Category: 2019 – Europe

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.

We anticipated a rainy day so we decided to visit the falls and a castle. In order to fit in these activities we had to get an early start. Traveling by train is a lot of fun but has to be carefully timed in order to catch the correct connections. In order to get to the falls at a decent time we had to but up at 6:00am so we get eat and be ready to leave the house by 7:04. Our itinerary was as follows:

• 7:06 – 7:18 Krattigen, Dorf to Spiez, Bahnhof
• 7:25 – 8:58 Spiez to Zurich
• 9:07 – 9:57 Zurich to Neuhausen Rheinfall

Neuhausen Rheinfall

The train went through 2 stops in Germany before it dropped us off back in Switzerland in front of Neuhausen Reinfall. Words cannot explain how beautiful the scenery was. The falls themselves were breathtaking. There was are also an island in the middle where people were able to take a boat tour and get off. We walked down one side of the falls to the tourist area where they had restaurants and stores with souvenirs. There was a bridge to the restaurant and underneath were hundreds of fish swimming against the current. We then walked past the town toward a bridge and then walked along the other side of the river back to the falls. We then climbed up a long flight of stairs to a castle on the riverside. Every angle of that walk was unbelievable. We then walked along the train bridge back to the train station so we did a complete circle around the falls. Next we caught a train to Schaffhausen and then a bus to the old fortress.

Schaffhausen

Schaffhausen is an old town on the river that dates back to 1045. The Munot Fortress was completed in 1377 when it was inhabited by guards who brought law and order to the old town below. This fortress has 171 bay windows and a spectacular view of the river, valley, and town below. As we entered the bridge to the fortress there were deer grazing in the grounds below. Then we walked into a huge round, dark gravel area where the majority of light comes from natural skylights high above the ground. There were several peak holes but the real experience came as walked up a winding cobble stone path up to the top of the fortress. Upon reaching the roof there were hundreds of benches and tables where tourists could sit, eat, and possible watch a live show. The views were stunning and we stood around for a bit just taking in the view. It is incredible to think of the history behind this structure.

When we left the castle we walking down the winding path to the bottom, then we continued further down the main path which led to stairs that went down further and further until we found ourselves past houses and buildings until we were in the middle of the old town. We walked back toward the train station. It kind of reminded me of old town Montreal. The streets were cobble stone and the buildings all had character. There were lots of flowers on patios and the buildings looked so rustic but well kept and clean. I can’t get over how clean Switzerland is! Before catching our train back, we stopped at a grocery store to pick up a bag of grapes for 1.90! We also picked up a few snacks and sandwiches to eat on the train back to Zurich.

Zurich

We caught the 2:14pm train back to Zurich. I have decided that trains are the only way to travel! These double decker trains have comfortable seats and it is so quiet and fast that you don’t even know that you are traveling directly to the next city. The tunnels are a bit difficult to get used to because the air pressure changes and your ears pop every time.

When we arrived in Zurich it was quite crowded. We immediately left the train station and walked through the old town. We saw huge churches and gardens. We walked to the river and sat along the boardwalk. Several swans came by looking for food. I never realized how large they were before. After a little rest we walked along the river to a park that had a great view of the city. Then we walked back toward the train station and we each ordered dinner from various shops. Sandra also spoiled us with some extremely tasty and expensive chocolate. YUM!!!

While we were eating Ari had to use a toilet. Unfortunately we were in the worst place. We scrounged up 1 swiss franc and Sandra and I took Ari to find restroom. Apparently the only place around had increased in price and there was now a 1.50SF charge to use a urinal and 2.00SF to use a toilet. Luckily I remembered that I had Mom’s emergency money belt and we had to break 20 francs so Ari could go pee in a urinal. Ari says “Thank you so much Grandma, I will pay you back!”

Around 7:15pm we boarded our train back to Spiez. There we saw our first rain of the day but luckily we got off the train and boarded the bus immediately without getting a drop of rain on us. Two minutes later our bus left for Krattigen. Apparently it rained all all day here so we went in the right direction today for sure.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the worst day for rain so we are planning to do a chocolate factory tour and a bunker tour.

Tavis woke up 5:30 and read for 75 minutes before going to the house. Then Tavis and Sandra enjoyed their coffee and came up with an itinerary for the next 10 days while the rest of us slept.

At 8:00, Ari and I went to the house and at 8:30 we had breakfast on the balcony. We had hard boiled eggs, bread and cheeses for breakfast. Then we packed our bathing suits and towels incase we ended up at the lake.

Niesenbahn

We caught the bus at 9:36 to Spiez then transferred to the train that took us to the base of Niesen mountain. There we took the Niesenbahn (cable train) up to the peak. The view was amazing! The cable car reminded us so much of rides at Disneyland. The cart has been running for over 100 years! You go through tunnels and half way up you switch trains and catch the next one to the top. The other interesting thing about the track is that it is a single track except a short spot in the middle where the 2 carts pass each other. The pictures just don’t do it justice. Then when we got to the top the view was breathtaking. We walked around the peak, then past a restaurant and over to another peak on a think trail. We walked through gates to keep the cattle out because the cattle just roam around all summer up in the mountains. We could hear the bells as they walked around. The bells are used so the famers can find their cattle.

Lake Thun (tune)

Just after lunch we decided to go back to Krattigen to eat. We picked up some fresh bread and a few groceries and made some sandwiches, Then we put on our bathing suits and walked down to the lake. It was a 15 minute walk down a steep gully to the water. The public beach was a grassy hill with a metal structure in the water with a diving board. The kids were jumping off the diving board before we even had our towels down! It was a gorgeous day and we all enjoyed cooling off in the crystal clear lake. We spent 2 hours relaxing and enjoying the sun and water.

After we had enough of the lake we walked back up the hill to the house and had burgers for dinner. We then spent the rest of the evening working on our plans for tomorrow.

This morning I woke up at 7:00am, showered, and got ready for the voyage ahead. Tavis and I went down for breakfast at 7:30. At 8:00 we woke up the kids and brought them down for their last breakfast in Germany. When they finished eating we decided to take a tram to central station to see if we could find a fridge magnet and we were in luck. Before long we found ourselves back at the hotel retrieving our bags and checking out. Then we made our way to the bus station. We arrived at 11:25 and our bus wasn’t scheduled to leave until 11:03. We were pleasantly surprised when our bus finally pulled up. It looked very impressive. We were even more surprised when we discovered that our seats were the entire top front row! We were sad to leave Munich but excited to see Terris and Sandra in Switzerland.

The bus ride was really interesting. Everything here looks so different in some ways but in other ways it is just the same. The trees, grasses, and construction along the road are very similar to at home. Tavis learned that you do NOT take photos at the border. The bus driver came up and talked to Tavis but it took a bit before another passenger told us. Luckily it was just a warning.

When we arrived in Zurich, Terris and Sandra were waiting for us. We then walked to the huge train station and bought our train passes. From there we made our way to a double decker train. Sandra directed us to the lunch car where there was a huge table for all 7 of us to sit at. The train ride was just over an hour through Bern and Thun to Spiez. Then we picked up some freshly baked bread and took the bus to Krattigen where Terris and Sandra live.

When we arrived, the first thing I noticed is that all houses look like chalets. It feels like we are up Mt. Washington in the summer. The apartment is large and spacious but only has 1 bathroom so we rented the neighbour’s studio aswell. We had potato salad and hot dogs for dinner. Then Addison and Ayva slept in the spare bedroom while Ari slept in the studio with Tavis and I. We were all quite tired so we went to bed quite early.