As we walked along this main boulevard in Bern, I started noticing that Bern has a whole layer of shops underground, entered through these trap doors. I enjoyed looking down into the underworld!
We also happened upon the Einstein Haus, where Albert Einstein lived from 1903-1905. He was here when he developed his Theory of Relativity.
My heart was moved when I saw this Pietà in the Bern Cathedral. A mother and her son. The heartbreak. The meaning perhaps not fully understood in that moment.
“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men” (D&C 19:16-19).
I remembered seeing these Roman nails when we visited Saalburg a few weeks ago. I am grateful he suffered, bled and died for ME. Oh, what a gift!
The Bern Münster Cathedral of St. Vincent is the most impressive late-Gothic building in the city and the largest and most important late medieval church in Switzerland. Construction on this cathedral began in 1421 with builders working on this masterpiece through many generations. The steeple was only completed in 1893.
The woodwork, windows and the pews were fantastic.
What a beautiful place. What effort has gone into its construction! It makes me sad that these glorious churches aren’t filled with people worshipping.
The magnificent portal to the church depicts the Final Judgement.
We left our cozy little Interlaken Hotel de la Paix this morning and started our trip to Bern, driving through beautiful countryside. Everything is such a luscious green, still. It looks like it could be spring’s first grass. We had an overcast day with rain off and on. We never got to see the Alps this time. Everything up there was hidden in the clouds. But everything down below is also spectacular.
This is one of the main boulevards of Bern. John served here on his mission 50 years ago.
Of course, the family detoured for chocolate shops!
We spent about 3 hours in Bern, enjoying every minute of our wandering.
Moving day:
This will be us one day:
Loving the tile and rooflines.
Aaron was shocked to learn that there really are bears in Bern. They’ve been moved to a much nicer habitat than where they were the last time I was here, down closer to the water.
This is the home of a famous Bern painter, Friedrich Traffelet, illustrating a family history and these sentiments–
Above: From baptism to wedding and burial, the sound of life comes from where to where, and why, you ask in vain.
Under the figures: Beauty and taste reign supreme here, with a pleasant varnish feel. Here we paint in oil and paste. Friedrich Traffelet Malermeister (master painter).
My Swiss friend once explained that in Switzerland there are white cobblestones mixed into the stones in the streets because they show up better in the dark and make it safer to walk there.
Hot chestnuts for sale.
Before leaving Interlaken this morning, we made a quick run to the nearby Migros grocery store. As usual, John went to the chocolate aisles and I went to buy some produce!
The chocolate aisles in Swiss and German grocery stores is comparable to the cereal aisles in America. (Here there are perhaps 4-6 different cereal options offered.) We even found chocolate from the Ivory Coast.
John is very serious about his chocolate choices.
I stocked up on my favorite Swiss Christmas cookies, Leckerlei, getting enough to last me through the holidays.
Then we loaded the care and headed to Bern.
We visited Trümmelbach Falls. THAT was spectacular! We stepped into a big industrial elevator that can hold 40 people and road about 2/3 of the way up the waterfall channel, inside the mountain. Then we got out and climbed stairs outside and inside the mountain to see four falls above us, then back down to see six falls below. They were beautiful and loud and amazingly powerful. Trümmelbach carries ALL the glacier run-off water from the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau! It also carries 20,200 tons of rock debris down the mountain every year. It was really remarkable to witness. It carries the most water in the summer run-off months (May-July) and the least in the winter, when the attraction is closed (Nov-Feb).
This is the beautiful wall through the woods to the entrance where we got into the elevator car.
And some beautiful views from up above:
I first visited Trümmelbach Falls in the late 1980s and have never forgotten the feelings I had here about the incredible power of Nature that left me breathless and even frightened. (The guard rails seemed much surer this time.) The pounding torrents crash through the granite mountain with a deafening roar. It was easy to feel my own weakness and insignificance here. I felt God here, in this place, and my own puny strength in relation to His.
There is a scripture in D&C 121:33 that I thought about here:
“How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.”
God has all power and I felt it here, in his creations. No matter what we might think, He is in charge. And He will pour down blessings as He sees fit.
We topped off our wonderful day with another wonderful Swiss meal.
Our Frankfurt Germany Mission 