Jan 1, 2013 - New Years Day

We attended the New Years Day celebrations at Interlaken, with entertainment, food stalls and fireworks. A happy atmosphere and impressive fireworks. Found a nice wine bar to while away an hour or so, and indulged in one of the street markets huge sausages, before catching the free bus back to the hotel.

Nov 10, 2012 - Tourist in Interlaken

This train is how I remember the BLS old locos and coaches. The loco is now some48 years old and still going strong. Switzerland has always had a problem with graffiti Easing out of the alley to join the mainline at Spiez, before branching off again round Lake Thunersee to Interlaken. This must be the most commercial town for tourists in Switzerland, and they come here for one reason the breathtaking Eiger and Jungfrau. It's tourists heaven and you can but every Swiss from tacky cuckoo clocks, chocolates and top of the range watches. All...

Nov 7, 2012 - Cold Bern

It's cold here in Bern, as I expected it to be, it's a great city and still retains its covered shops and streets built 100 years ago. A nice Weiss Beer at the former tram depot next to the bear gardens, and a walk back. There is a light show at Bundesplatz, on a old building, it's brilliant, and I gasped when My beloved Anthony was heard singing, that just made it more special. So a long day but an exciting, yet relaxed. Tomorrow well lets see where that takes us.

Oct 24, 2012 - Interlaken, Switzerland

Today we are off by train from Lucerne to Interlake part way there we had to change to a bus due to work on the tracks, so this give us a little different view of the roads and mountains, as the trains go through lots tunnels so not a great a view. The leaves are changing colors so it is very nice,lots of reds, yellows and orange, but since we are in the valley by the lakes we have lots of fog with the water being warmer then the mountain air. We get checked in to our B & B will be here for the next 3 nights, a bit of lunch and off for the...

Oct 8, 2012 - Wetter wetter in SwissLand - BUNgEE

And I'm UP and feeling rather groggie. And it's drizzling outside, uh again. I head down for the Same ole breakfast at 930am. Yeah, I'm on the fence on doing the canyoning today. Rather drained and it's a 6hour activity. I'm thinking it's cancelled due to the rain again. Well, I don't check the front desk and around 10am, guy comes thru barking, Canyonering or Canyoning. Can't remember the proper word. I'm like, oh well. I need some endurance / energy for this and today I don't have it. It's not the safest of all activities either. So, I...

Oct 7, 2012 - Rain Cometh to Interlaken - Harder Kulm Trek

And it's pouring down Rain when I awake around 9am. I head to grab my daily breakfast. No hard boiled eggs this time. What Tha heck?! I was given a bowl of cornflakes, 2slices of bread, jelly of strawberry-ish color, a pat of butter and a small wedge of cheese. Instant coffee, hot tea and water-downed oJ. Oh well, it works. All the activities are cancelled. I wanted to do the canyoning perhaps mañana. So, free day of venturing out in the rain. Which I did. I decided to climb up to Harder Kulm. A good 2hour and 20min trek. So, I get all...

Oct 6, 2012 - Interlaken Baby!!!!!!! Wow, it's HG Time

All rights Folks. Up in the morning and Yippee Kai-A or something like that. After a 2hour train ride, I'm in Interlaken, SwissLand! Now, This is Switzerland people. After a 15min walk I'm checking into Balmers Herbage. Not sure what Herbage means, but the hostel looks super cool from the outside. Authentic Swiss action here. It's slightly cloudy with some sunshine here and there. Good Day most definitely. I can't get to my room until 3pm, BOO! Oh well, it's around noon so I'll plan some Swiss Activities and venture around a bit. I'm here...

Sep 28, 2012 - Up, up and away, or It’s a long way to the top….

28 Sept 2012 The day seemed dull when we awoke – but we are in the shadow of a mountain first thing. The sky above was blue, so a nice day was on the cards as per prediction. C barked all night, but came down for breakfast this morning – then back to bed. J went to the post office to dispatch a 5kg box home – that will make things a bit easier on the trains. Then some more water and lunches, and a treat for C – a banana!! C decided that another rest day was needed – and in addition, a trip up to high altitudes would not be wise. But J was...

Sep 27, 2012 - A quiet sort of day

27 Sept 2012 The day dawned fine and sunny. But C remained in bed – coughing like a fur seal. J went down for breakfast – the typical European type with bread, rolls, croissants, cheese, ham, boiled eggs etc. The person in charge spoke French – he was very friendly (the cheese was made by his family). I took a tray of tea and toast up to the room and C felt a bit better. She decided to stay in bed and sleep. So J went wandering – through the town, down past the casino and then across the canal and back. The sky was filled with brightly...

Sep 26, 2012 - Guess who wet herself in the train

26 Sept 2012 What a long day. Up at 5 - caught Hoppa bus at 6:15 to Terminal 5. No time for brekky (even though we had paid for it) Checked in and made our way via escalators, lifts, and a shuttle train to our departure gate. J was frisked at security! Then time for a coffee and danish. Plane a little late leaving due to the weather (rain and wind). Got to Frankfurt a little late. We immediately had an officious Immigration Control Officer - when asked if the baggage collection was after immigration - " see the black board behind me? No...

Aug 11, 2012 - Interlaken 1 - JUMP!!!

Things got taken to the next level today. This was a 48 hours like no other. It started back in Lucerne where we took a hair-raising car ride through huge valleys, by bright blue lakes and around tight curves in the road. After some incredible viewpoints along the road we arrived in Interlaken, as I mentioned: the insane person's paradise. There were hang-gliders, para-gliders, hot air balloons and fighter planes all soaring over head..with willing participants. As the last week or so was void of any true adrenaline rushes I decided to grab...

Jun 6, 2012 - Skydiving the Alps

Day 6 Had a great morning with my roommates from Hong Kong. Took a long walk along the river, taking pictures and checking out the town along the way. Then, went to the market to stock up on some food for the next few days (there is a kitchen at the hostel)... Found some great bread, bruschetta brie, salad......and of course, a nice selection of Swiss chocolate. Holy crap--- the market had an ENTIRE isle of chocolate bars. A whole isle! I would bring some home for everyone, but I don't think they will last the trip....oh darn, I will have...