Bern, Fact

Samson Fountain
Bern, Switzerland
June 2007

If you can imagine that the lion with his mouth open is really just in a Giant Yawn, and that the figure above represents two jet-lagged travelers who left their home twenty hours earlier and are trying in vain to shut that yawning mouth, you have a good sense of how we felt about the world that first day in Bern.

Kramgasse
Bern Switzerland
June 2007

The streets in the old section of town are lined with four and five story buildings, with shops on the first floor behind the curved arcades. The place used to be built of wood, but a Big Fire convinced them that sandstone was a better building material.

An early map of Bern (from the 1300s) shows the unique wrap-around of the river Aare. It's green and swift-moving. The clock tower is in about the middle of the picture of above, on the wider curving street going north and south in the illustration.

Aare River, from the Terrace
Bern, Switzerland
June 2007

What's a good medieval town without its church? This one is the Cathedral of St. Vincent, with a terrific portal over its front door. It depicts on the right side, all those who are going to Hell, and on the left side, those who are going to Heaven. Of course I'm entranced by the unnamed figure yielding the sword in the middle of all them.

Saucy Swordswoman
Bern Switzerland
June 2007

Dave found the representation of the five foolish virgins, woefully holding empty lamps. If I'm not mistaken, the figure second from the left is a GUY, proving that this parable holds up for the male portion of the population.

The five wise virgins, lamps all aflame, happy faces all around.

Painted Doors
Bern Switzerland
June 2007

We walked all the way down Kramgasse and veered off on Nydeggstalden, . . .
Untertorbrucke
Bern, Switzerland
June 2007

. . . over the small bridge called Untertor Bridge, up the hill past the Bear Pits (ick), across the Nydegg Bridge, and then down a long covered set of stairs. . .


. . . to the Aare river. Part of it was driven by my desire to photograph a lot of places in the book Einstein's Dreams, but we were also running out of things to see. Dave took another covered walkway up to the park by St. Vincent's cathedral and I went instead for the novel option of an elevator. I pushed the button, waited, and the elevator descended. A little man popped out and said he would grant me one wish, provided I paid him in Swiss francs. I said I wished to rejoin my ascending husband. Granted. He held out his palm for the 1.20, pushed some buttons and up we went. (At least I think that's how the conversation went. I don't speak German.)

Back at the hotel, we checked out email, and I put my head on my hand and went dead asleep. Dave woke me and took me to dinner. . .

. . . but not here. See other post for food references. It was an early night, struggling as we were to stay awake. But in the middle of the night I struggled to stay asleep. A melatonin tablet, dissolved under the tongue, was my new best friend that night.

We were up early and walked around the unpopulated Bern. The only people around at that hour are the produce people, unloading their wares for the market in Bundesplatz.

Greens
Bern, Switzerland
June 2007

Passageway to the Aare
Bern Switzerland
June 2007

Whether it was because we felt more human after sleeping, or the early morning hour, but we liked Bern much better in the morning. We had the streets to ourselves, and watched the Astronomical Clock go again. This time it tolled seven times and was more impressive.

Decorated Facade on Junkerngasse
Bern, Switzerland
June 2007

Early Morning on Kramgasse
Bern, Switzerland
June 2007

Zahringer Fountain
Bern, Switzerland
June 2007

In the morning's hunks and colors, the Zahringer Fountain glowed, the Clock Tower a picturesque backdrop.

Dave, Contemplating Early Morning Mysteries
Bern, Switzerland
June 2007

We wandered round one last time, then returned to hotel for breakfast and showers (bliss!) before heading off to catch our train.

Flags

Bern, Switzerland
June 2007