brienz!
The Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg
Ballenberg, for short, is a 660 acre, open air complex that houses over 100 original buildings from all over Switzerland.
These buildings were dismantled, transported to Ballenberg and then reassembled section by section thus saving them from demolition.
The museum provided us with a feel for rural life throughout the various cantons of Switzerland, complete with farm animals and demonstrations of various rural crafts.
Laurie loved Ballenberg's gardens
Traditional Clothing
Dinner for Ten
I would look SO good in this
On the balcony
Can you say
"Harmonica?"
These instruments were
more to my musical tastes
That's a BIG bell!
Unknown Pagan Symbol
Swiss archeologists still have not been able to figure out what it is or why the ancients may have worshipped it.
Got to love a good Alp Horn!
Traditional Swiss Dress
Laurie's Favorite
A Swiss Saint?
Peaceful Ballenberg
I'm a sucker for zucker
Old stoves were smokey
Glorious farmhouse
that is now a bakery
A baker stoking his oven fire
Cutting the dough
Cooling Off
Visiting school kids had already
laid claims to the baked goods
Rustic Chairs and a
Milking Stool
I don't think so!
The rebuilt houses even
had the right little touches
Mating snails?
WATCH YOUR HEAD,
LOW BEAMS!!!
In a stunning upset, reminiscent of Italy's 2-0 semi-final win over Germany in last week's EURO2012 soccer tournament, I did not ram my head into a low beam or doorway even once today!
Feisty Cow
For some unknown reason this cow started chasing this hen all over this small pasture.
It may have been something she said. That is how these things usually start.
Steintossen
There were a number of school kids on a field trip to Ballenberg with us today. Many of them were taking part in traditional Swiss games and crafts.
Here a young lad embarks on a promising career in one of Switzerland's unique sports, Steintossen.
Steintossen literally translates as "Stone Tossing." Great fun I'm sure!
Would somebody, anybody,
PLEASE milk her!
How serene is this?
Laurie liked this calf
Tying up loose ends
This is the underneath view of the eaves of a thached roof.
It was NOT easy to restrain
Laurie from some petty larceny
Cock-of-the-Walk?
Or is it a big hen?
HUGE hat in a hat makers shop
Laurie and a Raclette Pretzel
YUM!!!
Waterfalls were all around us
A closer look at those two chimneys
You know you've been in
Switzerland a long time when . . .
You sit down at a little restaurant serving mostly traditional Swiss fare in Ballenberg and, without batting an eye, ask for a side order of pommes frites, a.k.a. French fries, for 8.50 Swiss Francs which equals $8.91 USD!!!
One of the truly amazing things to see at Ballenberg was simply Swiss nature at its finest.
Rainy buds
Moss in Switzerland?
Time to pollinate
Moss, moss, moss
Fungi
More buds
Mother Nature takes Art Classes
We had a great time at Ballenberg and highly recommend it if you are ever in the area.
Now it was time to get back to the Brienz bahnhof for the short train ride to Meiringen.
A lake boat docking
Boats, trains or busses, you have a wide variety of travel choices at the Brienz Transportation Center!
We made it smoothly to this
wonderful village known for . . .
YES!
It was open this time!
I had actually tried to gain access to this old English church that was now a Holmes Museum months ago but it was closed that day.
But first . . .
Laurie pondered her next move
Why a Sherlock Holmes Museum in a small Swiss Alpine village you ask?
Elementary . . .
Holmes and Moriarty
having at it!
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had tired of writing the Sherlock Holmes series, so in the December 1893 edition of the Strand Magazine, in what he thought would be the end of his beloved character, he published The Final Problem.
In it, Holmes and Professor James Moriarty, "The Napoleon of Crime," wresteled to their deaths at Reichenbach Falls on the outskirts of Meiringen.
The reading public would have none of it and their outrage would eventually force Doyle's hand and miraculously bring Holmes back to life.
The museum is small but well worth the visit if you love Sherlock Holmes and it just so happens that I do!
Basil Rathbone is #1 in my book!!!
Still, Jeremy Brett was very, very good in the role too.
And yes, I also like what Robert Downey, Jr. has brought to the table as well.
Typical 1890's uniform
Blackheath Rugby Club Jersey
This was the rugby club that Dr. John Watson played for in his youth.
Only one man ever looked good
in one of these deerslayer hats
It was, of course,
Sherlock Holmes
Holmes' re-created
221-B Baker St. digs
Holmes' trademarks
After visiting his museum, I felt that it was important to . . .
Discuss a few items with the
Great Detective
Laurie was just another
Holmes' Groupie
This is the hotel where Holmes
was staying on his fateful
Swiss vacation
We decided to take the 15 minute walk to the funicular up to the Reichenbach Falls.
Not Reichenbach Falls
but nice just the same
We made it in no time!
This too was closed on my previous visit to Meiringen.
Reichenbach Falls
The view of the Funicular Rail line
The view of the valley below
the Reichenbach Falls
It was not foggy today. That is the mist/rain from the falls and we got soaked!
Rank Tourist!
Reichenbach Falls
Up close and POWERFUL!!!
Sorry Sherlock
Under no circumstance, including a scenario with one of them new fangled underwater breathing devices, would any human being survive the fall from this treacherous waterfall.
But, who ever said that Sherlock Holmes was a mere mortal?
Reading is FUNdamental!
A Solid Read
If you are going to be spending a lot of time on a train and want a book to read to while away the time, then this is the book for you.
It is neither great nor bad, but it does entertain.
2 comments:
I'm relieved Laurie didn't reenact the story by throwing you over the falls.
David,
Not that she didn't try!
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