Switzerland

Just minutes away from where we were staying with family is  Kyburg Castle and the Kyburg covered wooden bridge.  Kyburg Castle was owned by the Hapsburgs and is a small but very pretty castle nestled in a picturesque wooded area.  The covered wooden bridge is historic and reminded me of the type of bridges you see in American movies.

We then drove to the village of Appenszell. The village of Appenzell and the Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden are situated in a singularly beautiful landscape of rolling hills. The region is known for rural customs and traditions such as the ceremonial descent of the cattle in autumn and cultural events such as folk music and rustic dances, as well as hiking tours in the Alpstein region.

While we were there we witnessed a yodelling concert.  A group of men and women yodelling, but it was different to what you expect.  They had terracotta bowls in which they had placed coins that spun inside to the bowl and then they harmonised along with the sound of the coins in the bowl.  It was mesmerising.

The town itself is small with beautifully decorated and colourful shops and houses and cobblestoned streets surrounded by tall mountains.

After visiting the town we drove to Brulisau to see the cable car that takes hikers, paragliders and such to the top of the mountain.  We watched many paragliders making their descent.

Colin would have loved to ride the cable car but it was late in the afternoon and too late to make a return trip on the cable car.

Kyburg covered wooden bridge

Yodellers in traditional costume

Mountain men in traditional costume

Appenszell

Appenszell

Appenszell

Yodellers with the terracotta bowls for harmonising

Cable car 

Paraglider

Mountain views