Oh Switzerland….it has been so long (blogs are difficult to keep current). But, here is what I remember…..time with family, incredible vistas, base jumpers,very expensive country, beautiful peaks and mountains everywhere, stellar hiking, lots of money needed, trains, gondola rides, order, clean,no police in sight, $$$$$$$$$$. Well, you get the picture. We had one night in Lucerne and it was an unexpected treat of great food, a very hip music festival, historical landmarks and a lovely lake. The temperature was perfect and the energy was surging amongst a mixed local and international crowd. We met Brit, Mike and the girls here as well as Mike’s parents. We stayed one night and were on the train to Wengen the next morning.
The train dropped us all off at our conveniently located Swiss Chalet in Wengen. We spent the next 5 days in that area hiking, exploring and enjoying a city with no cars. We had sunny days, chilly nights and an intense rain storm that soaked the already green terrain. After the family left, Will and I moved to Lautenbrunner for even more fun! I hadn’t thought much about the Swiss Alps prior to arriving there. I was stunned by the beauty, the fresh air, and the easy access to many hikes and lookouts. The trails are paved, mostly, and the ascents to peaks are usually reasonable and the descents much the same. Hiking was a pleasure both aesthetically and physically. At the height of the tourist season, the crowds were plentiful and the lines for the tram were unbearable, at times. However, the wait was alway worth the frustration. While Wengen served up phenomenal hiking and awesome vistas and overlooks; Lautenbrunner was a mecca for paragliders and base jumpers. And, if you like Via Ferratas…this is the place to do an easy, exposed climb that offers many overhanging ladders and wobbly bridges to test your balance. Mountain biking and a small insignificant climbing area kept us interested and entertained. By the time we boarded the train for Bavaria, we were ready to put up our feet and plan for the next chapter of our adventure. Highlights from our Swiss ‘Daze’ include The Eiger Trail and lunch afterwards. We enjoyed taking in the spectacular views of that grand piece of rock. The Via Ferrata with Mike and Brit was full of laughter and fun. Stopping to watch the base jumpers JUMP right next to us was thrilling and frightening all at the same time. Mostly, we loved the precious time with family and friends, the feel of the crisp, clean air and the visual stimuli surrounding us at every turn. Oh, Switzerland you are so spectacular and OH SO expensive$$$$$$.
