While on holiday in Meiringen I witnessed a trail of horses and donkeys all loaded with luggage and the people escorting them were dressed in country clothes. These people and many followers ( an annual event) were walking along an ancient alpine mule trail from Lucerne (Switzerland) to Domodossola (Italy). History goes that merchants, warriors, craftsmen, pilgrims and evenly smugglers took part to exchange goods as it was a necessity of life in the alpine villages. The Sbrinz route was named after the sbrinz swiss cheese which has its origin in these valleys. On looking at the route it is very varied, very wild in places wandering though valleys, canyons, forests, villages and evenly glacial regions of the Alpine passes. When they arrived in the Meiringen, they were welcomed by the Mayoress (Standeratin) and was given a piece of cheese which was then placed for everyone to taste, in return drinks were provided for the followers. The welcome Alpine horns were played and a party was held for all. In the mean time the horses and donkeys were unloaded, hoses down, checked by a vet and fed. All the horse and one donkey stayed in the carpark with one of the followers whilst the donkeys and dogs went in a field where the followers were staying overnight. Next morning at 8am all the horses and donkeys were loaded up and left with there followers and many hikers who were joining the walk. when the walk is over on Sunday 28 August the animals will be returning by train back home to their stables. I would have loved to have joined them.
