The Bernese Oberland is the higher part of the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Did you know that? Well I sure didn't. My visions of Switzerland were, sadly, severely limited to Heidi pig tails and boxes of lacy chocolates. Well, I was half-right!
The bus took us from Beaune and gently glided us from a summery atmosphere to a cool, brisk one (and this is in August!). We passed hills, mountains, canyons and valleys. As comfortable as the bus was, who could possibly sit back and relax when the most beautiful of scenery was passing us by?
The bus took us from Beaune and gently glided us from a summery atmosphere to a cool, brisk one (and this is in August!). We passed hills, mountains, canyons and valleys. As comfortable as the bus was, who could possibly sit back and relax when the most beautiful of scenery was passing us by?
Our first stop in Switzerland was Interlaken. The air was chilly with a good nip in it but it was the vista of the panoramic views that immediately struck us.
Surrounding us were the Alps - with rolling acres of lush green grounds at the bottom and snowy peaks at the top. As if that wasn't enough, on some levels we were above the clouds (my head is usually in the clouds but this time it was literal)! It was an ethereal feeling to see clouds both beneath and above you. The city was busy, most touristy but certainly a sight we had to see.
Our hotel was small, cozy and the sort of place that you might imagine Noel Coward whisking a bemused Gertrude Lawrence off to back in the 1930's. But one thing that no set designer could create was the view from the window - imagine pushing aside lace curtains and seeing the Alps - large, majestic and looming. I stared in wonder at them and saw what I thought were thin whisps of smoke falling gently down them. It wasn't until later that this city boy realized he was looking at his first waterfall!
Surrounding us were the Alps - with rolling acres of lush green grounds at the bottom and snowy peaks at the top. As if that wasn't enough, on some levels we were above the clouds (my head is usually in the clouds but this time it was literal)! It was an ethereal feeling to see clouds both beneath and above you. The city was busy, most touristy but certainly a sight we had to see.
Our hotel was small, cozy and the sort of place that you might imagine Noel Coward whisking a bemused Gertrude Lawrence off to back in the 1930's. But one thing that no set designer could create was the view from the window - imagine pushing aside lace curtains and seeing the Alps - large, majestic and looming. I stared in wonder at them and saw what I thought were thin whisps of smoke falling gently down them. It wasn't until later that this city boy realized he was looking at his first waterfall!
Dinner began with Ursula showing us a demonstration on the fine art of fondue. Along with local legends (if a man drops his bread into the cheese, the women have to buy him a drink; if a woman drops her bread into the fondue pot, she must kiss all the men. Our Human Resources Department might frown, but I like those old Swiss customs.)
Dinner, hearty, home made and absolutely delicious, was served in the dining room. It was an adult's fantasy ending with delicious ice cream cones for dessert!
Thinking that we were so high up we must be in heaven was the only explanation many of us could come up with for our good fortune. The group were 24 unique, diverse, interesting and downright nice people.
After, we retired to a lounge upstairs to play a game to see how much we really knew about our fellow
travelers. There were many laughs and it was only a promise from our guide, Dimitri, that we would be hiking the Alps the next day that caused us to eventually retire for the night.
Dinner, hearty, home made and absolutely delicious, was served in the dining room. It was an adult's fantasy ending with delicious ice cream cones for dessert!
Thinking that we were so high up we must be in heaven was the only explanation many of us could come up with for our good fortune. The group were 24 unique, diverse, interesting and downright nice people.
After, we retired to a lounge upstairs to play a game to see how much we really knew about our fellow
travelers. There were many laughs and it was only a promise from our guide, Dimitri, that we would be hiking the Alps the next day that caused us to eventually retire for the night.
How many times have you heard people bemoaning the fact that bad weather had ruined their dream vacation? Now, how many times have you heard someone say that it snowed on their vacation and it was the best thing that could have possibly happened?
We woke early to grey skies and cold weather. Now, back home in America, most people were plotting their Labor Day barbecues. Here we were in Lauterbrunnen with the promise of snow!
Before we could make a definite arrangement, we went on a hike of a more local (and less emphatic) nature. Nearby were smaller hills - many with waterfalls and one that had a path and steps blazed already. A hearty group set out after breakfast to make our first Swiss climb. Along the way we discovered a countryside that was beautiful. The foliage was lush, the flowers vivid and full and the air was like breathing in liquid crystal. We made it up a mountain (OK. A small one but a mountain nonetheless) and were now officially set to tackle the Alps!
It started with a train. Well, it certainly was not the Twentieth Century Limited. In fact, it was so small I wouldn't have been surprised if it had LIONEL stamped on the back of it!
But it got us up the mountain and to the gondola that would take us to the next leg of our journey. Up and up we sailed, the skies a perfect mixture of white clouds and snow (and no - although I asked at my job I still had to mark the time as Vacation and not a Snow Day).
We got off and saw miles and miles of mountain, passes and snow below us. I had never seen so
much open and empty space. But there it was. The Alps majestically set out below our feet. And so, we braved the elements and marched down to the station below. It was a wonderful, exhilerating, hike that took a few hours but there was nothing short of magic in every step. The group - by this
time smiling acquaintances - quickly became best of friends as we bonded together in our quest to hiking the alps (and making it back to the town 4000 + feet below where we could feast on home made
strudle).
We woke early to grey skies and cold weather. Now, back home in America, most people were plotting their Labor Day barbecues. Here we were in Lauterbrunnen with the promise of snow!
Before we could make a definite arrangement, we went on a hike of a more local (and less emphatic) nature. Nearby were smaller hills - many with waterfalls and one that had a path and steps blazed already. A hearty group set out after breakfast to make our first Swiss climb. Along the way we discovered a countryside that was beautiful. The foliage was lush, the flowers vivid and full and the air was like breathing in liquid crystal. We made it up a mountain (OK. A small one but a mountain nonetheless) and were now officially set to tackle the Alps!
It started with a train. Well, it certainly was not the Twentieth Century Limited. In fact, it was so small I wouldn't have been surprised if it had LIONEL stamped on the back of it!
But it got us up the mountain and to the gondola that would take us to the next leg of our journey. Up and up we sailed, the skies a perfect mixture of white clouds and snow (and no - although I asked at my job I still had to mark the time as Vacation and not a Snow Day).
We got off and saw miles and miles of mountain, passes and snow below us. I had never seen so
much open and empty space. But there it was. The Alps majestically set out below our feet. And so, we braved the elements and marched down to the station below. It was a wonderful, exhilerating, hike that took a few hours but there was nothing short of magic in every step. The group - by this
time smiling acquaintances - quickly became best of friends as we bonded together in our quest to hiking the alps (and making it back to the town 4000 + feet below where we could feast on home made
strudle).
Some might have been content to rest of their supposed laurels. Not this group! Refreshed from warm strudle with freshly whipped cream we made it bravely back to our hotel only to be plotting our next escapade. It seemed that we were determined not to leave any Swiss sight alone until we had inspected it!
So seeing (or perhaps fearing) our enthusiasm, Dimitri told us about the 10 gathered glacial waterfalls that comprise Trummelbach Falls. Now that I felt I could match Judy Collins (afterall, I had looked at clouds from both sides now), it was time to see hydroelectric power in action. Per WIkipedia, the falls carry up to 20,000 liters of water per second. So, our fearless group climbed up and, ignoring elevators, made the treacherous and heroic climb to the top (Hey. We had already conquered the Alps - this was a piece of cake. And, speaking of which, right beside the entrance was a restaurant that served the best Black Forest Cake you could imagine!)
So seeing (or perhaps fearing) our enthusiasm, Dimitri told us about the 10 gathered glacial waterfalls that comprise Trummelbach Falls. Now that I felt I could match Judy Collins (afterall, I had looked at clouds from both sides now), it was time to see hydroelectric power in action. Per WIkipedia, the falls carry up to 20,000 liters of water per second. So, our fearless group climbed up and, ignoring elevators, made the treacherous and heroic climb to the top (Hey. We had already conquered the Alps - this was a piece of cake. And, speaking of which, right beside the entrance was a restaurant that served the best Black Forest Cake you could imagine!)