The last part of our trip was spent at the home of another family member.
I joked that I had to get out of hotel-mode! That no one would pick up my towels off the floor or make my bed for me! That I had to close the door when showering and had to make sure I was dressed for my 3AM pee! HA HA HA
We checked out of our hotel in Interlaken and met her at the East train station for a lunch excursions up to the Harder Kulm – a lookout point about 1300 metres up above Interlaken with a panoramic restaurant and views over the city.
To get to the Harder, you take a funicular up and then it’s about a short 5 minute walk to the restaurant.
Unfortunately the sun was in the wrong spot when were up there, so it was very hazy. But it could have been worse… it could have been raining! at least we had sun even if it was in the wrong place!
There was not a cloud in the sky, which meant no shade so we didn’t linger longer after lunch. Besides, we had about 3 – 4 hours of traveling by train ahead of us to get to her home in Aadorf.
Here we are in the dining car… so civilized! What a way to travel!
That night for our Welcome Dinner, we went a few villages over to Eschlikon for dinner at a restaurant called: Gasthaus Santisblick. It was SUCH a nice place… until I turned into desert for every hungry mosquito in the area!!
You can read more about that here.
And see pictures of the carnage here.
STEIN
My husband’s all time favourite cheese is Appenzeller, so we went to Stein to visit the factory to see where the cheese is made.
Here is is posing with his true love! (the black one is actually his real fave… it’s the strongest!)
After seeing the factory, we went to the adjoining restaurant for lunch… to eat what else? Appenzeller Cheese Fondue.
MAN it was good! … I wish I was there now!
APPENZELL
Following lunch in Stein, we went to the town of Appenzell for the afternoon.
Like Gstaad, I had been to Appenzell before (before I met my husband) and I remembered it bigger and better then it actually was. It was nice, I am glad I went, we had a nice time, but I wouldn’t GUSH about it.
One of the things I was looking forward to seeing again was the old town church. When I first saw it in 2001 I was blown away. It was like eye candy. I had never seen anything like it before in my life and I always remembered it as something amazing.
Over the years however, as I became better travelled and developed my knowledge of European history, art, and architecture (not claiming to be an expert here by any stretch), I realized that it was "just a very nice baroque church".
ST GALLEN
Our last full day included a visit to St Gallen. The best part of it was the Abbey Library, it’s jaw-droppingly amazing.
No pictures allowed, and we didn’t manage to sneak any in, but you can find plenty of information on the internet.
After that, we just had a leisurely stroll around the city, stopped for a drink and took in the sights. Nice place!
WIL
Our last stop which included our final good-bye to Switzerland dinner was in Wil. A very nice little town that probably doesn’t figure into any guidebooks because it’s so small. The kind of place you need a local to take you to.
I loved the steeple of the church! It looks like a Christmas Tree!!!
In conclusion – it was a great time.
Our trip was just the way we like it: jam-packed with activities and things to do from start to finish!
I hope it won’t take another 5 years before we go back again, the raclette is calling us already!!
I've almost visited Switzerland with you too :) Nice!
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