Today was moving day! We checked out of Leukerbad and then proceeded to take a bus to Leuk, we then hopped a train (like hobos) to Visp and from there we caught the Glacier Express to Zermatt. The train was exactly like some Harry Potter or Polar Express train you might be imagining. At least that is what I envisioned but it turns out to be a regular train with bigger windows. Regardless it was another beautiful train trip into Zermatt which has no cars. (Well except a lot of little electric mini-trucks)

We immediately started our hike for the day which for Kelly and myself was a relatively short 4 mile hike to lunch. (With some serious elevation again!) We had a local guide today who has summited the Matterhorn. (He’s 70 so it’s been a while) He took us up about 3.5 miles to our lunch site. This little hamlet has two restaurants and a little white chapel. It’s pretty much only accessible to hikers and we ate at the building on the right.

Here’s a picture of the sausage hinted at in the title. We also had Rosti, that potato pancake looking thing on the left. (Seems to be a Swiss national dish and in America we just changed the name to hash browns. ..but I’m not telling them.) We finished up with some apple strudel and headed for the gondola to take us back to town.

What I failed to mention earlier was that on our initial entry into town the Matterhorn was completely covered with clouds. Well, on our way back this afternoon the clouds cleared some and here’s the best picture I could get. (more to come tomorrow. …maybe) Also I have a tip for the Sibilsky family, please take seat. There is no roller coaster on it that we could see. I know it will come as a shock but I don’t think that Disney ride is authentic in this regard.

So finally we made it back to town and was able to check in to our hotel. We are staying at one of the grandest hotels in Zermatt. (I know because it’s name is “Grand Hotel Zermatterhof”) Here’s the front and it sits almost in the middle of town.

The rooms we have on this trip are pretty silly. I’m writing from the living room that that has an adjacent dining area. (See below) In the next room we have a king bed. Each separate room has a full bathroom. It’s a bit over the top and is more space than we need. (Can I get a partial refund if I stick to one room?)

Here’s a picture of the Matterhorn from our balcony.

So that’s about all for today, …but wait, every good post wouldn’t be complete without a beer picture. (Or as we say in the biz, some “beer porn”) Guess what, Zermatt has a brewery.

That’s all for now, we have another brutal hike tomorrow that might yield some better Matterhorn pictures, if the clouds cooperate. Fingers crossed!

———Update!—————-

Here’s a bonus update from early this morning. We woke up to a clear Matterhorn! (Myself and a bunch of Asian folks were up at 6:40am taking this shot.)