Flims with the massive mountain wall after the collapse of the mountain eons ago.
My cousin Brigitte and her new husband Klaus took the opportunity to visit me in 'my' neck of the woods for a few days. They live in Brandenburg near Potsdam and Berlin. This is the first time that I have seen her since 1994 and is the first time that I was able to meet her new husband. We settled on Flims which is just around the corner from Rhaezuens, the village I am staying in.
These three days were amongst the very few days I have spent in Switzerland focused on anything other than training or fitness. As my family in Australia is numerically tiny, something I grew up with and is no problem at all, I was rather surprised to discover how nice it felt to actually be with family.
Both Brigitte and Klaus had not been to Switzerland before and Flims is the perfect place to start. The village is at about 1,000m with big mountains all around. It is also a quite famous ski resort.
These three days were amongst the very few days I have spent in Switzerland focused on anything other than training or fitness. As my family in Australia is numerically tiny, something I grew up with and is no problem at all, I was rather surprised to discover how nice it felt to actually be with family.
Both Brigitte and Klaus had not been to Switzerland before and Flims is the perfect place to start. The village is at about 1,000m with big mountains all around. It is also a quite famous ski resort.
Lake Cresta near Flims
Wednesday evening Brigitte and I spent catching up on family news and just simply catching up with each other. It was a lovely evening.
The next two days the three of us (no, FOUR of us because of course Jochen was a part of it all) we packed in as much as we could, walking, walking, walking and taking a gazillion photos. So even though these days were family, Jochen still got in a lot of walking.
lake Cauma near Flims, The water really is that colour
First day's walk was to two lakes and the Rhine gorge. The Rhine gorge came into being thousands of years ago when a huge mountain behind what is Flims, 'fell apart'. (A geologist would shudder at that description.) This geological event changed the landscape dramatically and caused the Rhine to change its course.
Lake Cauma is close to the Rhine Gorge.
Lake Cauma is close to the Rhine Gorge.
Lake Cresta near the Rhine gorge
This was our lunch spot on our first full day together.
Much of the walk was a little tedious as it was mainly on internal roads. But we managed to find and follow enough real walking trails that took us through the forest and led us to this charming lake where we stopped for lunch.
Much of the walk was a little tedious as it was mainly on internal roads. But we managed to find and follow enough real walking trails that took us through the forest and led us to this charming lake where we stopped for lunch.
Small gorge on a tributary near Flims
By leaving the roads whenever we could we found this wonderful albeit small gorge. Note the beautiful blue water.
Megalithic stones in Falera near Flims
Yesterday morning we drove to Falera, just a short drive down the road. At Falera there is a very interesting megalithic site that came into being in the Middle Bronze Age (1,600 - 1,200 BC) and we spent some time looking at all the different stones placed for a purpose in respect to sun and moon as well as the solstice.
This centre combines astronomy, mathematics and Bronze Age worship and is under archaeological protection.
Jochen on the mountain walk near Nagens
In afternoon we took the shuttle bus to Nagens. Height at about 2,000 m which is above the tree line, and then walked along a narrow mountain track into beautiful, very rugged country. This is the sort of country I love.
This morning Brigitte and Klaus drove Jochen and me back to Rhaezuens and the parting was very emotional.