Bern, Me and Einstein

The train trip here from Venice went like Swiss clockwork. Everything on time, no hitches. Well, one time I got a bit concerned, based on previous experience. As we approached the last city in Italy, they started making announcements in Italian that ended in "...Bern". And people started to get their luggage and head for the door. So I crossed my fingers, hoped for an English speaker, and asked if I had to change trains to get to Bern. The answer was no, so being a trusting person, I stayed put. Wise decision. The train went straight on to Bern, and arrived right on time. And this time when I left the terminal for the 15 minute walk to the hostel, I went out the right door, and turned in the correct direction.

I forgot to mention in Venice how impressed I was with the interior of San Marcos Basilica. Not nearly as large as some others, many in fact, I've seen. But it made up for it in grandeur. The marble (I assume marble) columns were of a somewhat darker material, and had even darker, very pronounced veins. The floors were nearly all mosaics. All in all it was very beautiful. No photos allowed. But, as I found out in many Italian Churches, they charge admission to see, in this case, some parts of the church. In many admission is charged simply to get in the door. So I didn't feel too guilty when I took the one shot into the church from the cupola.

And in the evening, I took some post card quality shots wandering around Venice. In fact, I believe I could have marketed them under the series "Venice Sunset" and "Evening in Venice". Could have? Yes, could have. I inadvertently (read: stupidly) deleted them before I copied them to CD. Best shots I've ever taken. And since the evidence is gone, who can challenge that?

Today in Bern dawned cold and cloudy. Droughtbuster Dick at work. Bern is a great place to simply stroll around. I did visit Einstein's home here. Were you wondering how that got into the tile of this? Now you know. I even had my photo taken sitting at his original desk. Closest I'll ever come to scientific greatness, or any greatness, for that matter. An interesting 20 minute film on his life. I had no idea he was such a political activist. He was even offered the presidency of Israel at one time.

I'm debating on whether to go from here to Geneva, and then back toward Zurich, or go from here to Interlaken, then Lucerne. If the alter, I think I'll try skiing one day. It would be nice to be able to say I'd skied the Swiss Alps. I'm leaning toward Interlaken ad Lucerne. Geneva can wait for the next trip.

And here's one for you. How many of you can say you've seen "The Chronicles of Narnia"? So a few of you can. But in Bern, Switzerland, with German subtitles? I will have, later this evening. Fortunately, the seating I'm going to is the English version. The earlier one was the German language version.

I keep feeding coins into this Internet station, and am about out of coins. So you'll hear from me next either from Geneva or Interlaken.