Switzerland

After an early train, B&J&I arrived in Interlaken, Switzerland. Then we took a train and a bus to Scheltberg, where we were supposed to take a cable car up to our hostel in Gimmewald. We accidentally missed the bus stop and got off one stop too late. There was a little sign with an arrow that read “Gimmewald 1Std. 25 min.” The weather was perfect so I decided to take the 25 minute hike while B&J went back one bus stop. I was so excited about a 25 minute warm up hike before our 4 hour Schilthorn hike the next day. I looked at my watch to know when I should be looking for Gimmwald, 25 minutes later. Well….20 minutes later, after a painful, burning, straight UPHILL hike I was getting excited to get to the hostel. I then come across another sign with an arrow that read “GImmewald 50 minutes.” I start panicking because I didn’t think I got lost but maybe I did and now I have another 50 minutes to go straight up this dang mountain! Then my math skills come to and I realize 35 minutes plus 50 minutes equals 1 hour, 25 minutes….and “Std” in german, actually means ONE HOUR 25 minutes….Dang. Another 50 minutes to go, I don’t know any first aid, I have no idea what poison ivy looks like, or a rattle snake for that matter, and Im alone. Each person I meet on the trail is heading DOWN and they keep giving me pity looks as I am trekking up. Yikes.

I ended up seeing the most beautiful sights and views from that hike and looking back I was thankful for the alone time (aside from the Asian couple I met on the way who took a pic to prove I hiked this trail!) When I finally arrived at Mountain Hostel B&J had figured out as well that 1std meant 1 hour and were very relieved I had made it.

That night we ateSwiss Cheese Fondue, ate pizza, drank cider, played cards, looked at the mountains, and were in bed, asleep at 9pm. Check out these bunk beds…..talk about sleeping with a stranger!!!

Getting help from a fellow hiker

Day 2 in Switzerland:

BJ&I decided to do the 5 hour hike up to SChilthorn after Keni and Kenzi (friends from school) told us about it and how great it was. We made it to a small town called Murren about 40 minutes up the mountain from Gimmewald before it started pouring on us! We were taking shelter under peoples roofs and porches to get cover. We probably looked pretty silly…it was freezing cold, pouring, and we were in rainjackets and nike shorts….

We found warmth at a little coffee house and played cards until the rain subsided. Sidenote-the rain actually never subsided….so we were in this coffee shop for a good while. Our hike was cancelled but I decided we were halfway up the mountain, I was just going to ride the gondola up to the top to see what I could see. B&J decided to partake in some extreme sports, namely bungee jumping, instead. They went back to Interlaken and I went up to Schilthorn.

 At the top of the restaurant is a revolving restaurant that was a scene for a James Bond movie back in the day. The whole place is 007 themed…even the plates. I also think they have not redecorated since the movie was filmed there…

The clouds were really bad for 2 hours and I literally saw nothing but gray. Then after 2 hours with my cheese plate and Coca-Light, the clouds were all gone and I could see for miles! I ran outside on the terrace and saw the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen in my life! The clouds were gone for 1 hour, and then just as quickly as they left, they were back, and I returned to my gray cloud! 

Where I was:

The altitude gauge in the cable car

Then, I took 4 gondolas, a bus, and a train, to get to Interlaken to meet B&J after the bungee jump. J didn’t end up doing it but B did! Good for you B….I have no interest in jumping out of a cable car into a LAKE! We shared burgers and fries, wine and a few good card games before we retired for the night. I took an early train back to Paris, ready to clean out the apartment and say goodbye to Bethany and Patricia as they head back to Texas!

My last view of Switzerland :)