100 Unnamed Strangers: Table Tennis

Table tennis on a late summer's day : Bern, CH

Returning to Bern for just a moment... These young men were playing table tennis, or ping pong, in a park adjacent to the Berner Münster. They were both quite good! Also, this was taken several weeks ago, when the weather was still warm and the sun was out. Now? It's cold and rainy and yuck. I hope autumn and winter pass quickly!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Dusk

Dusk : Bern, CH

After dinner at the Restaurant Falken, we walked back up to the park next to the Berner Münster and took a few shots of the last light of day. To see a few photos from Bern in the early evening, go here.

No. 3 : Bern, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Zytglogge

Bern's most famous time piece, the Zytglogge : Bern, CH

Bern's Altstadt (old town) features this clock, known as the Zytglogge (Swiss German for Zeitglocke, or time clock), which was constructed around 1218-1220. One of Bern's most recognizable symbols, it is a major tourist attraction. Crowds gather at the based of the clock around 6:00 anticipating a great show and ringing from the clock's works. In point of fact, it's a bit of a letdown. If you go to Bern, make a point of stopping to see what is certainly a beautiful work of art, but don't be anxious to see it strike at 6:00. There's not a lot to see. (Although, watching the tourists in anticipation is kind of fun. Next time I go to Bern, that's what I'll be photographing!) To see a few more photos of this clock tower, go here.


Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Münster Fugue

 Organ : Berner Münster : Bern, CH

The Berner Münster is home to another great organ. In 1726, this organ was commissioned for the Cathedral of Berne. In 1999, the organ was restored and expanded at a cost of Sfr 4 million (more than US$3 million at that time.) We were fortunate to hear the organ while we were there and I found this video of organist Diane Bish playing the Münster organ. To hear her play a toccata on this magnificent piece, go here. To see more pictures of this organ, go here.


Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Berner Münster

Gargoyles on the Berner Münster : Bern, CH

The Berner Münster, or Cathedral of Berne, is Switzerland's largest Gothic cathedral. Construction on the cathedral commenced in 1421 and was completed in 1893--a span of 472 years. Within 30 years of the founding of Bern (Swiss spelling), a chapel was built on the grounds where the current cathedral stands. Over the next five centuries, the building grew as the city grew. The church was originally Catholic, but as the years progressed switched to Protestant, which is what it is today. The cathedral's tower holds the largest bell in Switzerland: 10 tons in weight and 8 feet in diameter. The bell was cast in 1611. To hear the cathedral's seven bells, go here. To see more pictures of this edifice, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

lemp

lemp cafe bar : Bern, CH

A couple of weeks ago, during friend Rachel's stay, we visited Bern, Switzerland's capital city. The older part of town is comprised of arched walkways with shops tucked back from the street (arcades) or buried in cellars beneath the street. Tiny little alleys lead to fun little surprises, like this cafe. To see more photos of Bern by day, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10