Zermatt

Zermatt, the home of the Matterhorn, is a fun place to visit. You can’t drive there, as they don’t allow cars in the village. You either come in by foot or take the train from a village about ten mikes from Zermatt. Once in town the preferred modes of transportation are electric cars, horse drawn sleighs, and walking.


Initially Zermatt may be a “turn off”, since it is so commercial. The hotels aren’t bad, but the numerous shops selling cheap trinkets are annoying. Within a short time though, I always become enamored by the wonderful scenery and interesting weather. The Matterhorn dances in and out of the clouds all day long, and the rain and mist add a sense of mystery to this wonderful area.

 



Hiking on the well-manicured trails around Zermatt that are maintained for walking tourists is a treat. There is elevation, but the hiking is consumer friendly. If you go off the main tourist routes, the hiking can become difficult and technical. Many of the trails are steep and rocky. You have a more than good chance of seeing Ibex, the horned animal of the Alps.


Skiing is fun in Zermatt too. You can ski into Italy for lunch and then take the lift back to Switzerland for a nice supper. Much of the skiing is on glaciers, so at times it is hard to get your bearings, if the conditions deteriorate. When “white out conditions” exist, it can be difficult to know if you are moving, standing still, lying down, or going backwards. Such disorientation is unnerving, and the ski areas try to put wands around to provide perceptual relief for high altitude skiers.


The Swiss are some of the best Innkeepers in the world. There are a number of fine 4 and 5 star hotels in Zermatt, which feature great cuisine, swimming pools, superb service, and comfortable rooms. The dollar is weak in Europe now, so these hotels are expensive compared to years past, when luxury was a bargain in Zermatt for the American traveler.