Swiss Alpine Trails Of Chocolate

It is late afternoon when I first see the mountains. I am in the village of Morgins, Switzerland, and the majestic Alps, both beautiful and terrifying, rise before my eyes. No words, pictures or travel brochures could have prepared me for the awesome sight.

The villagers are going about their daily tasks, shopping, gardening and chatting, seemingly oblivious to the magnificence that is literally taking my breath away.

I am part of a group arriving for a week hiking vacation in the Swiss Alps. We are transported to our chalet and welcomed with open arms by the owners. I am not sure what to expect as I am not a great walker, but I have been assured that anyone with reasonable fitness can do this, so here I am!

The next day we take a 'wanderweg' past flower-decked chalets, through gates, across bridges and meadows to an alpine village. Our entire group participates from the youngest, a 17 year old boy, to a 60 year old grandmother. The trails are switchbacks, trod for a thousand years. We stop often to fill our water bottles from the icy streams and to gaze upward.

The grandeur is astounding and even though my feet are killing me (I should have worn-in my boots before I came!) all is forgotten when in the evening I look out from the dining room and see those great mountains looming over our cozy chalet.

In the days that follow we have occasion to walk in several valleys and visit towns with their medieval churches and castles. Walking down the main street, I browse in tiny shops where they sell Swiss Army Knives, bells on embroidered ribbons, watches, cuckoo clocks, chocolate, toy dogs and music boxes shaped like chalets. I enjoy purchasing the odd memento of my travels and look forward to remembering my new-found respect for the mountains and the wonderful people of the Swiss Alps, who made me feel so welcome in their alpine paradise.

From: articledashboard.com