I packed wool socks for Zermatt. Brought layers for that crisp alpine air I'd seen in every Instagram post. Instead, I found myself peeling off sweaters at 8am, watching snow turn to slush under a relentless sun. The Matterhorn looked the same in photos, but the magic felt wrong—like arriving at Christmas morning in July. Tourists fanned themselves with trail maps. Locals shrugged and said it happens now. The cable car felt like a sauna. I still got my mountain views. But somewhere between the melting glacier and my damp hiking boots, I realized I'd come looking for a Switzerland that maybe doesn't exist anymore. The postcards still looked perfect. Reality was 30 degrees warmer and somehow smaller. #Travel #AlpineReality #ClimateTravel