Winderswil Switzerland
It is crazy getting 8 people ready and out the door. Anytime we have a major move it is a challenge with all the luggage and such.
Trying to get everyone on the Metro
Karen is great at getting everyone going along with being an entertainer for the kids.
Waiting for the Metro with all the luggage.
It has been fun to watch Ryan. He is such a good father to his kids. He has also been our tour guide and essential to getting us to where we need to go.
Finally on the train to Switzerland
We have a 3 hour trip to Mulhous France and 20 minute ride then 3 more hours to Interlaken Switzerland
It didn't feel too much like a Sunday today. All of our other stops we were able to attend church. Today with an early train ride we could not squeeze in church. Instead Karen had a 'Come Follow Me' discussion with Gracie and Hudson. Even at their young age they have a pretty good grasp on the gospel.
Arrival in Winderswil Switzerland
We are staying in a little village just outside of Interlaken.
It has been over 20 years since we have been to Switzerland. In 2001, just before the Twin Towers, we went to Europe to visit and tour around with Becky when she was doing a work abroad program. That time we rented a car so it was a little different (Also it is just Karen and I , well Becky and her friend part of the time and not 4 kids.)
I love Switzerland!
Lunch on the train
Catching a train to Winderswil
These portable toilets cracked me up with the 'International Distress Symbol"
Looking at our window and the neighborhood where we are staying.
Our apartment
It has 5 levels - entry, living, main bedrooms, loft and higher loft.
A cool house that was a boarding school.
Woolly Sheep
The sheep even have bells on them.
A few of one of the lakes at Interlaken
A day in Grindelwald and top of Interlaken
There are quite a few little villages around Interlaken. We spent most of the day at Grindelwald, where they have a gondola that takes you up to the top of the mountain (and ski area) for a variety of outdoor adventures.
Our house in Winderswil
Who would name their garage rotten egg?
You take the tram high into the Alps
Grindelwald First cliff hike is a scary catwalk high in the mountains
They also offer Trail Carts you could ride down the mountain.
Hudson was excited when he find out he was tall enough to ride down.
The ride down was crazy fun
Fun seeing cows with big bells along the trail cart path.
While we were waiting for the trail carts we had a little lunch
Right next to us people were taking off on Para-gliders
It was amazing looking down on the little village.
Karen hangs out with a cup of hot cocoa
There was a little park for everyone to play at.
Afterwards we went to a grocery store and bought some sandwiches for dinner.
Ryan told his kids they could buy some pop if they stayed under $2, Of course they found the biggest possible bottle of pop. (which did create problems later finding a WC)
They have a funicular that takes you up to the top of the mountain overlooking Interlaken and the two lakes on each side.
On top there is a restraunt top that had a trio playing Swiss (polka type) music
Bryson really liked the music.
One of the ladies in the band made friends with Bryson
It seemed like we had our own concert . Bryson was their top fan.
The overlook was pretty amazing
We ended the day missing one train and Ryan and Bryson were off looking for a WC and almost missed the 2nd one. Ryan came back so quickly they didn't have time to wipe Bryson's butt. We all had a great laugh.
Day Trip - Wengen & Mannlichen Ski Area
Hike to Kleine Sheidegg
Then Tram Hopping -
Eigergletsher to Lauterbrunnen
Big Hike Day -
I took a picture of a map inside a train we were on and one off a place-mat, so they are hard to see. It is a little hard to see but the entire Interlaken area all the villages and mountain tops are linked by trains, trams, funiculars, and gondolas of all sizes.
We took a train from out place to Wengen and caught a gondola up to the Mannlichen Ski Area.
Taking the tram from Wengen up to our hike trail head on the top of the mountain - Mannlichen
Before we start our regular hike we do a warm up and hike up the Royal Walk - basically a hike up to the very top of the mountain with a look out that is shaped like a king crown .
I will put in some more pictures from Karen's camera at a later time for the Royal Walk . It was up to the top of that peak on the very top.
Kind of looks like a King's Crown.
They had a little bowling alley.
The funniest cow slide
The hike was about 4-5 KM with mostly a gradual descent
Views along the way
An apple break
About half way through the hike it started raining
Bryson made it all the way.
The hike ended at the Kleine Sheidegg station where we caught a funicular type train down to the Eiger gondola.
We all felt pretty proud of ourselves (even Bryson and Grandpa ) for completing the whole trip.
The tram took us down to the Eigergletsher - gondola going up to the top of the Eiger Mountain
At the base we bought some food and had a lunch of brown bread, local cheese, pepperoni and some chip. We saved our dessert of rhubarb pie for later.
The view we had eating lunch was incredible looking on the Eiger Mountain
The great part was that we had one car all to ourselves.
Views looking out on the way up.
On top
We could have taken the gondola back to Grindelwald but instead decided to take another train to Lauterbrunnen
It is crazy how all these towns and ski areas and lookout peaks are all connected by all sorts of trams, gondolas, funiculars and trains.
Lauterbrunnen
The little town of Lauterbrunnen is such a quaint little town that is situated between two shear walls of rock. One side has waterfall coming down. The town has a cute little church.
Boat Ride around lake at Interlaken and visit Schloss Oberhoffen Castle
We had a fun time in the boat seeing all the beautiful little villages that surround one of the lakes at Interlaken. It was also fun looking up at some of the places we took funiculars to and looked down on the lake.
Beautiful Views of little villages
.
This is the mountain we took a funicular up to a look out and Bryson got to play the accordion
We stopped for lunch in Oberhoffen where there was a castle we went through
Inside they had most of the rooms decorated.
They even had some interactive things going on
Hudson and Gracie with the interactive kitchen maid
The boys with the maid coming down the stairs.
Even finding out where the Ghost hung out
Hudson finding the secret passage way
Dressing up
They even had their own chapel
Even a smoking room
We ended the day with a nice Fondue , Schnitzel, and Roti Cheese dinner celebrating Ryan & Monica birthdays.