Adelboden, Switzerland (mountain resort)

 

So, I'm still in central Switzerland and the Bernese Alps. In my previous post I was in Kandersteg and after cycling down the mountain I hung a left and went up the other side of the mountain to Adelboden.

Adelboden (population 3,300) is a traditional Swiss mountain village similar to Kandersteg in that you've got skiing, hiking (over 125 miles of hiking trails), mountain biking and mountain climbing. View of Adelboden's main shopping street.

Street heading to downtown.

View of Adelboden's main shopping street taken from other end. 

Looks like the public swimming pool was recently closed--though it's in the low 90's today. 

View from main street to other side of valley. 

Tunnel. Sometimes cyclists are allowed through tunnels and other times it's forbidden. In Switzerland they'll usually post a sign showing an alternative route. 

There's only one road to Adelboden and this is the old road section used before the tunnel was built. This couple likes to watch.

I'm assuming the people living in this house were responsible for the couple in previous photo. Can you imagine what it would have been like living here before the tunnel was built with cars trucks, buses passing so close to the house. 

Lots of mountain huts. 

The bike route down the mountain follows farm roads such as the one on the left of the Entschlige river. 

Kandersteg, Switzerland (mountain resort)

I'm in central Switzerland and high in the Bernese Alps. It's 8:30 in the morning and the sun is just beginning to reach the mountain resort of Kandersteg (population 1,300).  

You can ski in Kandersteg but, in the summer it's very popular with mountain climbers and hikers.

The sun is finally welcoming a new day. 

Entering Kandersteg's village center. 

Kandersteg's village center. Eagle-eyed viewers can spot the orange cat sitting beside the creek (on the right side)--watching fish swim by? 

Another view of Kandersteg's village center.

Kandersteg dead ends up ahead.

 Cycling down the mountain to the valley floor.

Megeve, France (ski resort)

I'm in the French Alps in the upscale ski resort of Megeve (population 3,000). Wanting to have a French alternative to ritzy St. Moritz (Switzerland), the famous Rothschild family led the exodus in the 1920's to this place.   

Town center with vendors setting up for a market.  

Town center is a pedestrian-only zone. Many of the restaurants have flower-lined terraces.

Upscale shops such as Hermes have outposts here.

View of hillside.

More town center.

A creek meanders through town.

View of another hillside.

Wasn't expecting to find a McDonald's WITH a drive-through here in Megeve. 

Heading down the mountain. 

More heading down the mountain.

 View looking up from the town of Sallanches (population 16,000) on the valley floor.