salt

12.09.05

I was up past 2 am trying to plan my trip while I had Internet. I flipped some stuff around, deciding to go to the northeast (Lake Constance), and pop down to Luzern for church on Sunday via the Pre-Alpine Express (no reservations).

Then next week, the Ticano (Italian) region and Romansch towns, finally ending in Bochs, with a Bible study on Friday 23 night, and perhaps a quick trip to Vaduz the day before.

After packing and checking out, I spent the afternoon in the Salt Mines of Bex. The taxi people didn’t speak a word of French, and my hand actions didn’t get far. But it all worked out in the end. It’s good for me to see the language barrier in person — reminds me of Wycliffe’s plays utilizing kazoos.

It felt like the seven dwarfs, “hi ho, hi ho” as we travelled deep into the mine in a little train. Left free to explore all the old-fashioned technology, as the guide took a large group of German-speaking kids through. But he took the time to explain a few things in English and answer any questions.

Plus we had a movie before going down, which explained everything using headphones and the language selected. It’s interesting how precious salt was in the past, the white gold when it was more difficult to acquire. A quote read “salt is a precious possession, a sign of hospitality.” The effort exhausted to acquire salt is just astonishing.

I was thinking of taking the 1st class “Swiss Chocolate Train” today, but by the time I got the information together on how to upgrade, it was too late to reserve (tour offices closed Sunday). I’m rather glad, as this was quite an interesting visit, and far less touristy.

While I didn’t buy any salt at the booth on my way out, I did come away with a thought. When the Bible talks about “We are the Salt of the earth” the connotations could’ve be quite different than at first glance — salt was less common and more precious in those times.

From Bex there is a bus up to Gryon, where I heard of a nice hostel to stay at. Still a bit weary of hostels and the mixed dorm, I went along in hopes of staying near Montreux a little longer, and because of the good price (42 CHF for 2 nights).

It turned out really well… I stayed with Ria & David, a nice couple from New Zealand, as well as Jonathan from South Africa.

Besides getting all my laundry done (hooray!), I stopped by the grocery store for a few things. I forgot how much I like cooking up a meal — not that I’ve been eating out a lot, I’ve just been having simple foods (like fruit) on top of the breakfasts provided at B&B. Minute steaks with fried mushrooms and onions, white rice, and tyrollean cake for desert. Yum.