Interlaken

This past weekend went up to Interlaken, and I had company. Ellen [Funderburg] stopped by Switzerland on her way to eastern Europe.  Have to admit it was nice having company where I could make comments and references and they understood them :)

Went up to the Interlaken area where some of the tallest mountains in Switzerland, Europe, and the world are.  Was hoping to get to the top of the Schilthorn but unfortunately the weather was drizzly and it was so misty you couldn't even see in front of your face.

We did, however, do a lot of walking in the Interlaken area.  Stayed at a hotel in the little town of Brienzersee on the north edge of Lake Brienze.  First stop was the town of Giessbach where we saw the Giessbach Falls.  Saturday morning started early and drove to Lauterbrunnen where you start walking the 'Valley of 72 Waterfalls'.. However, I don't think there were really 72, or at least not that we could see.  It was about a four hour walk through the misty valley with a stop off at Trummelbach Falls.  They are actually inside of a mountain so it was a pretty cool thing to see.  After that we continued to the little, and I mean LITTLE, town of Stechelberg. Pretty much a food stand, bus stop, restaurant/hotel and a cable car to the top of the mountain.  Not by any means a booming metropolis.

Afterwards we drove to Grindelwald where we went to the Grindelwald Gorge that is created from glacier runoff.  Definately a cool place to see where there are actually bungee jumps into the gorge.  Crazy, that's all I have to say. Then it was off to the Upper Grindelwald Glacier.  890+ fun filled steps up to the glacier on top.  All I have to say is OWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW, but I made it, and so did sock monkey.

Unfortunately, what they don't tell you is that there is no frickin glacier on top.  Oh, there's a glacier allright, but it is way way way way up where you can't go.  It was a climb to a rock!! But it was a rock with an amazing view :)  Then you could actually continue over a suspension bridge a little further up.  Anybody with a fear of heights need not apply.  Nice deep drop to a glacier run-off river. After all that it was eat, lay down and rest the feed and legs.

And then the next day...  Montreux and Lasaunne. I had been to Lausanne before but not Montreux.  Montreux is a beautiful city right on the short of Lake Geneva.  Definitely understand why they call it the Swiss Riviera.  After several hours of walking, we left Lausanne and headed back to Estavayer for an end to the weekend.

Ellen left this morning at 6:15 to catch a train to eastern europe where she'll be karate chopping her way through lots of old cities and scenic views (she has a travel blog).

As always, new pics on http://picasaweb.google.com/derek.hecht .  There's a Lasaunne 2, Montreux, and Interlaken album.  Also some updates (I think to Cows and Animals).

I'll also be posting some movies tomorrow to my you-tube account http://www.youtube.com/derekhecht .  Movies of the indoor falls and the suspension bridge.

Until later.