Voyage a Zermatt

Zermatt, Switzerland

After taking care of some early business in Geneva, I hopped aboard the InterRegio line from Geneva to the town of Visp, which connects to Matterhorn Gotthard line to Zermatt. The whole trip endured 4 hours, but 1st class seating (a luxury I picked up on my trip to Japan) made it pleasant and the ride between Visp and Zermatt was the prettiest. The train shimmied along the narrow edges of cliffs, looked down precipitous gorges, cross rickety bridges, passed tunnels and caterpillar'ed its way through glacial valleys where steep mountains flanked it on both sides. The train car had super wide and high windows that facilitated viewing the alpine panoramas. This train clung to narrow-gauge tracks that you would more likely expect to see on kiddie trains at small amusement parks.

From Zermatt, Switzerland

I checked into Hotel Allalin, which Travelocity made it appear like an overpriced Best Western (no offense - I stay at BW's quite often on the road), but it proved to be a 4-star hotel just off the main drag of Zermatt. I was greeted with a bubbling glass of white wine at reception, gourmet snackage in the lounge, and hand-crafted chocolate in my room. It was expensive, but well worth the views and the comfort. The only downer was the reception lady during the evening shift who seemed to dislike either snowboarders or foreigners - because she did not give me nice looks when I returned to the hotel after dinner. I had been in Zermatt for almost 2 hours before I noticed the Matterhorn was just within view of the hotel.

Oh yes, and McDonald's was on the menu for dinner. Americans, don't shudder - this was the classiest McDonald's I've ever been to. Although it cost 20.00 CHF, I ordered tiger shrimp cocktail, a panini-like version of a hamburger, and Fanta. You can be assured, however, that their recipe for fries has not changed.

Today's Expenses:

• 153.00 CHF - 1st class one way train ticket from Geneva Airport to Zermatt


• 25.00 CHF - snackage


• 82.00 CHF - souvenirs (8 keychains and 1 t-shirt)


• 20.00 CHF - McDonald's for dinner