Re: Wengen and the Jungfrau . . .

trainrider47 Wrote:
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> Fabulous photos.  I'd love to get there but at
> my age doubt I can do that much climbing!


I'm with you there, Michael -

In fact I'm not sure it would be a good idea for me to even ride the train to those altitudes.  At this stage in my life I'm happy to leave the hiking to our friends the JéBêWèX, Olaf & Jack, and Anthony.

OTOH, thank you (and Anthony) for reminding me of another beautiful locale in Switzerland — Wengen and The Jungfrau.  Fifty-plus years ago I was a teacher, which compensated for an extremely low salary by providing twelve weeks off between one school year and the next, so I scrimped & saved enough to spend ten weeks of one summer in Europe.  In mid-July I was playing in a small tennis tournament in Wengen, a world-famous ski resort in the winter but not a major destination in the summer, and which can only be reached by a VERY long and VERY steep hike up the cliff from Lauterbrunnen or by riding the (meter-gauge?) railroad that continues on up the mountain through several tunnels (with viewports similar to those on the road in the southeast corner of Zion Natl. Park) to the Eiger Glacier on the south side of the peak.)  One of my favorite things about Wengen was, even way back then, there were NO gasoline motors of ANY kind allowed anywhere in the area, so it was very peaceful and quiet, with a fabulous view of The Jungfrau peak across the deep valley.  The other thing I remember most about Wengen was on the evening of July 20, 1969, the headline in the local paper was 'Menner Im Mond' – Man on the Moon – and there was an all-night party in celebration thereof.  Of course I brought back maps and photos and a great little paperback book about the railroad, all of which I'm sure I still have, but in which box in the closet I have no idea . . .

- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender