We set off early for Milan so that we could catch the connecting train to Bern. All up we were on trains for about four hours, the last of our long train trips.
We arrived in Bern in the early afternoon, checked into the Savoy hotel, then set off to explore the city. We had been here last year, so we knew what to look for. First stop, Laderach Chocolate shop!
We enjoyed the assault on our senses, before heading out along Barenplatz, which was full of people, to ward the Parliament building. There was some sort of festival happening there, with people everywhere. We headed past the crowd to behind the parliament and the Bellevue Palace to enjoy the view of the Aare River, one of my favourite sites anywhere.
We then headed back into the city, past the Berner Munster and headed across Nydeggbrucke to the bear pit.
We watched the bears for a while and had a drink at the fabulous nearby Altes Tramsdepot.
I sat and had a chat with Albert Einstein, before we climbed up the steep hill to the rose garden for a spectacular view of Bern.
Exhausted (and very hot!) we walked back down and across the bridge, then walked the length of Gerechtigeitsgasse up to the famous Zytglogge in time to hear it chime for 4pm.
After freshening up, we headed back to Barenplatz for dinner. We chose a traditional Swiss restaurant, Le Mazot, and enjoyed dinner while watching another World Cup game.
There were hundreds of people in the square on a beautiful evening. When we finished we walked to the end of the square where they had set up a fanzone for people to watch the games. We loved it!