Author: Tammy

Lastnight our host family printed a suggested itinerary for us based on only a single day in Venice without a travel pass. They also told us a bit about what to expect at Murano and Burano. They shared their favourite restaurant and ice cream shops and also the things that they enjoy most in Venice. We decided that we couldn’t come this far and not see all of it so we came to terms with the fact that we would need to spend 100 Euros on a day pass. However, we needed to get into Venice to buy our ticket.

We were up at 7:00 and had our Frosties for breakfast (thanks Sandra). Then we dressed into our coolest clothes because we knew it was going to be a hot day. Nadia (our host) drove us to the train station at 8:00. We purchased 5 tickets to Venizia Santa Lucia (9.50 Euros) and walked straight onto the train. We had to connect to a different train at Mestre but a fellow passenger was very kind to show us which platform to get to. We walked straight onto that train and by 8:45 we were in Venice!

We met a passenger on the train who spoke English and directed us toward a booth where we could purchase our day pass. When we spoke to the woman at the desk she asked about the age of the kids and then told us it would be 70 euros (much cheaper than the 100 we would have paid the day before). We were quite excited to have saved so much money and she was happy that we were excited. She said that she wished all of her customers were like us.

Next we set out on foot to explore the city using the guide that Nadia and her family provided. We were amazed at how the canals seemed to be an every day part of living in this city. The canals are an integral part of the transportation system in Venice. They also have several alleys, some much more narrow than others. While we were walking the streets it was still very quiet and not crowded at all. The shops were just opening and setting up their seating on the streets. The buildings in the city look very old and tired… and completely different from what we saw in Switzerland.

Another thing we noticed was how much the city caters to tourists. We couldn’t walk more that a few feet without seeing a souvenir shop or street vendor. They all seemed to have the same things too. We walked through several alleys and crossed a few bridges. Before we knew it we were half way through Venice. We decided to get onto a boat to get a different view of the city. The boat we caught was quite crowded and we couldn’t sit together. We did manage to get window seats and enjoy the view. It was crazy watching boats with huge bags and boxes of supplies, fishing boats, boats with cranes, dredging boats, and even car ferry boats. It was very smoggy down town and watching all the exhaust from the boats it wasn’t hard to see why.

When we arrived in Santa Marco we got off and decided to find a boat that took us out to Murano. We found a boat station that had a sign saying to go to the next dock. When we got there we realized it was only for a tour and were directed to the boat station a bit further down the road. We eventually found the correct place and after a short wait we were on our way. It was about a 30 minute ride around the island of Venizia to Murano. t is neat how there are poles that guide the boats. It almost looks like a highway on water… you just have to stay between the poles. We got off on the second stop at Murano and transferred directly onto the boat that took us out to Burano.

Burano is quite different from the busy streets of Venizia. It was very quiet and the houses were all brightly painted. Everything looked well taken care of. It seemed like we just walked through mostly residential areas with a few shops along the way. There was a main path that had several street vendors and stores along the side but for the most part it was very quiet. After wandering the island the temperature started getting very hot and humid. We decided to look for a geocache, then we started looking for a place to have lunch. We found an empty restaurant with decent prices so we walked in and sat down. When we looked at the menu I noticed there was a cover charge of 3 euros for each person. We asked if it was for all 5 of us and when they said “yes” we decided not to eat there. Instead we ordered traditional Italian pizzas at the outdoor restaurant just across from the boat station. It was only 7.50 – 9.00 for a pizza so we ordered 3 and enjoyed our meal in the shade with a nice cool breeze. There was also a water fountain across the street that had a line of people filling up water bottles. We finished our water and refilled our bottles before catching a boat back to Murano.

When we arrived in Murano we walked along the canal and popped into the glass blowing stores along the way (mostly for the air conditioning). A few placed had glass blowing demonstrations but since we already experienced that in Switzerland we decided not to pay the 20 euros. One of the stores had a video on a large screen that showed the process. The kids especially enjoyed sitting in the air conditioned shop watching the video. The glass blowing here is incredible. One of the shops had a sign out front that said no pieces made in China, all 100% Murano glass blowing. We got a chuckle out of that. We also made our way to a huge glass Christmas tree on display at a popular square. Next we decided to find another geocache before making our way back to the boat. This time though, the man running the flow of people at the boat station was terrible. The signs told us to catch boat 2.4 or 4 to go back to Venizia. We were there 2 minutes before the boat left but the man wouldn’t let anyone past the gate. By the time he opened the gate to let us through the boat had dropped off some passengers and left. We had to wait another 20 minutes for the next boat! He seemed very disorganized and the line up was very long. When the next boat approached he let us all go onto the platform before it unloaded. It was the most frustrating part of our day (which really wasn’t all that bad).

After arriving back at San Marco we walked along the promenade a bit. Then we visited the Basilica of San Marco. We could not all go in at the same time because we were not allowed to bring our backpacks. Instead, Tavis went in with the kids and did teh self-guided tour while I stood outside guarding the bags. When they finished, Ayva came through again with me. We could have gone up to the top of the building and viewed the streets but it was 5 euros, not very high, and we were too hot to go up. This chapel was amazing though. It was not like anything we have seen in Germany or Switzerland. The detail was immaculate and grand. There were gold statues and artwork and the enormous pillars all seemed to be made of different types of stone. many different types of stone. I admit that I don’t truly appreciate churches but this one wowed me!

Next we found a spot to view the Ponte Dei Sospiri which is one of the symbolic bridges of Venice. To be honest we didn’t really get the whole meaning of it so we just took a photo and continued on our way. I guess the walking tour would have been helpful here. The heat and humidity was really started to get to us so we walked through the alleys trying to find a smoothie shop which we found earlier in the day. We eventually found one and all of us enjoyed cold fruit beverages which helped cool us down and quench our thirst as we had run out of water. We then decided that we had seen enough of Venice so we walked through the winding alleys and over bridges all the way to the bus station.

This bus station was not as easy to navigate as we had hoped. We knew we had to catch bus 53E but didn’t see any signs for that bus. We asked 2 different people who kept pointing further down the street. We eventually saw our bus pulling up to the very end of the bus station. It was very crowded so instead of sitting we stood at one of the connecting parts that had air conditioning. It felt quite nice but the 30 minute bus ride on our feet wasn’t as relaxing as we had hoped. We met a nice woman who helped us find the right place to get off and told us where to go for groceries. We went to the local Coop and bought grapes, pasta, lasagna, 3 litres of water (50 cents), and 1.5 litres of iced tea (75 cents). We then walked the 10 minutes back to the house.

Once home we made dinner and also did a load of laundry (thanks again Sandra for the soap). We now have enough clean underwear to last the rest of the trip. We are now packing our bags and getting ready to move on to our next destination… Pisa, then La Spezia.

This morning Terris and Sandra left the house before I woke up to meet Uncle Terry at the airport. It would have been nice to see Uncle Terry but I’m sure he would have been tired and ready to sleep when he got back. We got up, Tavis made sandwiches, and we ate breakfast before saying goodbye to our home for the past 11 days. We have really appreciated the generosity of Terris and Sandra who opened their home to us. Switzerland is a beautiful country! Below outlines our commute to Italy.

• 7:36 – 7:48 bus from Krattigen to Spiez
• 8:05 – 9:12 train from Spiez to Domodossola
• 10:17 – 2:28 train from Domodosolla to Mestre, Venice
• 3:03 – 3:11 train from Mestre to Mira-Milano

When we left Krattigen, the weather was warm and dry. We stopped in Spiez to buy some soda that Sandra introduced us to yesterday. Then we made our way to the platform 3 to catch our train to Italy. Navigating the bus and trains in Switzerland with our luggage was easy because we knew exactly where to go and what to do with our luggage. When we arrived in Domodossola though, it was a different story.

As we arrived in Italy, it was pouring rain and the scenery was nothing like what we saw in Switzerland. It was more run down and dreary. In fairness, the weather may have had an impact on the setting. We collected our luggage and made our way to the train station. We tried to find a ticket agent who spoke English to see if we could buy a 24 hour bus pass for Venice ahead of time. It was not long before we discovered we could not purchase the pass until we arrived in Venice. We thought about wandering around Domodossola but the rain was coming down hard and we had all of our luggage. Instead we found a seat in the waiting area and waited 45 minutes before making our way back to platform 3 to catch our next train. As the train arrived we watched for car 4 and hopped on at the correct doors.

When we got onto the train we first discovered there was no room for our luggage as it was completely filled with everyone else’s luggage. Then we found that our reserved seats were not showing up as reserved and there were people sitting in the seas. We found a conductor who helped us find a place to put our luggage and moved some people (who had reserved seats in car 3) so we could all sit somewhat together. We didn’t have the nice table seats with 4 but atleast we were sitting 2×2. When the train arrived in Milan many people got off so Tavis was able to move our bags to the luggage rack and we grabbed a set of seats with a table. Unlike the trains in Switzerland, there really wasn’t much to see so we ended up playing on our devices and having a long game of rocket.

When we arrived in Mestre, the sun was shining and it was about 30 degrees out! We collected our bags and tried to find a ticket booth. We walked the wrong way initially but eventually made it into the station. It was so hot that we decided to go directly to our apartment so we could get rid of the bags and hopefully cool down. It took a while to figure out where to buy tickets because no one spoke English well. Thirty minutes (and 10 Euros) later we had tickets to the train station where Nadia (the person we rented our AirBNB from). It was literally an 8 minute ride to the next train station! The tickets were not nearly as easy to understand as in Switzerland. We didn’t know which train number or where the train was heading so we went to the platform at the correct time and asked someone after we got on.

At 3:11 we arrived in Mira-Mirano. Tavis called Nadia and her husband, Palo, arrived 5 minutes later with a VW minivan. I’m sure we looked tired and hot with seat dripping from our foreheads. We had to put the back seats down to fit all the luggage so I jumped into the back seat with the 3 kids and Tavis sat up front. It was a short 5 minute drive to the house. The house is large and the property is quite nice aswell. He pointed out his large garden and drove around behind the house. We walked in and tehre was a large stairway that led to an upstairs apartment. When we walked in to a wonderfully cool air-conditioned room we were pleasantly surprised. It was small but well decorated and had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It also had a washing machine, stove, fridge, and microwave. He asked if we wanted any tomatoes as they had plenty. When he left we started unpacking and Tavis hung our wet bathingsuits and towels from lastnight on the line outside. When he came in he had a large basket of fresh tomatoes picked right out of the garden!

A few minutes later Nadia arrived and introduced herself. She asked about our travel arrangements when we leave and offered to lend us her old car to drive ourselves to the train station since they will not be home! She also offered her car to us so we could go purchase bus passes and groceries. How cool is that!!! Tavis and I left the kids at home and found ourselves driving to Dolo. We went to the place to get bus passes and it was packed! We waited 30 minutes to find out it was going to cost 100 Euros to purchase a 24 hour bus pass for Venice!!! We politely declined and figured we would we would be better off paying the 19 euros for a return trip to venice by train and walking the streets instead of taking transit. We then went to a market a few blocks away and bought groceries for dinner, breakfast, and snacks for only 22 euros!

When we got back Nadia asked about the bus passes and we told her it was too expensive. She was disappointed that they would charge us full price for the kids but informed us that the bus pass also includes the boats out to the islands such as Murano and Burano. We decided to make dinner and later tonight Nadia is going to come up and we are going to make a plan for tomorrow. As it turns out, we can purchase our bus pass online.

We are very pleased with our accommodations here in Italy so far. Our hosts are very kind and we look forward to tomorrow’s adventure.

This morning we slept in until 7:45 and magically the Flippin’ Floppin’ Sandwich factory manufactured our lunches magically by the time we woke up 😛 We enjoyed our daily breakfast of Frosties before leaving the house at 7:30. It was a short itinerary:

• 7:36 – 7:48 bus from Krattigen to Spiez
• 8:12 – 8:40 train from Spiez to Kandersteg

Oeschinensee

When we arrived in Kandersteg we walked up to the gondola. It was a beautiful 15 minute walk on a small road with a few houses. As we walked down the street we all imagined what it would be like to live in this serene area with the mountains surrounding us. We came to the conclusion that it would be too secluded in the winter and we would rather just have a summer home.

As we arrived at the gondola we were happy to see one that was more like a ski lift at home that ran continuously and had room for 6-8 people. We all validated our passes and found a seat on our gondola. It was a beautiful and smooth short ride to the top. As we came up to the top of the gondola we passed over the bobsled track and the kids got quite excited.

Our first stop was to purchase tickets to ride the bobsled. There were a group of students in line so we decided to hike down to the lake and come back later. The hike to the lake was down hill along the road. When we approached the lake we were in awe of how green the lake was and how peaceful it was settled between the mountains. It was also quite warm. There were kids swimming on the other side of the lake. We walked down to the row boat rentals and sat at some benches to take in the moment. We also found a fire pit with benches around. It would have been a perfect spot to spend the day and have a bbq. We had about 20 minutes to enjoy our cookies and walk around the area before starting back to the bobsleds.

We decided to walk back a different route. We walked half way around the lake and took a switchback trail. It was narrow and steep… a real hiking trail. It was also beautiful as we ascended up the mountain. When we reached the top of the hill there was a restaurant and a heard of cattle hanging out in the field where the trail led. One cow had a bunch of flies on its nose. I tried to help but she didn’t appreciate my help and waved her horns at me. We carried on another 20 minutes down the trail and reached he bobsleds.

We purchased a 10 ride pass for the kids and a 5 ride pass for adults. A nice lady also gave us an additional 3 passes so the kids each got 3 rides! The first time we went up it wasn’t really clear how to use the bobsled and Ayva didn’t know how to make it go. There was a bit of a slow down at the top but as soon as Sandra told her how to go Ayva was gone like a rocket! It was so much fun that Terris bought 2 more tickets so all 4 of us adults could go twice. By the time we went for our last ride, the nice man running the bobsleds let the kids each take one more ride for free! It was the highlight of the day! For more information on Oeschinensee click here.

After our thrill was over we sat down beside the gondola in the shade and ate our sandwiches on a bench. Sandra bought us a Rivella (a Swiss drink) at the train station this morning and we shared it at lunch. It was so good! It tasted kind of like a Sprite, but nothing at all like it. We decided we need to import it to Canada! After lunch, we took the gondola back down the hill and and started back toward the train station in Kandersteg. We stopped at a playground infront of the gondola that had swings, a trampoline, and a cage of bunnies. There was also the most ingenious mini golf course… It consisted of a wooden wheel (kind of like a water wheel) that had 12 sections around numbered from 1-12. You turn the wheel for each hole and the middle section changes. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen! After leaving the playground we searched for 2 geocaches on the way to the train. Ari found both of them in the trees.

Bern

Next, we caught the 1:15 train from Kandersteg and arrived in Bern (the capital city of Switzerland) just before 2:30. Sandra was tired so she decided to get off in Spiez so she could buy some groceries and get some rest at home. When we got to Bern we walked through the enormous train station and walked down the street tot he parliament building. It was under construction so we weren’t able to get a tour. We continued on our way to “The Minister” which is Bern’s most impressive example of late Goth architecture. The detail was incredible both inside and out. It was extremely hot so we decided not to climb the tower. After going in and seeing the tall ceiling and detailed stained glass, we carried on down the street.

We came to a bridge and as we crossed I spotted a bear on the other side. It was an actual real live bear and it was living in “Bear Park“. The entire side of the river was fenced off and home to a bear. We got quite close as we walked along the far side. The bear seemed quite happy in its habitat. We continued down the riverside and walked down the stairs. We saw people jump in the river and float down. It was so hot that we were all jealous. As we continued walked along the riverside Ari became overheated so we stopped and let him sit on the rocks and dip his feet in the water. After 5 minutes of cooling off we continued up the hill to the road where we caught a city bus back to the parliament buildings.

Terris treated us all to gelato which was amazing! It was also exactly what we needed to cool down. After finishing our ice cream Terris went to a specialty store to buy peanut butter which is apparently a North American thing and not easy to find in Switzerland. We then carried on back to the train station and caught the 3:30 train back to Spiez. Terris, Ayva, Addison, and Ari played a lot of Rocket on the train today which passed the time very quickly. We arrived in Spiez a bit late but our bus waited for us and we were back home by 4:20.

We were still very warm so we quickly walked down the hill to our swimming hole and enjoyed a nice refreshing swim in the lake. We arrived after 5:00 and the kids would have stayed for hours but at 6:30 we got them out so we could get home and start dinner. We enjoyed a delectable dinner of marinated chicken breasts and pork chops, followed by the best chocolate ever!

Today was another perfect day. We are sad that we have to leave Terris and Sandra tomorrow. We were here for 11 days and we could have easily spent another week or 2. We are sad to leave Switzerland tomorrow but also excited to see Italy. Tomorrow will be a travelling day and a new adventure!

Thank you Terris and Sandra for the amazing hospitality! We love your country!

This morning we were all up bright and early. The flippin’ floppin’ sandwich factory (as we have named Sandra & Tavis’ sandwich making production) was in full swing and we were all out the door by 7:00. Today was a travelling day as we enjoyed the sights of Switzerland by various trains.

• 7:06 – 7:18 bus from Krattigen to Spiez
• 7:33 – 7:57 train from Spiez to Interlaken Ost (East)
• 8:04 – 9:55 panorama train from Interlaken Ost to Luzern
• 10:12 – 11:09 boat from Luzern to Vitznau
• 11:15 – 11:45 train from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm

The commute to Interlaken was the same as we have done before, but once we reached Interlaken we had nearly a two hour train ride on a panorama train which had huge windows on the sides and along the top. It was an incredible view as we travelled along the lakes and through the mountain passes. The train was a bit busy so we were spread out a little bit. Ari got a little bored at watching the scenery so he started building card houses. There was a family that was quite impressed with his building skills and began taking photos of him. Ari now thinks he is an international card house legend.

When we arrived in Luzern we decided to take the early boat across the lake to Vitznau as we knew we would be back later to explore the large town. The boat was incredibly crowded. On all the boats, first class passengers go upstairs and second class folk (like us) stay down. Most of the people were down with us so it was very difficult to find a seat. However, we kept walking around the boat until we found room along the side. We were next to a hound dog with big floppy ears and before long Ari befriended the pup. The boat ride was quite relaxing despite the huge crowd and it really wasn’t that bad. We were pleasantly surprised when the person checking tickets told us that all Swiss Travel Pass holders got a free gift… a luggage tag 🙂 That was a nice surprise but one of the most memorable things on this boat was the soap dispensers… they were like cheese graters. You turn the handle and the hard soap is shaved off into your hands… Ingenious!!

After arriving to Vitznau we followed the crowd to the cogwheel train that took us straight up the mountain… and I do mean straight up! It was difficult to find a seat but we did manage to find room for 5 of us to sit at the back of the first train. We were pleasantly surprised when the conductor came over and asked if the kids wanted to join him in the control area with him. YES!!!! Ari and Ayva went up front and we didn’t see them again until we reached the top. It was the highlight of their trip I think. My favourite part was the train ride itself. This is the oldest cogwheel mountain train in Europe, dating back to 1871. The steepest gradient was up to 250%! We tried to capture this with video and photos but you just can’t imagine what it was like to be on a train with that steep of a slope! I am still in awe! For more information on the technical specs of the train click here.

Rigi

When we arrived at Rigi it was another spectacular view. We walked up past a restaurant to a tower. We had views in all directions. We saw 4 or 5 lakes surrounding the mountains, and all of the towns in the valleys. There was an electric fence we had to slip under which we didn’t think was on but when we got up the hill we realized why it was there… There was a heard of cattle grazing at the top. The cows were huge and they sounded like wind chimes. We tried to get close to one but the farmer was rounding up the heard with his dog and he was moving the heard to another field. That in itself was amazing to watch as the dog was so well trained. He stood by the farmer and when given a signal would get the heard moving. We also saw some people parasailing. They were taking off from the top of the hill. This was the perfect setting for us to enjoy our lunch so we found a place to set up and enjoyed our sandwiches. When we finished eating we decided to go back to the train. That is when Ari discovered that YES, the electric fence was indeed on and working well. He was still feeling the electric shock when we reached the train. However, it was soon forgotten after he walked straight up to the conductor and asked if he could ride up front with him. It was a different conductor but he welcomed Ari up there. Ari became the door man for the entire trip down the mountain. He introduced himself to all the workers and everyone that talked to him was laughing when they left. We found out after that he didn’t get any phone numbers but found out where each of the girls lived. It didn’t surprise us in the least!

Luzern

After reaching the bottom of the track in Goldau (we decided to go a different route than what we took up), we had a few minutes before catching our next train. We went to a local convenience store and bought ice cream snacks to give us some energy in the heat. Then we hopped on a train that took us back to Luzern. This train wasn’t as crowded as on the way up this morning so we all sat together. It took about 40 minutes. When we arrived in Luzern, Sandra was too tired to walk around the city so she went to find a Migro and do some grocery shopping for dinner. The rest of us went and walked the streets. We walked along the Chapel bridge which has an interesting history. You can read about it here. We then walked the narrow streets in town. The roads are extremely narrow and really only have enough room for a single car. The roads are shared by pedestrians and cars so it is quite interesting to stand and watch the flow of traffic! After about 30 minutes of wandering the streets and people watching, we walked back along the bridge and met Sandra on the train.

Again, we all sat together as the train wasn’t too busy. We were all quite tired so we all napped at some point on this 40 minute train ride to Olten. When we arrived in Olden Terris, Tavis, and myself walked across a bridge to see the train station from across the river. It was really hot though and we only had 15 minutes so we quickly walked back and we decided to ride in the family train car on the way to Spiez. Ari enjoyed playing in the kids area while Addison, Ayva, Terris and myself played a game of rocket during the 1 hour train ride. It went by quick and as soon as we arrived in Spiez we crossed the platform and hopped on our bus to Krattigen with about 1 minute to spare.

We got home around 6:45 and enjoyed a delicious meal of burgers made with local Switzerland beef. They were amazing. Now we will put in a last load of laundry as tomorrow will be our last day in Switzerland before we continue our journey to Italy. I wonder where the adventure will take us tomorrow?

Today we visited a glacier! We all stayed up way too late lastnight and no one wanted to get up this morning. However, Tavis still managed to get up early enough to make sandwiches for everyone. Sandra decided to have a day off so she slept in and stayed home while the rest of us decided to go to Jungfrau. We were all ready to leave by 7:30. We didn’t have far to go but it was a long commute.

• 7:36 – 7:48 bus from Krattigen to Spiez
• 8:05 – 8:28 train from Spiez to Interlaken Ost (East)
• 8:35 – 8:55 train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen
• 9:07 – 9:49 train from Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg
• 10:00 – 10:39 train from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch

Most of us enjoyed the scenery on the train. Ayva, however, slept through most of it. When we reached Lauterbrunnen the train ride got interesting. We decided not to reserve tickets on the last train but after we left Lauterbrunnen the 10:30 and 11:00 trains to Jungfraujoch were sold out and the 10:00 only had less than 25% seats available. We were relieved that the small train car we were on only had another 6 passengers so it wasn’t terribly busy. The train made its way up the mountain through several switchbacks. The view was incredible and I loved the tiny little villages along the way. When we reached Kleine Scheidegg we stood by the door and tried to be the first ones off. However, we turned the wrong way and when we were directed the opposite direction there were about 100 people in front of us who had reserved seats. We were happy to see only a handful of other guests ahead of us who went to the standby line and in the end we easily found 6 seats together for the epic train through the mountain to the “Top of Europe”. We then put on our jackets.

Jungfraujoch

About 10 minutes after we entered the tunnel, the train stopped for 5 minutes at a photo spot. There were three huge windows a few steps off the train where you could look out of the tunnel into the valley. It was crazy being in a tunnel looking out through a glass window out of the mountain side. As we were getting back on the train there were three hikers with ropes and climbing gear leaving the tunnel. They were crazy!!!

After we got back on the train we went another 20 minutes through the tunnel before getting to the top. After getting off this time we immediately tried to walk the opposite direction of everyone else but we were quickly told not to go there. We ended up following the crowd of people through tunnels. When we got to the first building the crowd seemed to disperse. Even though the attractions were numbered to help guide tourists through the area, we decided to break away and go to the last attraction first. We walked up the stairs and through the Lindt store, then outside to the viewing platform. The kids were especially excited to be walking in snow. We walked around the area taking in the full 360 degree view around us.

Next we went inside and walked through the ice palace. This was one of the best parts of the tour. We walked through an ice cave! Throughout the walk we saw several ice sculptures, signs, and items frozen in ice. It was amazing to see everything around us covered in ice. There were even small hidden passages for the kids to explore. Even though the icy ground wasn’t too slippery, the kids enjoyed trying to skate everywhere with their shoes. As we were leaving we even found a geocache!

As we walked further into the tunnels, there were several signs that told of the history of the research station at Jungfrau. Next we visited the alpine sensation which had a huge snow globe with a setting of a small village in the mountains. The lighting changed to represent the hours of the day and at night the snow globe darkened and the lights in the village turned on. In the tunnel, there were also snow flakes made of light which bounced all over the ceiling and walls.

Our next stop was up in the Observation tower. When we took the elevator up we were pleasantly surprised by the warmth and large sitting area. We found a small table and decided it was the perfect place to eat our lunch. What a view! After eating, we walked outside and slowly made our way around the perimeter of the building. Again, the 360 view was amazing. We took way too many pictures.

From there we made our way back downstairs and outside to where the zipline, snow tube park, snow golfing, restaurants, and hiking trails were. None of us had proper footwear so we didn’t walk too far, but we enjoyed watching others enjoy these activities. After our feet started to get cold we decided to make our way slowly back to the train. Along the way we walked through a tunnel that told of the construction of Jungfrau. To think of how the workers were able to build the tunnels with basic tools at hand back in the early 1900s was incredible. For more information on the history you can visit https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfraujoch-top-of-europe/construction-of-the-jungfrau-railway/

When we got back to the train we were a little concerned about getting a seat. The 2:00 train had no reservable seats available so all the seats were sold out. However, when we went to the standby line we were relieved to find that there were still 50 seats available. In end the train was not busy and there were plenty empty seats. We took the train back down the mountain through the tunnel that wound its way through the mountain. We stopped at a few small villages along the way. There were also several trails down the mountain that would be fun to hike on another day. Next time we come to Switzerland we need to bring hiking boots!

When we reached Kleine Scheidegg we caught the train down to Grindelwald so we could see a different route. From there we caught a train to Interlaken Ost. Unfortunately, when we reached Interlaken, there was a problem with the train and several trains had been cancelled. We ended up having to wait over 30 minutes to catch a different train back to Spiez which screwed up our connection to Krattigen. Luckily, Sandra was able to pick us up in the car in Spiez. Even though she made 2 trips, we still got home before the bus was scheduled to leave.

After getting home, Tavis and Ayva had a quick 20 minute nap. Then we fed the kids and let them stay home along with their devices while the adults went out to dinner at Sandra’s favourite restaurant down the street. It was an expensive meal but the meals were huge and the food was delicious! We sat outside and the view of the farms, Spiez, and Thunersee was incredible. The only downfall was that the people sitting next to us were smoking (not uncommon here) and their smoke was blowing our direction throughout our entire meal. However, that is the only downfall of being in Europe so far so I can’t complain too much.

Now it is off to bed early as we have another early morning ahead. We have to be up at 6:30!

This morning we finally had a good sleep. We all went to bed before 10:00 lastnight. Tavis and Sandra get up early every morning to enjoy their coffee and make sandwiches for everyone. Today was no different. The rest of us slept in until 7:45. Then we all ate breakfast and left the house by 8:34. Our commute was as follows:

• 8:36 – 8:48 bus from Krattigen to Spiez
• 9:00 – 9:30 train from Spiez to Kanderstag
• 9:44 – 9:54 bus from Kanderstag Bahnhof to Kanderstag Sunnbüel

Tavis and Sandra were the leaders of the pack (as usual). They both do all the planning for each day. When we arrived at the train station in Spiez they had to do some quick thinking because the Eurotrain which we were originally planning to catch was cancelled due to a police incident. Everything worked out though and we made it to the gondola just in time to go up.

Gemmi Pass

The gondola ride from Sunnbüel up to the Gemmi pass was packed to capacity (35 + 1). It was standing room only and packed in like sardines. However, we were still able to get a good view as we were lifted way up into the mountains. Twice we reached a tower at the side of the mountain and the gondola changed the angle and had a slight swing. Each time it made our hearts sink into our stomach and everyone held their breath.

When we reached the top we all made a stop at the rest room before setting off on our 3 hour hike through the pass. At the exit of the gondola there was a maintenance station set up with high quality tools and an air pump station for bikes. The tools were all chained to the wall but free for anyone to use. What a great concept! We also had to exit through an electric fence which was used to keep the free range cattle from entering the gondola. There was also some sort of marathon going on and they had a clock set up I guess to track runners’ times. We set off on our hike at 10:16.

About 5 minutes down the trail we heard an orchestra of wind chimes. However, there were no wind chimes around. Instead, it was a heard of cattle grazing in the mountains, each with a bell around its neck. The poor cows are probably deaf from all the noise they make each time they move!

About another 30 minutes down the pass we came to a farm house that sold cheese. We had to check it out. Tavis opened the door which lead to the shop where the cheese was actually being made. His wife invited us in to the next room where she had the cheese in a fridge for sale. It was stinky but fascinating. These farmers bring their cattle up the mountains in the summer and live in the cottage while their cows and sheep graze in the mountains. They sell cheeses and milk. Then in the fall they round up their heards and bring them down the valley until the Spring. While Tavis and Sandra were selecting a cheese to purchase, the rest of us were outside feeding the chickens and rabbits. It was not a usual stop for us Canadian hikers.

About another 45 minutes down the trail we came to a lake and a restaurant in the middle of nowhere! It was so beautiful to see this big restaurant/hotel with lots of flowers set in the mountains in the middle of a hiking trail! Ari wanted to stop and play in the playground but we were hungry and wanted to reach the next lake before we ate our sandwiches.

We continued along the trail another 40 minutes up a windy hill. Everyone was getting hungry and losing energy but just after noon finally made it to the edge of a huge lake. Ari climbed to the top of a rock but it was too windy for the rest of us so we decided to eat our lunch out of the wind somewhere. As we ate sandwiches we heard more wind chimes and noticed several black-nosed sheep just a little further up the hill from us. They were so cute! We relaxed for about 20 minutes and refuelled before continuing along the trail again.

We walked along the lake and on the other side was another gondola taking people from the lake up to the gondola that takes everyone down the mountain to Leukerbad. Instead of taking the gondola we walked up along the trail under the gondola. Just before reaching the lookout we decided to look for a geocache. This time Tavis was the one who found it hidden behind a rock. We exchanged our travel bug that we picked up in Munich for another one that was waiting to move along. Then we continued out to the new lookout. It was a little scary on the lookout because you could see through the grate that was under our feet. I bent down to take a photo of the ground when my metal travel mug fell out of my backpack and made a huge bang. It scared the daylights out of everyone who thought the platform was going to fall. It scared me too and apparently I turned on my video without even knowing. I caught the aftermath of the scare:P

Around 1:30 we hopped on the gondola at the other end of the pass which took us down to a cute little town called Leukerbad. We walked around the town and snapped a few photos. Sandra also found a cat to pet. We had about 40 minutes to wait for a bus down to Visp so Tavis and Sandra decided to get groceries for the weekend. All of the grocery stores close on Sundays so you have to plan ahead in Switzerland! While they were shopping, the rest of us went to a playground.

At 2:48 we caught a city bus like none other! It was a huge, fancy, air conditioned coach bus with a trailer. We were one of the first ones on and took the front seats. Oh boy was that interesting. The road down the mountain was a series of switchbacks and hairpin turns on a road that was barely wide enough for 2 small cars. It was terrifying!!! Around each corner the bus took up both lanes. I have no idea how we made it down in 1 piece. When we reached the bus stop I wanted to give the bus driver a huge hug and kiss but apparently that is not appropriate so I just thanked him instead.

We had about 20 minutes in Visp and it was quite warm so Tavis bought us all ice cream bars which was a perfect way to pass the time and give us some energy. As we finished our bars the train arrived and we caught the 3:57 train to Spiez. We arrived in Spiez at 6:30 and had to wait 30 minutes for our bus so we went into Migros so Tavis and Sandra could have a coffee. We sat in the air conditioned building until it was time to catch our bus back to Krattigen.

Swimming at Thunersee

We arrived home just after 5:00. Terris and Sandra stayed home while Tavis and I took the kids down to our favourite swimming spot on Thunersee. We love spending our evening hiking down the valley to the lake. It is a perfect way to cool down on a hot day. We all went in the water and swam in the clean, refreshing lake. It is not cold at all. We then hiked all the way up to the house (about a 15-20 minute hike). Tavis and Terris cooked Tortellini and put in a lasagna for me. It was an excellent meal and a perfect end to another perfect day!

Tomorrow will be an early morning as Terris will accompany us up to Jungfraujoch, the top of Europe.

This morning we had to be up and out of the house by 7:30. I was a zombie for most of the morning… I think these early mornings are catching up to me. However, it was important to get up the mountain to get a good look at the Matterhorn before the clouds rolled in… It was worth it! Our morning commute was as follows:

• 7:36 – 7:48 bus from Krattigen to Spiez
• 8:05 – 8:30 train from Spiez to Visp
• 8:41 – 9:41 train from Visp to Zermatt
• 10:00 – 10:33 cogwheel train from Zermatt to Gornergrat

The train from Spiez to Visp was mostly through a tunnel. It was crazy how the sky was cloudy when we went into the tunnel and sunny when we came out! It is also so much quicker to go through the mountain than around like we did the day before. The train to Zermatt had a few sections of the track that used cogwheel. The tiny villages the train stopped at seemed to be made of just a few old houses with rock roofs scattered in the mountains. I really enjoyed scenery.

Gornergrat

We got our first view of the Matterhorn when we first arrived in Zermatt. Then we jumped on the cogwheel which zigzagged up the mountain where we got an incredible view of the Matterhorn. There were several stops along the way with gondolas at each one. This is a very popular ski area in the winter but int he summer there are several hikers and mountain bikers. When we got to the top we walked along a trail that went past the restaurant and stores until we got away from the other tourists. We took far too many photos but the view was breathtaking. The glaciers were more dirty than I expected but quite large. We had a 360 degree view though of mountain ranges all equally beautiful. We ate our sandwiched and built an inukshuk. Then we walked back to the train. We stopped and bought some magnets for $3.90 (first ones under 6.00) before taking the cogwheel train back down to Zermatt.

Zermatt

The village of Zermatt is a huge tourist destination that caters to hikers and mountain bikers in the summer and skiers in the winter. There are many chalets and it feels a lot like Whistler. The roads are very narrow and filled with pedestrians while tiny cars and busses weave around the people. It was fascinating to watch. Some of the houses are extremely old and it was an interesting combination of chalets, hotels, stores, and mountains. We enjoyed walking the streets and Sandra even bought some desserts from a local bakery. We found a store that actually had magnets as cheap as $3.20! Good to know for anyone looking for souvenirs! After walking the streets we decided to head back to Spiez and book our tickets for Jungfraujoch on Sunday.

Dinner with Sandra’s Parents

While Tavis and Sandra were getting our tickets, Terris and I took the kids to a local park. We also heard a concert taking place down in town. The streets were very busy. Around 4:30 we walked to Sandra’s parents house from the Spiez train station. It was a nice walk that took us about 20 minutes. They live in a great little neighbourhood with a stunning view of Niesen, not far past the bunker we visited. The kids spent hours playing in the large playground with a zipline. Sandra’s Dad cooked porkchops, sausages, and tomatoes filled with cheese on a huge fire pit. We decided that Jamie and Simon need to build one of these fire pit bbqs on their island! We also had rice with curry and salad and for dessert we had a variety of pastries. It was a delectable meal and although we couldn’t speak the same language as Sandra’s parents we enjoyed the visit and getting to know them. It was a wonderful evening.

At 8:30 we walked to the bus stop and got back home after 9:00. Now it is off to bed as we have another early morning tomorrow and a 3 hour hike!

This morning we had a well deserved sleep in day. We didn’t have to be up until 7:45. We all ate breakfast and got ready for a shorter outing. Our commute this morning was as follows:

• 8:36-8:48 bus from Krattigen to Spiez
• 9:03-9:28 train from Spiez to Interlaken Ost
• 9:33-10:07 train from Interlaken Ost to Meiringen
• 10:15-10:20 bus from Meiringen to Aareschlucht Ost MB

On the train to Interlaken we enjoyed the beautiful view of Thunersee (Lake Thun). Then we rode an old train along Brienzersee (Brienz Lake). This train was quite unusual and it gives an appreciation for how far the trains have come. The old trains are connected with a ramp and a curtain and as you walk between trains you can see the ground below you. The toilets also just consist of a hole that empties onto the track. It was crazy! The view was spectacular though and the waterfalls were plenty! When we arrived in Meiringen, Ari and Sandra were racing to a playground and Ari tripped on a sidewalk and had a good trip. He had a bit of road rash but only shed a few tears. He was such a trooper. We then caught our last bus. When we arrived at our stop we had about a 5-10 minute walk between houses and farms to the entrance of the Aareschlucht passage.

Aareschlucht

Before entering the Aareschlucht, the kids enjoyed playing in a playground. Ari’s road rash was forgotten when he saw the zipline. We let the kids play for 15 minutes while everyone went the washroom before beginning our walk through the mountain passage. After walking through the entrance we followed a path into a cave. After a short walk the path split and we chose to walk the outer path instead of staying in the cave. We were flabbergasted by the view! A narrow wooden raised pathway was built along the rock cliff. The water flowed below us and the cliff walls went high above us. Every part of the path was extraordinary. At one point there was a view of an old bunker that was built in 1940 for the soldiers in the war. Photos just don’t do it justice but you can read more about it at https://www.aareschlucht.ch/en/Welcome.

When we reached the other side of the passage we decided to take a train back through the mountain tunnel. We walked down the hill and crossed a bridge to the train station which was basically a rock wall with a locked door. We had to push a button to let the train know that we were waiting for it. When the train arrived, the door swung open and we walked directly onto the train. It was so cool! We took the train back to Meiringen. Then we caught the train to Interlaken which was waiting for us.

Interlaken

We got off the train in Interlaken and walked through the city. We stopped at a really good ice cream place, Gelateria Azzurra. They had several flavours of ice cream and it was all hand made in the store. It was incredible! After finishing our ice cream we went to a shoe store and found some sandals for Tavis (his broke the first day in Germany). Then we rushed to catch our train back to Spiez and the bus back to Krattigen. We arrived home at 3:30 and we all got our bathing suits on.

Thunersee

Around 4:00, Sandra stayed home to relax while the rest of us walked down the hill to our favourite swimming spot on Thun Lake. Everyone went into the water except me. I enjoyed suntanning on my beach town in the nice soft grass. At 5:30 the wind picked up and everyone was a bit cold so we decided to walk back home. On the way we introduced Terris to geocaching. It took all of us looking but it was Ari who found the cache in the end. When we got home we enjoyed a lasagna dinner and after dinner we decided to put in a load of laundry and we will relax and have an early night.

Tomorrow will be another early morning as we hope to see the Matterhorn.

This morning we woke up very early at 6:30 so we could eat and leave the house no later than 7:04am. We had the following scenic commute to the castle on the lake.

• 7:06 – 7:18 Bus from Krattigen to Spiez
• 7:38 – 8:20 Train from Spiez to Zweisimmen
• 8:25 – 10:13 Train from Zweisimmen to Montreux (The Golden Pass)
• 10:36 – 10:41 Bus from Montreux to Chillon

When we left Krattigen the weather was overcast but as soon as we went through a mountain tunnel it was beautiful sunny weather. The views along the way were absolutely incredible. I played rocket with the kids for the first 20 minutes of our first train but then we put the cards away to enjoy the river, mountains, waterfalls, castles, and towns along the way. It was a long journey and the kids got a little bored of sightseeing so they passed the time by trying to build their own card castles on the train (not an easy task on a moving train). The Golden Pass train car we were in had the air conditioning on max which was a little chilly for us but overall the trip was comfortable and went by quick.

Chillon Castle

The castle entrance fee was included in our Swiss Rail Pass which was a bonus. We walked on a bridge to the island tower and through the grand entrance. The self guided tour was easy to navigate as the suggested route through the castle was numbered from 1 to 43. We started down in the prison and death chamber and worked our way up through the courtyard, living areas, banquet halls, and castle tower. Each area was unique and some areas were as old as the 1200s. The rooms were enormous. It was amazing how large each room was. Near the end of the tour we went up to the top of a tower and had a great view down over Lake Geneva. You could even see France across the lake. You can see more information on their website at https://www.chillon.ch/en/.

After leaving the castle we caught Vevey, a large diesel boat that took us across the lake to Le Bouveret. Then we waited 10 minutes and caught to steam boat (La Suisse) back to Chillon and then past the castle to Montreux. From there we walked back to the train station and caught a train to Brig.

Brig and Naters

When we arrived in Brig we walked across the bridge to Naters. The oldest part of the city had houses dating back to the 1400s. Some houses were on stilts with a rock under the house. This was partly to keep the houses from flooding, but also to keep rodents from getting into the houses. The houses were also very close together and the streets were so narrow that barely one car could fit down them! Next we walked back across to Brig. We saw the flood line from Brig’s worst flood of the twentieth century which occurred in September 1993. We also viewed one of the two resulting flood control canals. We then caught the 4:34 scenic train through the mountain from Brig to Spiez. Along the way we passed a train ferry! The road ends on one side of the mountain and cars have to drive onto a train to take them to the other side! Also, when we got back to the other side of the mountain the weather was cloudy and cool… completely different from where we spent our day!

When we got home we had dinner and spent the evening relaxing. I can’t wait until tomorrow’s adventure. It looks like we will get to sleep in until 7:30.

This morning was a rainy day but we got to sleep in because we only had 2 activities planned. We got up at 7:30 and had our Frosties (Frosted Flakes). I added a granola mix and also had vanilla yogurt. It was delicious. By 8:32 we were out the door and ready for the following commute.

• 8:36 – 8:48 bus from Krattigen to Spiez
• 8:54 – 9:24 train from Spiez to Bern
• 9:34 – 10:13 train from Bern to Aarau
• 10:24 – 10:32 bus from Aarau to Buchs, Industrie

Chocolat Frey

The bus dropped us off outside the door of the chocolate factory. This was the one tour that I was looking forward to. As we walked in there was a huge heart made out of chocolate bars. There were hundreds of different types of chocolate for sale in the store that we walked through to get to the area where we signed up for our tour. We were each given a tablet and headphones. When everyone was ready we were led through some doors that took us to a self guided tour. We used the tablet to scan different screens and areas. Some areas activated TVs that looped through a segment. You could chime in at any point and listen to it until you heard the entire clip. They also had chocolate beans that we could taste. Raw chocolate beans are disgusting! We watched videos on how the cocoa beans are harvested and which parts are used to make different chocolate. I learned that white chocolate is made from the cocoa milk instead of the cocoa bean powder.

My favourite part of the tour though was downstairs. At the center of the room was a large conveyer belt that had a never ending supply of various chocolates. We were allowed to sample as much chocolate as we wanted. It was the best tour ever! They also had a dress up station where people could dress up as chocolates. Ayva and Ari had a lot of fun int hat area. In another corner they had a smelling station where you pump air into a vile to enhance the smell and guess the correct flavour. Another corner had a game where you stand in front of a screen and had a set amount of time to virtually collect as much chocolate as possible. It was very entertaining to watch people. In the last corner of the factory was an actual demo of a factory worker making chocolate. It was a great tour! We all felt a bit ill when we left but it was well worth it!

After leaving the chocolate factory we made our way back home.

• 12:20 – 12:33 bus from Industrie to Aarau
• 12:46 – 13:26 train from Aarau to Bern
• 13:34 – 14:02 train from Bern to Spiez
• 14:06 – 14:18 bus from Spiez to Krattigen

On the way home we spent most of the commute teaching Terris how to play Carcasonne and Ticket to Ride. We relaxed and played Ticket to Ride for a couple hours. Then we made an early spaghetti dinner. At 5:20 we went down to a glass shop just below Terris and Sandra’s and watched them shape glass. They were making glass leaves for a customer. The two men making the glass explained the process to us while they were working. It was crazy to see them wearing sandals while they worked! Apparently they work in the morning, then have to heat the ovens for another 7 hours to get them up to temperature and do another run in the evening.

Festungsverein Hondrich

We weren’t able to stay long to watch the glass blowers because Sandra’s sister and brother-in-law came to pick us up at 5:40 to take us to a bunker tour at 6:00pm. What an amazing tour! We spent 3 hours walking through an actual bunker that was built in 1935 and used in WW2 and the Cold War. We saw the entrances and how they were hidden. It is crazy to think that these bunkers are hidden in the mountains throughout Switzerland. The caves are just hallways dug out of the rock. In some areas they are covered in concrete, and others are raw calcium. It was pouring rain outside and the tunnels were also very damp and cold. The tour was in German only but Sandra and Terris translated for us and there were 4 other people on the tour who spoke English and also helped translate. Half way through the tour we went to the kitchen and watched a slideshow presentation on the Cold War. Ari sat right up front and a man visiting from Holland enjoyed translating and explaining everything to Ari. After we got to see the living corridors, weapons, and hidden viewpoints where they stood guard. The tour lasted 3 hours and although it was amazing, we were all cold and tired by the end.

We got home around 9:15 and now we are going to bed. Tomorrow will be another early morning.