International flights into Switzerland usually arrive at either Geneva or Zurich airports.  Geneva is the second most populous city in Switzerland.  It is also a global city, a financial center, and a worldwide center for diplomacy.  As I looked around I could pick out people from Japan, China, India, Italy, France, Germany and many other countries.  Listening to them speak was a real treat … a melody of languages.  Both of these airports are very convenient to traveling to Zermatt, Switzerland, a gateway to the Matterhorn.  But don’t miss taking a little time to visit the azure blue lakes; Lake Geneva and Lake Lucerne with their castles.  Then it’s on to the Matterhorn, Switzerland’s most famous mountain of 14,692 feet; the mountain that movies have been made about.  It is located in the Penninie Alps on the border of Switzerland and Italy.  In German “matte” means “meadow” and “horn” means “peak.”   It is the tenth highest peak in Switzerland.
There were seven of us, four adults with three children, in our Honda Odyssey making our way towards the Swiss Alps.  The morning was sunny with a few white billowy cumulus clouds making their way lazily across the wide expanse of blue.  The road was very straight most of the time with a few curves intermingled.  Looking out the window, we saw green fields dotted here and there with acres of yellow flowers that looked like sunflowers.   The beauty took my breath away.  It was so picturesque, just like in the travel magazines I had seen.
Off in the distance, I could see mountains rising up from the green plains we had been traveling through.  At last I could see them … the Swiss Alps.  This was the home of Heidi, my favorite childhood novel.  I can still remember some of her adventures.  Her grandfather lived here and cared for her in these wondrous mountains.  The Heidi book is among the best known works of Swiss literature and well worth reading to your children.
As we drove into Zermatt, a beautiful, little tourist town at the foot of the Alps, we parked our car on the outskirts and walked from there.  No cars or big tour buses allowed in the village.  The train stops here and goes no further. This is one of the great ski and climbing centers in the world.  This deep valley is nestled between two steep, sculptured mountains.  The air is crisp and clean with an Alpine flavor.  Summer flowers drape themselves from each building along the way.  Its cobblestone streets and pathways take you back in time to a simpler way of life.  It is beautiful.  It is exhilarating.  It is special to be here; to see this great mountain and walk the cobblestone streets of Zermatt.
The Matterhorn is truly a magnificent mountain.  A dream comes true, just to be here.