Beneath the old train station at street level, there’s a very sleek underground station for the trains.  On this day, we took the train from Zurich to Berne, about an hour away.

Church of the Holy Ghost, a Swiss reformed church in Berne

Near the train station in Berne

Lots of fountains in the streets of Berne

Berne’s Clock Tower

Morning flower market outside the Parliament Building. Berne is Switzerland’s Capital.

Detail of the Parliament Building, also known as the Federal Palace of Switzerland.  It houses both the legislative and executive branches of government.

View from the rear of the Parliament Building.  Very little security is in evidence at the Parliament Building.

More views-a very pretty spot

Walking down the street towards the Berne Casino. It is actually a concert hall.

A different view of the clock tower—at noon, the clock puts on a mechanical show.

Berne fountain depicting a giant eating a baby-no one is certain how this statue originated.

The Kornhauskeller, a huge beer hall

A large crowd gathered shortly before noon to watch the clock perform.

16th century fountain honoring Berchtold von Zähringen, the founder of Berne.

Einstein lived in this house from 1903-5, developing his Theory of Relativity here.

Fountain of Samson killing the lion

Minster Cathedral, dating from 1421. It is now a Swiss Reformed church

The intricate Last Judgment carved above the doors.  The souls in heaven on the left and those in hell on the right.

Park overlooking the River Aare

The Kirchenfeldbrücke connecting the Old Town of Berne on the right to a newer development area on the left across the river.

Lots of little garden plots down below

Pleasant little park nearby at lunchtime

Our first view of the bear park across the river

We spotted this fellow on the way into the restaurant.

Einstein pal

We had lunch at this restaurant above the bear pit

The four fellows next to us ordered this 5 liter barrel of beer and swore they’d take care of it during lunch.

They actually make the beer here.

Down on the bridge, everyone was looking uphill for one thing-bears.

You could either walk up and down or take this glass funicular to spot the bears.

Beautiful, clear water, as usual

Finally, a bear!

Two bears here

This one’s not for real on the way out.

On the way back to the train station, this woman seemed enthralled with this street musician.