Brig (10/31/1982)

Sunday, October 31, 1982

Train day pass

Marsha C and I caught the 12:34 train to Bern, arriving at 13:00 and we could see the Alps!

Alps seen from Bern

So we went up to the parking lot terrace for a photo, then went to catch the 13:27 train to Brig.

New Bern Lötschberg Simplon (BLS) train

It was absolutely beautiful out; Thunersee/Lake Thun was more blue than green. There was a sprinkling of snow on the nearby mountains. The Alps were crisp and clear. Leaving Spiez, we had empty seats on both sides of the train for hopping back and forth to see the views.

View East from Kandersteg

At Kandersteg, I noticed a guitarist in the smoking half of the car. As we went into the tunnel, Marsha went to listen to the guitarist, and ended up singing a few songs with the guy. She returned as the train went down the side of the valley to Brig.

View South from Hohtenn

Sunny! Pure, white snow-capped the mountains! Arrived in Brig about 15:00, and headed into town towards the Baroque Stockalperpalast/Stockalper Palace (1658-1678) with the three bulbous-topped towers. Found it going up a narrow cobblestoned street with a snow-covered mountain as a backdrop.

Heading towards Stockalperpalast

I saw a fancy ironwork urinal covered with vines, and Marsha didn’t believe what it was until she looked inside!

Fancy urinal

We passed the palace’s family dwelling, a building done in yellowish tones that was supposedly flanked by a watch tower. Connecting the house to the main building were two tiers of arcaded stone galleries. We passed the main building and entered the courtyard with its surrounding two and three-story galleries, and the three towers at the corners opposite the entrance.

Stockalperpalast arcaded courtyard

At the far end were a couple old postal coaches. We walked out the back into a green park to see the striped shutters on the main building, and the three towers backed by a snow-covered mountain.

Stockalperpalast towers

On this side of the connecting galleries we could see its shadow. A pretty picture.

Connecting galleries

House façade 

We walked up to the Kollegiumskirche zum Heiligen Geist/College Church of the Holy Spirit (1673-1688), a simple but well-decorated church. From its terrace we could look down on the town of Brig, and at the surrounding mountains. We returned to the Stockalperpalast to check all the doors and for opening times. Although tours for today were indicated, there didn’t seem to be anything open today. We wandered through the streets of Brig, ending up at Sebastiansplatz to see the small winged statue commemorating a George Chavez (aviator from Peru) who was the first to fly (in a plane!) over the Alps at Simplon in 1910. We stopped at a bakery for snacks (Kirsch/cherry liqueur soaked slice of cake and cream puff) and wandered through back streets to the train station. Caught the 16:54 train to Bern, arriving at 18:45. There was a beautiful full moon, and between Spiez and Thun we could see it reflected on the lake with twinkling lights on the land. (Happy Halloween!) In Thun a brass band was playing in the station. In Bern we had dinner at McDonald’s, fish sandwich, fries and a shake for me; a Big Mac, fries and a Coke for Marsha. We walked over to the lighted Parliament and around down to the main shopping street. A Salvation Army band was playing in front of Loeb. A pair of guys were videotaping the Zaire display in the Loeb windows, which included a giant rubber tire and a VW safari bus. Some old guy started preaching nearby.

We caught the 19:53 train to Biel. There was a bald man who combed his thin fringe not just over, but up and over! As we walked to the Personalhaus/staff residence, a blonde fellow followed Marsha for a while, mumbling things. I couldn’t hear what he was saying until he gave up and said in Italian, “Won’t talk to me.”

A gorgeous day.

Tuesday, November 2, 1982

Kirby was a half-hour late for the dinner that Marsha C had prepared for us. (Jan was in Chur at an NDT Refresher course with Joan and Renee.) It was 20:00 before we dug into southern fried chicken, potato salad, and cauliflower in a lemon sauce. Also a nutty bread, and for dessert, Kirby brought a pineapple. We dipped chunks of pineapple into sour cream, then into brown sugar for a delicious bite! We cleaned up as a team and gossiped before parting at 22:00.

I didn’t realize how much I enjoy regular company at dinner, and since Marsha loves to cook, we have been having dinner together quite often. So I am eating quite well. It’s a good thing Marsha also has the Richard Simmons exercise tape, so that we have been exercising together, too!