Switzerland 2014 – Day 6 / Kleine Scheidegg, Wengen, Interlaken

CHEESE COUNT: fondue 3 / raclette 1

Another great day, with cooperating weather!

Today the plan was to hike from Kleine Scheidegg down to Lauterbrunnen.

The elevation change from top to bottom is over 1200m so the path takes you through alpine vistas, mountain scenery, forests, meadows, fields etc - something for every mood!

Unlike the time posted on the sign, it took us 2 hours and 30 minutes just to reach Wengen due to all the picture stops!

This particular cow made us laugh because she looked so angry! And she was blocking the latch on the electrified fence (just a cable) that we had to go through. We were too chicken to go near her and didn’t want to antagonize her so we just crawled under the fence instead. ha! I took this picture after we were ‘safely’ on the other side.

We stopped for lunch in Wengen and had what else? fondue!

Then it was back on the trail again. It was only supposed to take an hour to get to Lauterbrunnen from there, but we more than doubled that time since our bellies were so full of fat! It turned into more of a stroll than a hike at that point.

Don’t be fooled by how scenic this appears!

Most of the trail was downhill, and steep!

I have to admit that it was not really very physically demanding overall, sure walking downhill uses more muscle and I was fine with that…  it’s just that my feet were being shoved into the front of my shoes, putting a lot pressure on my toes and after a few hours of that I was looking forward to the end. We both agreed that we could have lasted much much longer if the end of the trail had been flat. The last hour was all steep switchbacks and my toes are not happy! But aside from that one thing, it was amazing. A fantastically scenic day.

After the hike we relaxed and had a drink in a cafe in Lauterbrunnen, then back to Interlaken by about 5:30.

I wanted to go back up to the Harder Kulm (a nearby mountain top – not that high, only about 1300m) because when I was last in Interlaken in 2011 they were building a look-out deck up there and now you can see it from everywhere in Interlaken. I was intrigued to see it for myself, so up we went.

It’s neat… and great views over the city too!

 

After that, it was off to find a place for supper and then back “home” to crash.  I am so thankful with the weather over the last few days, I really hope it holds out!!

Switzerland 2011 - A Trip in Review - Day 12 to the End.

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!

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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.

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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!

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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".

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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!

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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!!!

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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!!