Tuesday morning anticipation: Matterhorn watching and museum plans

Zermatt, Switzerland | October 28, 2025 | Day 63 of 500

I woke up early this morning to peek through my window, hoping for a glimpse of the Matterhorn. Still playing hide-and-seek behind a veil of clouds, but the sky looks promising today. The forecast shows clearing conditions later, which has me feeling cautiously optimistic.

After a quick breakfast at the hotel, I ventured out into the crisp morning air. It's currently 1°C according to my phone, but the sunshine makes it feel warmer. The village is quiet at this hour, with shop owners just starting to set up for the day and a few early-rising tourists checking their maps.

I arrived at the tourist information office at 9:50, ten minutes before opening, and used the time to review the brochures displayed outside. When the doors opened, I asked about the visibility conditions for Gornergrat. The friendly staff member confirmed what I suspected - visibility is still limited at higher elevations this morning, but should improve significantly by afternoon.

"If you want to see the Matterhorn, perhaps visit the Matterhorn Museum this morning and save your mountain trip for later today or tomorrow," she suggested.

That seemed like sound advice, so I'm now sitting at a small café near the center, warming my hands around a mug of hot chocolate and planning my day. The Matterhorn Museum opens at 11:00, giving me about 20 minutes to finish my drink and make my way there.

I've been observing the other visitors around me - a mix of serious mountaineers with technical gear and casual tourists like myself. The conversations around me are in at least four different languages, reminding me of the international appeal of this iconic mountain.

The village itself is charming in the morning light. Without cars, there's a peaceful quality that's increasingly rare in tourist destinations. The electric taxis and hotel shuttles hum quietly past, but otherwise, it's the sound of footsteps on snow and multilingual conversations that fill the air.

I'm planning to visit the Matterhorn Museum when it opens, then perhaps have lunch at one of the local restaurants. If the weather clears as predicted, I'll take the Gornergrat railway in the afternoon for what I hope will be spectacular views. The ticket seller yesterday advised that afternoon might offer better visibility than morning at this time of year.

It's strange to think I've been traveling for over two months now. Sixty-three days on the road, with 437 still ahead. The numbers feel both enormous and insignificant simultaneously. I'm settling into a rhythm with this nomadic lifestyle, finding comfort in the constant change.

Time to finish my hot chocolate and head to the museum. The morning sun is making the snow-covered rooftops glisten, and I can't help but feel that today might be the day the Matterhorn decides to reveal itself in full glory.

!Snow-covered rooftops in morning light

More later...

-Ruben