Hiking in Maienfeld, a Heidiland

Again we were in the mountain weekend.



Maienfeld. A place where Heidi comes from. This small village is famous as a stage of Heidi which is very popular story even in Japan.



A hiking course staring from this village leads you to Heidi's field.　Follow a sign of "Heidiweg". Red course is easy one, but in order to visit Heidihütte, where you see Heidi's house, you have to take advanced level Blue course.





As soon as we started our way, beautiful scenery jumped into our sights. A huge grape field with mountain behind.





sheeps are also enjoying the view..



This is the end of Red course, easy peesy way. Blue course is more steep. This mountain is not as high as in Brienz last weekend but there is a 600m height difference from staring point to the Heidi Hütte, our goal.



We head our jouney of course further to Blue course.

What interesting in this hiking course is that you see a board with Heidi's episode.



Peter hit these woods like an instrument in order to tell Heidi in mountain that he will visit her soon..(that was a sign)



Heidi and Uncle Ulm had rest in the bench whenever they walk down to the village.



From this point, Peter threw away Klara's wheel chair and broke it into pieces from here. (but from this incident, Klara started to learn how to walk)



By reading these episode, our hiking went fast, it took only 1 hour from the starting point up to top. (My Japanese guide says it will take 2 hours!) Here is Heidihutte, a goal of Blue course.



Up on the mountain was a real Heidiland!! Heidi Hütte, where Heidi and Uncle Ulm live in story. Now this place functions as restaurant.



We went further up on the hill and had lunch here, overviewing amazing view of Graubünden.



This is the best part of Hiking. Enjoying breathtaking view after long walk.



On the way down, we took another way, a small road through forest covered by full red leaves. These leaves makes confortable sounds every step we take.



Heidi's fountain.



We went off from Blue course, continues further to red course and came back to the starting point of blue course again. So many back and forth. We walked indeed a lot this day.



But now I got to know better to Heidi's world. In Japan, Switzerland is popular because of this Heidi's story. Even now, many Japanese think whole Switzerland is like here, Maienfeld. Well, I'm living in normal city in Switzerland but these photo I took from Maienfeld would be a nice gift for my friends in Japan.. This is the exact image of Switzerland they have.

Hinking from Brienz Rothorn Kulm

Last weekend I have experienced again new Swiss culture. I absolutely wanted have ride on special SL train running from Brienz to Rothorn Kulm. Since this is a very special open air SL train, it operated only during summer. This month is the last chance for this year.



Upon we arrived in Briez, I saw a long qeue... A line for the Rothorhn Bahn. (SL train) Whatttt?? It's not a high season in summer anymore! Are they all in the line??



yes they are.. My dream SL train is right there but it looks like already full...

and while we were in the line to buy ticket, my dream train has departed... Shock!!



But soon Odie realized that there is an another train waiting for us behind. He dragged me to that train which is a "diesel train". Nooooo this is not that train what I wanted!! My dream SL train has no window and you can breathe fresh air!! Beautiful wooden bench are in the row, not like this plastic chair!!



I was pushing my forehead to the window with sorrow...



But soon impressed by it's unbelievably beautiful scenery.



Brienz lake is amazingly blue.



The train goes quite steep way, through nicely coloured tree.



Beautiful autumn day.



Family are hiking. In their behind, you see my dream SL train who left me behind.



Finally we have reach the top, Brienz Rothorn Kulm!! Wowwww the lake is so down below and now I'm facing to those amazing Swiss alps!!



It's very beautiful but now I want to fly away like him... because I know I have to go advanced hiking course. Not like those easy couse which I saw from the train.



Odie,, he is pausing in front of beautiful landscape but I know how it goes behind him..



Oh my gott!!!



Unstable rocky way goes all the way down with some melted snow looks slippy and dangerous!!



I have to go thougth cliff..



I felt natural power fully in my body..



After fighting with those steep rocky way. finally I have reach to the peak!! The scenery is only for those who conquered steepy freaky way. Tomato tasted soooo good after a big work!



This is REAL SWITZERLAND...!



Mountain plants are also pretty.



Although we had to go thourgh norrow road, the way after lunch was not so tough anymore.



This is the point to Canton Bern.



From Schoenbuehl, we took lift down to village. Funny to riding lift without snowboard:) In summer, the list functions for hikers, very practical!



After exploring swiss mountain and experiencing my first hiking in Switzerland (advaced course!!) I'm back in the village.



Lovely goat brothers are telling me "Well down!".
I was totally crash in the train back home but very comfortable after spending time in full nature. Hiking in Switzerland is fun!!

Neuchatel to Biel

After we returned from summer holiday in Greece, winter has came in Switzerland suddenly:) What a temperature differences! I tend to feel a bit sad on Autumn,, how can I enjoy this melacholy feeling season..?



We decided to explore more in Switzerland!!!! Godzilla and Ursula kindly gave me a GA card (free train pass in Switzerland) for my birthday so I have to take full advantage of it!!

Last weekend we went Neuchatel, a french speaking area where I wanted to visit.



It's a unique city where is said as "a city sculptured from a butter". Why butter? Because of the colour of buildings. These butter coloured buildings in town are all built in 18th century.



Hmmm, unter such a strong sun, these butter building might start melting..



Even the church and castles are in butter colour:)



At least, inside of the church was not butter. This is such an old church built on 12 th century. It has been rennovated time to time so you can find Gothis style and Romanesque style parts n one church.



We had nice lunch in a small cafe in old town. So funny to see Odie speaking French but he is doing good job.



I found some very original art which you can never find in Zurich.. Freaky door with hand.. must be scary where you find this door alone in midnight!!



Ugly fountain with lion face...Hi Hi very funny.

I love this kind of small discovery in new town!



It was also a perfect day to visit this town because of the weather. The biggest lake in Switzerland is this Neuchatel See. It was like an ocean under beautiful sunshine. Odie was very excited to see thos windsurfer on the water.



and he pretended as he surfs on the water:)



It's shake by wind! Odie can enjoy the feeling of surfin.. I was just scared because I see the water underneath between woods.. But the view was awesome.



On the way home, we took ship in stead of train. The ship leaves Neuschatel and continue the journey to the lake Biel.



Neuschatel lake and Biel Lake is connected with a canal.



as we went underneath this low bridge..









The captain room has dissapeared!! Wow! What a high technology!! :) I never knew that the boat functions like this!



It was beautiful journey. You can never see such a scenery if you take car or train..



The boat left canal and start heading to Biel. In Biel lake, you see many kite sufter.



It was first time for me to see this unique sports!! Ohhh, look very dangerous.. Odie said it is something between wake boarding and wind surfing..



Country side of Switzerland is amazingly pretty.



After 2.5 hour journey, we finally arrived Biel. A town of "Bilingual". French name of the city is Bienne. Here, people grow up with German and French. Even the name of the streets are written in both languages!!



"Venner-Brunnen" the fountain of soldier. It's a symbol of the ancient battle.

This area is called "Ring" and it's a center of the town. From 11th century until Frence Revolution, this area was used as a court. Very historical place..



Before we take our train back to Zurich, we had one last cofffee in cafe, in front of the station. It was long day.. we saw a lot. Traveling Switzerland is so interesting, sometime you feel like you are away in abroad. Not only launguage but the culture are different, which make totally different atmosphere.

I think I have to get to know more about this country!!