The day starts in Broc (population 2,500). I'm cycling up a mountain, traverse the mountain pass (Jaun Pass), drop down the other side of the mountain to the jet-set ski resort of Gstaad (population 3,000) and end up again near the castle you see in this photo----that's Gruyere Castle.
The road up the mountain.
Doesn't matter which country I'm in (Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland) I see farmers driving these orange trucks up and down very steep mountain slopes harvesting grass for animal feed. Usually have four tires on the rear. I'm just amazed I've never seen one overturn.
Entering the mountain farming village of Jaun (population 600).
One of Jaun's two churches.
Church cemetery.
Notice the wooden headstones seem to be identical. However, you would be wrong.
See the woodcarving? This guy was a farmer as that's a carving of one of those orange trucks shown in an earlier photo. On the right of Jesus there's the man handling either sheep or small cows.
Yvette was a knitter as the carving to the right of Jesus shows her knitting.
This guy was a farmer--shown milking a cow on the left and a cow in front of his home.
This woman must have played the accordian and I assume that's her home on the right.
This is a farming village and most of the carvings on the tombstones depict the farming culture.
One other note that I've mentioned in other blogs. In many parts of Switzerland graves are dug up after 50 years with the newly opened spaces to be used by recently deceased. Have yet to find someone to tell me what happens to the dug up unearthed bones.
I'm sitting on a bench in Jaun eating a sandwich. See the waterfall in the distance? On the right the pointed roof is the village's second church.
Closer view of waterfall. There's a woman to the right of the falls snapping a picture.
Leaving Jaun and heading up to the pass. Yep, it's open for traffic.
Looking back towards Jaun.
Reached the mountain pass.
Making my way to Gstaad.
It's pretty quiet on Gstaad's main shopping street as it's lunchtime.
Another view of Gstaad's shopping street.
That's Gstaad's famous Palace Hotel on the hill.
I'm almost back to the day's starting point. That's Gruyere Castle in the distance.
I'm sitting on a bench in Jaun eating a sandwich. See the waterfall in the distance? On the right the pointed roof is the village's second church. 
Closer view of waterfall. There's a woman to the right of the falls snapping a picture.
Leaving Jaun and heading up to the pass. Yep, it's open for traffic.
Looking back towards Jaun. 
Reached the mountain pass.
Making my way to Gstaad.
It's pretty quiet on Gstaad's main shopping street as it's lunchtime. 
Another view of Gstaad's shopping street.
That's Gstaad's famous Palace Hotel on the hill. 
I'm almost back to the day's starting point. That's Gruyere Castle in the distance. 
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