Mid March 2008. There is a Morf family get together in Zermatt this year. Both uncles from the USA are coming! I have not seen them in years and it will be fun to meet up with them again! Fredi lives in Raleigh, North Carolina and is coming with his girlfriend Sharon. Karl lives in Houston, Texas and is coming with my aunt Patricia. I have not been in Zermat in at least 15 years…
Zermatt and the Matterhorn (4478m) is Switzerlands most famous landmark and considered by many to be the most beautiful mountains in the world. Mountain lovers from all over the world come to here every year to climb the Matterhorn or Cervin in french. The first person to have succesfully reached its summit was in 1865. In town there is a fountain with a picture of the oldest mountain guide, Ulrich Inderbinen, who climbed the Matterhorn 370 times… The last time he went up was in 1990 after just celebrating his 100th birthday!
As you arrive in the village by train, no cars permitted, you can see that Zermatt is also a favorite place for the rich and famous… The well organised train system drops its passengers off in the center of town with their luggage piled on carts that you drive up to the little electronic run cars waiting to drive you to your hotel. These little cars are cute and very practical and have been around for at least 30 years. Over the years they have replaced the horses and carriages that once roamed the streets of the village. Only one hotel (the most expensive one) still has an authentic horse and carriage.
We stay in Täsch, the town a train station stop before Zermatt, since we are only staying for the weekend. In Zermatt if you do not reserve a week during the winter season it is impossible to find a room. We meet up with Ruth and Fritz (my aunt and uncle living near Zurich) and the others. We let them settle into their hotel and go for a walk to discover the town. Zermatt is like a little city with many restaurants, expensive souvenir shops and boutiques with watches and perfume. There is an old area left though with original Zermatt houses made of wood and old grain storage huts on stilts. There a signs on them (a bit like in a museum) to explain what they were used for (housing animals or grain or to hang sausages to dry etc).
We’ve spent the day luckily with gorgeous weather taking the train up to Gornergrat at 3089m. From here you can see the Matterhorn and have a 360 Degree view of about 34 (if the weather permits) 4'000m high peaks! There is a hotel located the the end station which is even pretty reasonably priced. We decide to walk back down on a paved path in the snow enjoying the views. This has got to be one of the biggest ski resorts in Switzerland which is linked to the Italian side and where you can ski all year, due to the glaciers!
