Switzerland
*photos at the bottom*
Switzerland
After an overnight train with our own 6-seat compartment, we woke up in Interlaken. Our friend, Emily,
from the US was set to join us a couple hours later, so we got breakfast and waited for her train to arrive.
We were so excited to see her and have another person to travel with.
from the US was set to join us a couple hours later, so we got breakfast and waited for her train to arrive.
We were so excited to see her and have another person to travel with.
After meeting up--all on time--score one for Swiss punctuality!--we began our trip into the mountains.
First a train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, then a bus into Stechelberg for two nights at a cute bed
and breakfast. The mountains. were. breathtaking. We had a view of the mountains and an alpine
waterfall from our corner room. There air was crisp and clean, we were excited to get to spend some
time in nature. But, before nature, we had to fill our stomachs! We knew Switzerland was expensive,
and we quickly confirmed that at dinner. An 8-inch “Jacks frozen pizza” quality personal pan was over
$20 and beers were always nearly $10. Normal dinners are usually about $50 per person. Ouch, but
totally worth it for the views and the hiking.
First a train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, then a bus into Stechelberg for two nights at a cute bed
and breakfast. The mountains. were. breathtaking. We had a view of the mountains and an alpine
waterfall from our corner room. There air was crisp and clean, we were excited to get to spend some
time in nature. But, before nature, we had to fill our stomachs! We knew Switzerland was expensive,
and we quickly confirmed that at dinner. An 8-inch “Jacks frozen pizza” quality personal pan was over
$20 and beers were always nearly $10. Normal dinners are usually about $50 per person. Ouch, but
totally worth it for the views and the hiking.
We took a cable car up to the car-free towns of Murren and Gimmelwald. At our hostel we decided
we should do a “bucket-list hike” to the summit of the Schilthorn. It is one of the tallest mountains in
Europe and second tallest in the Swiss Alps. We heard two couples who hiked it that day talk about their
adventure. The really high parts, steep parts, parts where you want to close your eyes, but you need to
keep walking… We left early the next morning. We were already part way up, starting in Gimmelwald,
the hike took us about 5 ½ hours. All well marked and not too technically difficult--but all UP. It wasn’t
until we got about 30 minutes away from the top that it got a bit scary. I, Lindsey, will take over here so
that Ryan doesn’t feel bad writing about my struggle. For those of my family and friends that don’t know,
I have quite a fear of heights, enough so that I started crying (softly, haha, not dramatically) with only 30
minutes left. For the last stretch we had to grab ropes and chains as a guide near cliff edges, and there
were stronger winds. We were higher than the other peaks. I stopped and my body froze, I
couldn’t go a step further. I need to thank Ryan here, because of his support. I told him I needed to turn
around and walk back and that him and Emily could keep going (I’d catch a cable car from a lower
station up). He said he’d
stay by my side no matter what. So, down the hill we went and Em went on hiking up. I was
embarrassed, sad, and angry with myself. I turned around and saw Emily literally walking up the
steps to the summit and I thought, I can't go all this way and turn around now, it would only be another
20 minutes. With encouragement from Ryan and a lot of hand holding (I probably almost
broke his knuckles) we turned around and he led me through to the end, step by step. I don't think I
looked up from my feet or I would have passed out! The work and tears were worth it, Emily had three
beers ready for us to toast our arrival at the summit, and I could finally breathe. Alright, enough about
the struggle. But, major SHOUT OUTS TO EMILY AND RYAN for the support!
we should do a “bucket-list hike” to the summit of the Schilthorn. It is one of the tallest mountains in
Europe and second tallest in the Swiss Alps. We heard two couples who hiked it that day talk about their
adventure. The really high parts, steep parts, parts where you want to close your eyes, but you need to
keep walking… We left early the next morning. We were already part way up, starting in Gimmelwald,
the hike took us about 5 ½ hours. All well marked and not too technically difficult--but all UP. It wasn’t
until we got about 30 minutes away from the top that it got a bit scary. I, Lindsey, will take over here so
that Ryan doesn’t feel bad writing about my struggle. For those of my family and friends that don’t know,
I have quite a fear of heights, enough so that I started crying (softly, haha, not dramatically) with only 30
minutes left. For the last stretch we had to grab ropes and chains as a guide near cliff edges, and there
were stronger winds. We were higher than the other peaks. I stopped and my body froze, I
couldn’t go a step further. I need to thank Ryan here, because of his support. I told him I needed to turn
around and walk back and that him and Emily could keep going (I’d catch a cable car from a lower
station up). He said he’d
stay by my side no matter what. So, down the hill we went and Em went on hiking up. I was
embarrassed, sad, and angry with myself. I turned around and saw Emily literally walking up the
steps to the summit and I thought, I can't go all this way and turn around now, it would only be another
20 minutes. With encouragement from Ryan and a lot of hand holding (I probably almost
broke his knuckles) we turned around and he led me through to the end, step by step. I don't think I
looked up from my feet or I would have passed out! The work and tears were worth it, Emily had three
beers ready for us to toast our arrival at the summit, and I could finally breathe. Alright, enough about
the struggle. But, major SHOUT OUTS TO EMILY AND RYAN for the support!
At the summit was where the 1969 James Bond movie was filmed at the Piz Gloria, now a rotating
restaurant and James Bond Museum. But during filming it was the evil villain's lair. Very fitting as it looks
ominous, built on the mountain peak.
restaurant and James Bond Museum. But during filming it was the evil villain's lair. Very fitting as it looks
ominous, built on the mountain peak.
After we came down, we enjoyed a soak in a hot tub that our hostel gave us free passes to, that felt
amazing! We all enjoyed a couple celebratory beers that evening, then prepared ourselves for the
journey to Munich for Oktoberfest! We headed to Bern the next day, and we an evening to spend there.
We can’t tell you that much about the city other than it is worth the visit! It is beautiful, old, and we really
enjoyed ourselves, we all agreed it was an awesome city. We used another Flixbus from Bern to
Munich..another memorable experience with the Green Monsters.
amazing! We all enjoyed a couple celebratory beers that evening, then prepared ourselves for the
journey to Munich for Oktoberfest! We headed to Bern the next day, and we an evening to spend there.
We can’t tell you that much about the city other than it is worth the visit! It is beautiful, old, and we really
enjoyed ourselves, we all agreed it was an awesome city. We used another Flixbus from Bern to
Munich..another memorable experience with the Green Monsters.
Luckily, we arrived on-time and on-schedule, so I guess that is better than being cancelled. Boarding
the bus at 2 am in Bern, Switzerland was not smooth. People were in our assigned seats, already
sleeping, the bus driver refused to enforce the assigned seats that we paid extra for, and the people
refused to move. So we had to sit in other peoples seats, and they got on later that evening and yelled
at us to move--we survived, but I think we know why Flixbuses are 70% cheaper than train tickets--they
don’t care :). “You get what you pay for,” a universal piece of knowledge. But at the end of the day, it
worked out, and we used those savings for extra beer at Oktoberfest!
the bus at 2 am in Bern, Switzerland was not smooth. People were in our assigned seats, already
sleeping, the bus driver refused to enforce the assigned seats that we paid extra for, and the people
refused to move. So we had to sit in other peoples seats, and they got on later that evening and yelled
at us to move--we survived, but I think we know why Flixbuses are 70% cheaper than train tickets--they
don’t care :). “You get what you pay for,” a universal piece of knowledge. But at the end of the day, it
worked out, and we used those savings for extra beer at Oktoberfest!
Until next time,
Linds and Ryan
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