Portugal & Switzerland: In May 2013 I traveled to warm and sunny Portugal (P) before heading to Turkey and then afterwards to Switzerland (S). From L->R: Meadow above Interlaken (S), Monument to the Discoveries (P), Berne (S), Pena National Palace (P), Carnival Mask (S), Sintra Sculpture (P).

Monument to the Discoveries ~ Lisbon, Portugal. [locale]

Moors Castle is a hilltop medieval castle located in the hills above the town of Sintra, Portugal. [locale]

Pena National Palace is a Romanticist palace in the hills above Sintra, Portugal. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. [locale]

Porcelain ~ One of many fine objects of art in the Pena National Palace. [locale]

Sculpture ~ Fauno by artist José Alves. A wonderful open-air stone sculpture exhibition in Sintra Portugal. I spied these fine artworks during the short time they were staged (until 10 June 2013). [reference] [locale]

Dragon Sculpture ~ Dragão Aprisionado by artist Nicolau Campos. A delightful walk along Volta Douche in Sintra, Portugal, so many wonderful sculptures. [reference] [locale]

Sculpture ~ El Rei D. Sebastião by artist Élio Oliveira along Volta Douche in Sintra, Portugal. [reference] [locale]

Lisbon Art Museum

River Aare ~ Berne, Switzerland. [locale]

River Aare ~ Berne, Switzerland. [locale]

Grindelwald ~ A delightful town above Interlaken. Shown here is a carved water trough in the foreground and a cemetery in the background. [locale]

Interlaken ~ Evening lights from my hotel room. I stayed at the very excellent and highly recommended Hotel Goldey in Interlaken.

Trümmelbach Falls ~ Above Interlaken I traveled by regional train to Lauterbrunnen and then to Trümmelbach Falls. There, under the spray of rushing water, I climbed the cave to view the glacier waterfall inside the mountain. The Trümmelbach alone drains the mighty glacier defiles of Eiger (13,025 ft), Mönch (13,448 ft) and Jungfrau (13,642 ft) and carries 20,000 tons of boulder detritus per year. [source] [locale]

Lauterbrunner ~ After my exhilarating wet visit to Trümmelbach Falls I sauntered back through open meadows and Spring wildflowers for a pleasant one hour walk to Lauterbrunner and my local rail return to Interlaken. [locale]

Up to Jungfraujoch ~ To the top of Europe, the Jungfraujoch at altitude 11,332 feet is a col (or saddle) between the Mönch and the Jungfrau above Interlaken. Had I know the multi-segment train ride would cost $200 my plans would have changed, but I had ticket in hand before I knew the price. Once on top there were certainly $50 views. [locale at 6982 feet, heading south]

Penguins of Junfrau ~ Who would have thunk, penguins at 11,332 feet.

Sculpture ~ by Alberto Giacometti at the Kunsthaus Museum in Zurich, Switzerland.

Sculpture ~ by Alberto Giacometti at the Kunsthaus Museum in Zurich, Switzerland.

Sculpture ~ by Alberto Giacometti at the Kunsthaus Museum in Zurich, Switzerland.

Sculpture ~ Kunsthaus Museum in Zurich, Switzerland.

Sculpture ~ Kunsthaus Museum in Zurich, Switzerland.

Rietberg Museum ~ Zurich, Switzerland.

Rietberg Museum ~ Zurich, Switzerland.

Carnival Mask ~ Rietberg Museum, Zurich, Switzerland.

Carnival Mask ~ Rietberg Museum, Zurich, Switzerland.