Day 130 of international places giving smiles – Remembering snowy moments at Titlis Switzerland
The coach ride on the winding narrow road up the mountains to the village of Engelberg in Switzerland was a treat to the eyes. Our guide Janos showed us a spot where some years back an avalanche had destroyed the only bridge that connected the hills to the plains and the people on the mountains were stranded for days. We could see the change of scenery. The greenery around us was slowly being replaced by bare brown barks of trees with snow on some of them. We got down at the well-known Alpine resort village of Engelberg. Someone had told me that there was a wada-pav stall here, it was probably closed as the peak tourist season had not still fully started in these places.
Engelberg is a base for carrying out winter adventure activities. It’s local bazar and waterfalls and traditional Swiss cuisine is what attracts local tourists here. As for international tourists like us, we just come here because it is lies at the foot of Mount Titlis! There were caps, gloves and jackets available at a small kiosk. We purchased our tickets at the talstation-it is the meeting point at the valley before we start off for the long ride up the mountains. This place is 1000mtrs above sea level.
The ride up to Mount Titlis was like an adventure by itself. We first got into the regular cable car that could accomodate 6 people. Natanya and her grandmother Pam asked to come with us. Along with her mother Julie, I think that this 3 generation Australian family were the sweetest people in our group. We tried to recognise the flags of different countries that were painted on the cable cars. As we ascended among the pine trees we could almost touch the snow that was perched delicately on its branches. As the cable cars went higher, the scenery below us looked whiter, obviously because of more snow at the higher levels!
The first stop of the cable car is called the Trubsee which is 1800 mtrs above sea level, but we did not get off there. We got down at the second stop at a place called ‘Station Stand’ which is 2400 mtrs above sea level. We saw a traditional ski hut in the middle of the snowy mountains, where many skiers would be based.
From here we got into the famous Titlis Rotair– the world’s first revolving cable car built in 1997 with a capacity of transporting 80 people at a time. It didn’t matter where we stood, the base revolved around to give us a 360′ panaoramic view of the snow around us. We could see vast clear snow on huge slopes. Many skiers were rapidly descending down the treacherous looking slopes and I got scared just thinking of the risks involved.
We got down at the Titlis Glacier Ice station. We were at 3020mtrs above sea level. There is a 5 storey building here. We took a lift up to the 5th storey sun terrace with an incredible view of snowy surroundings. I saw a lot of Indian tourists here and I even heard Gujarati being spoken aloud.
We made huge snowballs and threw it at one another and also with our friends Joanne and Kim. The reflection of the sun on the white snow was intense and without any sunglasses Sid had a tough time. He couldn’t open his eyes for sometime, this is what was meant by snow blindness. There was too much of white all around, maybe this is the reason why the skiers wear such bright colourful costumes.
We then walked upto the Ice Flyer chairlift. The four of us sat in a long chair and were lifted up in the air. With our feet dangling precariously in the air, we felt as if we were suspended over the whole mountain! We experienced a breathtaking trip over the glacier crevasses and got down at the next point –the Titlis Glacier Park. Riding above the clouds and looking at the snowy peaks below, it seemed as a truly heavenly experience!
As we climbed up an observation tower we were showered with snow by our Indian friends Mukesh and Avantika. The snow up here seemed to be almost 4 feet deep. The kids fell backwards and made deep impressions in the flat snow surfaces. Never ever had we experienced this quantity of snow! On our way back we met the New Zealand couple Steve and Melissa. Later we came to know that Steve had chosen this place high in the air to propose to Melissa with a diamond engagement ring! How romantic!
After our amazing tryst with snow, the biting cold suddenly hit us and we were glad to be on the 5th storey of the Ice station. The 4th floor had a costume showroom but there was no time for changing and taking photos. The 3rd floor had a speciality restaurant, the highest bar in Europe and an icecream boutique. We took our well deserved break at the 2nd floor self service restaurant and enjoyed the spicy Indian Pizza and hot coffee!
We enjoyed seeing the sculptures made of ice in the ice cave. The music and the colourful lights give a unique feel to the place. As we bid goodbye to Titlis in the Rotair and the cable car, I felt that this was an experience that I could cherish for the rest of my life. Janos gave us Titlis caps as a memento of our visit.
On the dining table at night I spoke a lot with Sharon, a cheerful nurse from Australia and her husband David. Kids sat with the Canadia youngsters PJ, Sarah and Angie. We had quite a lot of Swiss francs remaining, we brought chocolates, lipstick and Sid even went to the local bar with PJ for another exchange of cultural ideas.
The next day on 17th April 2008 we braced ourselves for one of the longest drives of our tour. As we drove through the Northern region of Switzerland, we actually saw the fat black and white cows on green pastures that were responsible for the famous dairy products of Switzerland. The sight of attractive chalets with rustic timber was part of the scenery that Switzerland is known for. We had needed this connection with mother nature and Switzerland is the best place to realise how insignificant is man- made beauty compared to natural beauty!
So what place made you smile today?
Be thankful for the places that make you smile!
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