Return from the north: Switzerland - the passes

The trip is made by 4 people in a camper van. At the end the complete itinerary of the journey to the Lofoten has been included, of which this is a small part.

Saturday 12.08.95

After a theatrical night (in the sense that in the middle of the medieval square there was an argument between two lovers that kept everyone awake from 2 to 4 in the morning), at 8.30 departure from the square, still a little sleepy. We cross the border between France and Switzerland and stop in Lucerne for lunch. In the afternoon we are at the Furkapass at 2400m where we do some walking excursions. A small note: the width of the road allows campers to pass with only 2 cm to spare! This now means a journey on the edge of the rocks on the sides and the sheer drops in case of meeting other "bulky" vehicles. For people who suffer from vertigo, like the writer, the journey is beautiful but decidedly stressful. FS 275 Km

Sunday 13.08.95

Stop at the Furkapass, visit to the Rhône glacier and visit to the grotto carved in the ice.

Monday 14.08.95

Departure after lunch from the Furkapass and arrival in Brig at a campsite. In the town there are only bars and tourist venues, the shops close at 16. It is the first day we suffer from the heat. 63 Km

Tuesday 15.08.95

Departure from the campsite in Brig, after taking on water. We stop on the Simplon pass at 2000 m. 22 km.

Wednesday 16.08.95

Waking up in the cold at the Simplon pass. In the afternoon departure for Italy. We take the motorway from Domodossola, make a stop at Omega to visit friends and then have dinner and spend the night at a grandmother's in Piedmont. 150 Km

Thursday 17.08.95

At 14 we are, still in Piedmont, at the other grandmother's and after dinner we return to Milan

ITINERARY COVERED

Läckö (S) castle Kinne Kulle (S) view over lake Vänern and lava rocks Varnhem (S) church and convent remains Falun (S) copper mine Rättvik (S) church 'The kneeling bride' Mora (S) the red horse Jokkmokk (S) blue church and Arctic Circle Lofoten (N) home of a Viking chief and ship Svolvær (N) cruise to the Trollfjord Lom (N) shopping, stave church, obelisk of Sagasoyla, Krossbu pass (N) Jotunheimen glacier Mo i Rana (N) Arctic Circle Borgund (N) stave church Edam (NL) market Marken (NL) the peculiar village Maastricht (NL) quick tour of the centre Aachen (D) town hall and cathedral Trier (D) city, cathedral and Porta Nigra Strasbourg (F) cathedral and clock Mont S.te Odile (F) convent, view of the Black Forest and the Vosges Riquewihr (F) medieval town Furka pass (CH) Rhône glacier Simplon pass (CH) view