Friday, October 4, 2013

On Her Majesty's Secret Service in Switzerland

We have all the time in the world
Just for love

Nothing more 
Nothing less
Only love


What is your favorite film of the Bond series? I would say the sixth 007 film "On Her Majestry's Secret Service" (1969) would be the best Bond film if only Sean Connery had played Bond. Well, I like the film because of the following things. To me, James Bond belongs to 1960s. So the films of that period of time are more natural for my impression. The second thing that I like in the film is the locations in Switzerland - the amazing hotel/restaurant on the top of Mount Schilthorn that became Blofeld's clinic and base. This post is about that place. Finally, the third thing is that OHMSS has the most unique ending of any other Bond film.:)

We were staying in Interlaken. This is a beautiful small town in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. So our route started from there to Lauterbrunnen Valley and the cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp and a train to Murren, from where the cable car was taken. Between Birg and the summit, the cable car passes over Grauseeli, a small lake.

Not only the view all around from up at the summit worth a million dollars, the journey up there is exhilarating as well. The views from the train and cable cars can just steal your breath away. Just do remember to breathe!

We were lucky with a beautiful clear dayThe three giant famous peaks Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger were looked so nice and so near. Here is the revolving restaurant Piz Gloria where you can sit for a full meal or just a drink, a lovely souvenir shop and Bond World! So you can feel yourself almost like Bond among the places he visited in Dr. Blofeld's clinic.



The panoramic view spans from the Titlis, Jungfrau, Monch, Eiger, over the Bernese Alps and the Jura mountains up to the Vosges Mountains and the Black Forest. Be prepared to take lots of shots. However, this is entirely subjected to cloud conditions. The summit is usually enshrouded by a lot of clouds. :(

Here are some pictures:

Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau
The Birg cable car intermediate station
Lauterbrunnen Valley
Murren
Piz Gloria
A view from Piz Gloria
Piz Gloria on the Schilthorn 
A cabin car
Staubbach falls
Lauterbrunnen Valley

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