Where it Snows in Summer
Bay area Kid Reporter loses her heart to Switzerland.
This summer, I took my first trip to Europe. In 10 days, we traveled to England, Belgium, Italy, France, and Germany. By far my favorite destination out of all of these was Switzerland.
First we visited Engelberg, which is a small town nestled beneath the giant Alps. We took the Titlis Rotair, a revolving cable car—the first of its kind!—up to the very top of the mountain. Did you know that Mount Titlis is 10,623 feet tall? That's more than two miles high!
Because of the high elevation, it was snowing. Imagine that! For us Americans, snow in the summer is a bit of a shock. In addition to snow tubes and toboggans (which I went on again and again), there was a special type of sled that looked like a toy motorcycle with handlebars. Apparently, the Swiss love to have fun!
They also love chocolate. In Lucerne, the next city we visited, I saw packages of the treat in every window, and a milk chocolate fountain running in almost all the bakeries! I watched a chocolatier at work in a local candy shop. The confectionery they create with just some chocolate, icing, and food coloring is incredible!
Also in the city is the famous Lion Monument, a sculpture carved into the side of a rock. It shows an injured lion that is so wounded you can almost sense the sorrow and pain.
This piece of art was made to honor the deaths of Swiss Guards during the French Revolution. Mark Twain, a famous American author, called it "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."
Upscale stores selling luxury watches and bracelets (the Swiss are known for their fancy handiwork) dot the city's clean, riverfront streets. I was more interested in a quirky gold cowbell for a souvenir, though.
No matter where you're from or who you are, the awe-inspiring landmarks of Switzerland, whether they are natural or man-made, will be something you'll never forget!
PHOTO: Kid Reporter Anjali Bhat at the top of Mount Titlis in Switzerland. (Photo Courtesy Anjali Bhat)
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