Bern, Easter Weekend

We finally went to Bern. I originally wanted to go on Friday, but we realized it was Good Friday, which is a bank holiday, meaning a lot would be closed. We stayed in Lausanne and it was worse than a Sunday. We tried to go out to lunch and it seems the only restaurants open were the ones in hotels. Grocery stores, shops, businesses are all closed on Good Friday. It was a beautiful day, and even then the streets were not very crowded. We did hear the church bells all day which made Mom feel a little guilty, but we enjoyed the afternoon.

We decided Saturday would be a better day to see Bern. We weren't sure if a lot would be closed, since it is still Easter Weekend. Everything being closed on Friday and on Sunday I figured Saturday wouldn't be so bad. I was right, it was business as usual today. The weather was again wonderful. I don't know how anybody cannot absolutely love Switzerland when the weather is like this. It is getting green, the flowers are blooming, it's warm outside, the sun is shining, the cows are grazing (really). It is positively gorgeous outside. The contrast between the winter gloom and the spring sunshine is huge, and I am very disappointed I will be missing much of it. However, I am trying to make the most of it. (Two days left...)

Bern is a very cool city, old and modern all at once. It is the capital of Switzerland, and outdoes the other Swiss cities in all the important ways. That is, clocks and fountains. I like to joke that every self-respecting Swiss town has a big clock, although I have not mentioned they all also have colorful fountains throughout. Bern is home to over 100 fountains, including Samson taming a lion, Moses with the Ten commandments, and an ogre eating a meal of babies, to name a few. They also have more clocks than any of the other towns, especially the Zytglogge, which has an astronomical clock as well as a regular clock with a bell tower on top complete with bear puppets which dance around every hour as the clock chimes.

Bern means bear, and bears are everywhere. The coat of arms of the canton is a bear, the clock has dancing bears, many fountains are topped with bears, and the city has bear pits which have been a city landmark since the 16th century. However, they are very small and not too suitable, and due to pressure from activists there is now a modern bear park under construction.

Einstein also lied in Bern, and developed his Theory of Relativity there. His apartment, now known as the Einstein Haus, has been preserved as a museum. There is still some original furniture inside. The Munster Cathedral is also very famous. and we peeked inside for a moment, but chose not to pay the fee. By now we have seen so many Cathedrals that the thought of paying to see one is a bit absurd, even if it is beautiful.

Mom loved the shopping, and already wants to go back. Our favorite Swiss cities so far have been Lucerne and Berne. However, we went to Zurich mainly for a museum and didn't see much of the city, so I think it deserves another shot. We have noticed that in German speaking Switzerland, English is much more widely spoken, a point Mom doesn't let go of easily. It's not too bad in Lausanne though. Many people know at least a little.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, and Mom and I are here by ourselves. I'm sure the whole town will be closed up. On Monday I have to make the rounds and buy more chocolate to bring home with me, and on Tuesday we are off to the States. Pictures from Bern are up at the top of the Photos links.