Switzerland's country code is CH, so Kay had to find out why. It comes from the country's 1848 official name Swiss Confederation, in Latin Confoederatia Helvetica. The Helvetians were one of its Celtic tribes in Roman times.
The Swiss have a simple toll road system - just one payment for a year. We were glad to be making more than one trip!
The Swiss have a simple toll road system - just one payment for a year. We were glad to be making more than one trip!
Theo generously took us into the Bern old town (background in the picture) & to Inte
rlaken.
Theo & Isabelle's cosy home was built in 1798. Its thick walls provide great insulation, though are not sound proof against the church bells nearby that toll for about 3 minutes at 6 am (!), 12 noon & 8 pm every day. Luckily Kay is a morning person & Mike just goes back to sleep. 
rlaken.This 13th century clock tower is an entrance to the old city. The clock is well known for its figurine performance, beginning 4 minutes before each hour is struck.
A view of the Jungfrau Massif from Interlaken.
Thuner See nearby.
Lovely scenery on the trip to Bivio. The longest tunnel was 5.5 kms.
Lovely scenery on the trip to Bivio. The longest tunnel was 5.5 kms.
Bivio's population of about 270 people swells hugely during the skiing season. At this time of the year hiking is a popular pastime. Swiss in this area speak their native language Romantsch in addition to Swiss German, German & Italian (being close to the border). Fortunately some also speak English. We feel very monoligual!
Theo & Isabelle's cosy home was built in 1798. Its thick walls provide great insulation, though are not sound proof against the church bells nearby that toll for about 3 minutes at 6 am (!), 12 noon & 8 pm every day. Luckily Kay is a morning person & Mike just goes back to sleep. 
Their house is just a kid compared to this 1566 one across the road. Bivio was once a staging post between passes.
We began to explore the walking trails on our first day and of course chose the shortest. However we took more than a little longer than the estimated 50 minutes - very little can be done here without hill climbing!
Just a wee rest to take yet another photo & admire the view.
Hearing cow bells, we noticed the cows on the ridge. They are brought onto the lower alpine slopes for the summer season.
We made it to the top - 146 metres above Bivio, though it felt a lot higher. It was easier going home!
Travelling beyond Bivio means driving over the Julier Pass (the road in this picture), once used by the Romans. So began Mike's relationship here with narrow roads & hairpin bends!
The top of the Pass.
The view coming down the other side,
into the Engadine valley and along the lake to St Moritz, a major ski resort.
From here we took the cable car to its highest point, Piz Nair 3057 metres, and had great views on the way,
Enjoying our 'top of the world'.
Back down the Pass on our journey home.
The top of the Pass.
The view coming down the other side,
into the Engadine valley and along the lake to St Moritz, a major ski resort.
From here we took the cable car to its highest point, Piz Nair 3057 metres, and had great views on the way,
including seeing our first marmot. On our walks we occasionally heard a sentinel whistling a warning of danger nearby. No danger from a cable car above.
Amazing scenery. The Matterhorn is in the very far distance (right).
Enjoying our 'top of the world'.
Back down the Pass on our journey home.