Excerpts from October 2010 Issue of Tritt Family Newsletter

TRITT FAMILY TRIP TO SWITZERLAND

After a span of ten years, we are pleased to offer again a customized family trip to the Tritten/Tritt ancestral homeland. As we have always done in the past, we enthusiastically invite friends of the Tritt family to join us.

Following our arrival in Zürich, we will spend the first three days in the Luzern and the last eleven days in Lenk, located at an altitude of 3500 feet at the southern end of the Obersimmental valley, an area with hot mineral springs known to the Romans. Within sight of Lenk are year-round snow-covered Alps. For those wishing to stay longer, we offer an alternative return date.

From our base in Lenk, people can choose to leisurely wander in the Obersimmental (Upper Simme Valley) region and take mountain walks from the top of the aerial lifts out of Lenk. In addition to allowing ample time to experience life in our ancestral valley, we have planned a program of seven day-long excursions by private bus to nearby places of interest. If enough persons are interested, we might contract, at an added fee, to take a balloon ride over this beautiful area of Switzerland.

COST
At this point, nearly ten months in advance, it is difficult to establish a final price. However, with the assurance of a group of at least twenty persons, we estimate the cost to be between $4,500 and $4,800 per person. This will cover round trip flight from the east coast, baggage handling, hotel lodging for 14 nights, 14 breakfasts, 9 dinners, 7 escorted day-long excursions, all European ground transportation by private deluxe motor coach, all required taxes, and all required entrance and admission fees. Price does not include: Passport fees, excess baggage, donations and contributions, laundry services, telephone, personal excursions. The earlier your enrollment, the more we are able to assure you a lower price. The trip cannot proceed with less than twenty reservations.

ITINERARY (subject to change)

Friday, August 12
Early evening departure from USA with an overnight flight to Zurich.

Saturday, August 13
Mid-morning arrival in Zürich-Kloten, board our private Tritten Travel Co. motorcoach driven by our cousin, Toni Tritten; proceed south to visit the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen; then for our first overnight in Luzern, one of the most beautiful towns in Switzerland and a fine place for walking and shopping. After time to rest from jet lag, we will have dinner.

Sunday, August 14
From Luzern we will bus to the village of Arth-Goldau and take the narrow gauge train to the top of the Rigi (5900 feet) overlooking the Vierwaldstatter See (Lake of the Four Forest Cantons) and where, on a clear day, you view central Switzerland and see into Germany. We will descend on the other side of this mountain to Vitznau and by boat return to Luzern. If time permits, we will visit the glass-blowing factory in Hergiswil. Overnight in Luzern.

Monday, August 15
After breakfast, we will travel by bus to the southern end of the Vierwaldstatter See to the town of Flüelen, then on to Schwyz where we will visit the Swiss National Archives. Then a visit to Altdorf will take us to a place of historical importance in the founding of Switzerland in 1291. This is William Tell country and here we can see the Tell statue on the town square. From here we will go to the factory and outlet store of Victorinox, the designers and producers of the Swiss Army Knife. Here we can shop for fine bargains on a wide range of quality cutlery. Lunch will be at one of our past favorites, the Hotel Burg in Attinghausen, serving fried chicken Swiss-style. Then back for a last overnight in Luzern.

Tuesday, August 16
From Luzern we will visit the “Stocker” Alphorn factory in Kriens, proceed over the Brünigpass to Brienz, situated on a most beautiful lake in central Switzerland. Brienz, a village for enjoyable lakeside walking, is the wood carving capital of Switzerland and its fine shops provide ample selections and good prices. From here, we will proceed to our hotel in Lenk, a town situated a bit south of our ancestral village of St. Stephan.

Wednesday, August 17
A free and unscheduled day in Lenk. Options might be a leisurely walk on the valley floor or at rip on the Betelberg gondola up to the Leiterli at 6500 feet. From here, take a leisurely walk and appreciate alpine scenery known to our ancestors. Another option would be to bathe in the hot mineral springs while viewing the snow-capped Alps not far to the south.

Thursday, August 18
In the morning we will take an excursion to the Rinderberg (6890 feet) near Zweisimmen and walk back about 2 to 2 ½ hours to the Hornberg near Saanenmöser/Schönried. In the afternoon, we will travel to St. Stephan and visit the tourist office where persons might be interested in buying a St. Stephan watch, posters, postcards, pins, brochures, etc. Capping this day will be a visit to our ancestral church where our ancestors worshipped, and experience a special sense of connection, peacefulness and serenity. We can climb the bell tower, view the nearby countryside where our ancestors lived and see the Tritten name inscribed on the church bell.

Friday, August 19
Today we will visit a farmhouse near Zweisimmien and watch the cheese-making process. Dinner will be on the Hüsliberg with its commanding view of the valley. Here we might see some paragliding.

Saturday, August 20
On this day we visit Berne, the capital of Switzerland, stopping first at the Rose Garden for a view overlooking the city, visit the Bundeshaus (the Swiss Parliament building), and then see the new Bear Park (replacing the old Bear Pit). There will be time for shopping in the many arcades of Berne. In the evening we will have dinner back in the Lenk at the Restaurant Simmenfälla at the far southern end of the valley.

Sunday, August 21
A free and unscheduled day in Lenk.

Monday, August 22
Today we will travel over the Grimsel Pass (7103 feet), a pass which offers a magnificent view and evidence of the technical achievements of early road engineers, to the Mediterranean side of the Alps to Brig and meet with Brigitte Tritten, daughter of Lydia, widow of Jakob Tritten (Jakob founded the Tritten Travel Co.). Following this we will return to Lenk via Sion, Col de Pillon and Gstaad.

Tuesday, August 23
After breakfast we will travel over the Jaunpass (4951 feet) to the walled village of Gruyères. Following this, we will visit the Cailler chocolate factory in Broc, and return via Château-d’ Oex, a hot air ballon ascension area, then on to Saanen and Lenk.

Wednesday, August 24
Today we travel to Grindelwald, near the peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, then on to view the waterfalls in Rosenlaui. Near Meiringen we will take a walk through the Aareschlucht (Gorge of the River Aare). Nearly a mile long, this narrow gorge between tall, curving rock faces can be walked via a foot path which takes you through tunnels and galleries over the rushing waters below. Later we will visit Interlaken, one of the most famous tourist towns in central Switzerland. From here we can, again, see Jungfrau massif at 13,124 feet.

Thursday, August 25
On this day we will travel to Erlenbach on the northern edge of the Obersimmental and take a lift up to the Stockhorn (7185 feet) for a breathtaking view of this part of Switzerland. Then on to the town of Thun on the western end of Lake Thun, a major market town most likely visited by our early ancestors and a town through which those leaving the valley in the late 1600’s traveled on their way to other parts of the world.

Friday, August 26
A free day in Lenk to visit, ramble in places of interest and to begin your packing for the trip home.

Saturday, August 27
In the morning, depart Lenk by motorcoach for our return to Zürich-Kloten Airport. Your mid-morning flight to the U.S. will have you arriving about mid-afternoon.