Our second night in Bern had the group going to dinner at the Marzilibrucke restaurant which I was told that it was was 2 blocks down and 1 block over. It was really down a stairway, a hill, and a winding path. It was worth it though as dinner was great; we sat outside under a tree canopy. Day 2 presented us with another 90 degree (hot) day This is very unusual weather for Europe, let alone Switzerland. We traveled by coach to Montreux and the Chillon Castlee which was constructed around 1536. Located on Lake Geneva, the castle guarded the lake from pirates as well as collecting a fee from all commerce on the lake. After a lunch (we shared a mozzarella and tomato panini) on the lake, the Players boarded the Goldenpass Panoramic Train for a 2 hour ride into and through the Alpine Mountains and ending at Gstaad. This was a big WOW with the views of Lake Geneva and the alpine countryside of Switzerland. Our final night in Bern and we had dinner at Stella Lucia.
Day 3 had the Players going by coach from Bern to Innsbruck (a bridge over the River Reuss). On this drive, we stopped in the town of Luzern which was founded in 1250 AD and further developed by Benedictine Fathers in 1730 AD. The river Ruess runs through the middle of the town and you need a bridge to get to the guard house in the center of the river. In 1290, Luzern got it’s independence from the Hapsburgs. A sculpture by Bestel Thorvaldsen of a dying lion is the notable art work in the central park commemorating the killing of Swiss guards in 1792. Upon leaving Luzern, we traveled to Innsbruck on a highway that had more miles in a tunnel than above ground because the Alpine (Tyrol) mountains challenged drivers. One tunnel was 10 miles in length and another 20 tunnels were at least 1 mile in length.
Day 4 has the Passion Players in Innsbruck touring the Baroque architecture of churches, government buildings, and homes. Some of us toured the 1992 Olympic Ski Jump ramp and saw the Golden Roof which Emperor Maxmillian gifted his bride in 1500. While I was sitting in a sidewalk cafe near the Golden Roof, our waitress spilt 4 glasses on beer just to add laughter to the occasion. We were listening to the Austrian National Police Band, What a sight – looking at buildings built 300 to 400 years ago and music of military marches.
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