Switzerland: Engstligental in December 2007, Take Three

Hello again

It's an icy, grey day out there. The hoar frost that decorated all the trees and shrubs and painted all the cars white this morning has not melted, despite a half hour of sunshine. At least it's not windy and the city looks very pretty.

Here are some more visual memories of a fantastic weekend in the snow (Dec 15/16, 2007).
No, the above is not the chalet where we stayed, but just a picture postcard view of a typical Bernese mountain dwelling, or chalet, about half-way up to "the house".
Here's the very first glimpse of "the house" at an elevation of approx. 1,800 m asl:The base of these houses is usually of stone or bricks and mortar, fairly thick, solid walls. The basement, if there is one, often serves as a stable or as a cheese cellar. The upper part of the house is made of local timber, usually beautifully carved (see later for some details). People live in the sunnier front part, the animals at the colder back -- it's a fairly energy-efficient system. Traditionally, these houses were designed for summer living, with single-glazed windows only. Many of them have been converted slightly so they can be rented out to winter holiday makers. Summers are said to be impossible for the zillions of flies and bluebottles attracted by the cattle.
Most houses now have at least a small solar panel for minimal power supply (lighting, radio, perhaps a kettle).
Centre above: the neighbouring house. These are all working dairy cattle alps. The buildings have room for some twenty-odd head of cattle, some pigs and/or goats, and all that these animals require and produce. Plus beds for at least four or five workers. Above right: the house I stayed at. Below the balcony some firewood.
Next two photos: some details of the façade. This is not a very old house, but decorated and inscribed in the traditional manner.
The inscription reads: "Im 1981. Jahr Ruedi Grossen | Zimmermeister war." This is a proud proclamation of the carpenter who designed and erected this house in 1981. A true master signs his work.
The view from the balcony towards the north-west (I think). What a day!
Above: The view from the balcony southwards. At about 4 PM, the sun is low above the horizon ...
No comment! (Except to say I'm pretty proud to have caught that very moment.) The light gets warmer, doesn't it, as only the reddish parts make it through the atmosphere:
The setting sun bathes the peaks above the house in a golden-roseate glow.
Quite some time after sunset the south-south-western sky is still a palette of pastel golds, oranges and lilacs.

Below: l'heure bleue -- the blue hour after sunset and the afterglow. Amazingly, a couple of beautiful brown-orange-cream-black birds (Alpenbraunellen, prunella collaris, Alpine Accentor -- wikipedia has a very good photo at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunella_collaris) were still out and about, almost pestering us for some food:
I first noticed the birds because they fluttered in (sounds like when you loosely purse your lips, blow out and shake your head sideways very rapidly -- flutter is actually the perfect onomatopoeic word for the sound) . Then they skittered up and down the edge of the roof. While those two were feasting, two of their mates (males?) were singing their little hearts out up there. It's a lovely little song, very cheerful. In all, there must have been five, six or seven birds nearby but only two at a time ever came down to feed while I was there. As soon as the very last sunrays left the mountain tops, they vanished.A very last ray of sunshine reflected on the peak to the left of the chalet. Then this:
... and this:
Good night! And have a great Holiday, whatever your beliefs, faith, unbelief may be!

Peace!