Day 15
When we awoke this morning, we saw blue sky out the window. But by the time we reached the tram station for our breakfast trip to the top of the Schilthorn, clouds had begun forming.
We rode to the top in 3 stages over a ½ hour or so period. The scenery was spectacular and there were about 25 people plus supplies in the cable car.
When we reached the top at 8:15, we proceeded to the restaurant. We had a special reduced ticket – before 9 a.m. you can have breakfast and a reduced fare.
Had breakfast in a revolving restaurant with a fabulous view – on a good day you can see Mont Blanc, but it was starting to cloud over.
A James Bond flick was filmed in part on the restaurant and cable car, where “Jaws” bites a tram cable in half. We’ll have to rent it when we get home.
After breakfast we had planned to tram down to Burg and then hike a couple of hours back down to Gimmelwald. But with the clouds approaching and the fact that snow covered the first mile or so of the trail, we wimped out and trammed down to Murren, then hiked a ½ hour back to Gimmelwald.
By this time it looked like rain any minute so we checked out of Gimmelwald (Jill was overjoyed! – the place is a little ratty) and went back down to the valley.
It immediately began to rain as soon as we headed down the road, but we decided to tour Trummelbach falls, which were right nearby and got 3 Michelin stars. So we paid our 7 francs each (about $5.50) and took the tram up a cavern carved out of a solid rock mountain. We then walked around a series of platforms and stairs to view 10 different high velocity waterfalls formed when several glaciers drain into one river. It is part cavern, cauldron, waterfall, all at once – very misty and deafening. Lots of fun and worth it.
Stopped in Interlaken and changed money 2 minutes before the last bank in town closed for the holiday weekend (Ascension Day is Monday). Bought lunch and ate it on our way to the next site, sitting in the car in a downpour.
Our next site was Ballenburg – a 30 acre exhibit of reconstructed houses representing all of Switzerland’s architectural styles. The houses have been moved from all over the country.
Even though it rained all afternoon, we had a fun-filled 3 ½ hours visiting most of the 70 historic buildings.
The place was so impressive for several reasons – the timber framing and construction techniques dating back to the 1600’s are still standing and show great craftsmanship; all of the houses and almost all of the rooms are open and furnished – down to knickknacks and shoes, clothing, etc. Nothing locked, bolted, under glass, etc.; and there are many craftspeople at work. We saw in action a potter, baker, wood carver, wool spinner, smokehouse, charcoal making, farming, herb drying, cheese making – very fascinating. We bought homemade bread, cheese, and smoked pork for tomorrow’s lunch. Great fun!
We are now checked into the Gasthof Schonegg in the town of Goldswil. The room looks like it was renovated yesterday. Tonite we are going downstairs for fondue for 2!
Saw a fox today!
Day 16 >>>
We rode to the top in 3 stages over a ½ hour or so period. The scenery was spectacular and there were about 25 people plus supplies in the cable car.
When we reached the top at 8:15, we proceeded to the restaurant. We had a special reduced ticket – before 9 a.m. you can have breakfast and a reduced fare.
Had breakfast in a revolving restaurant with a fabulous view – on a good day you can see Mont Blanc, but it was starting to cloud over.
A James Bond flick was filmed in part on the restaurant and cable car, where “Jaws” bites a tram cable in half. We’ll have to rent it when we get home.
After breakfast we had planned to tram down to Burg and then hike a couple of hours back down to Gimmelwald. But with the clouds approaching and the fact that snow covered the first mile or so of the trail, we wimped out and trammed down to Murren, then hiked a ½ hour back to Gimmelwald.
By this time it looked like rain any minute so we checked out of Gimmelwald (Jill was overjoyed! – the place is a little ratty) and went back down to the valley.
It immediately began to rain as soon as we headed down the road, but we decided to tour Trummelbach falls, which were right nearby and got 3 Michelin stars. So we paid our 7 francs each (about $5.50) and took the tram up a cavern carved out of a solid rock mountain. We then walked around a series of platforms and stairs to view 10 different high velocity waterfalls formed when several glaciers drain into one river. It is part cavern, cauldron, waterfall, all at once – very misty and deafening. Lots of fun and worth it.
Stopped in Interlaken and changed money 2 minutes before the last bank in town closed for the holiday weekend (Ascension Day is Monday). Bought lunch and ate it on our way to the next site, sitting in the car in a downpour.
Our next site was Ballenburg – a 30 acre exhibit of reconstructed houses representing all of Switzerland’s architectural styles. The houses have been moved from all over the country.
Even though it rained all afternoon, we had a fun-filled 3 ½ hours visiting most of the 70 historic buildings.
The place was so impressive for several reasons – the timber framing and construction techniques dating back to the 1600’s are still standing and show great craftsmanship; all of the houses and almost all of the rooms are open and furnished – down to knickknacks and shoes, clothing, etc. Nothing locked, bolted, under glass, etc.; and there are many craftspeople at work. We saw in action a potter, baker, wood carver, wool spinner, smokehouse, charcoal making, farming, herb drying, cheese making – very fascinating. We bought homemade bread, cheese, and smoked pork for tomorrow’s lunch. Great fun!
We are now checked into the Gasthof Schonegg in the town of Goldswil. The room looks like it was renovated yesterday. Tonite we are going downstairs for fondue for 2!
Saw a fox today!
Day 16 >>>
