Beautiful Berne!

*THIS WAS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE DAYS! Unfortunately the original post disappeared and this recreate doesn't do our time in Berne, with Jane and family justice.
Good Morning Berne! Quick walk to COOP Market for Jana & Sydney to get breakfast; croissants, yogurt, fruit...Back to the Common Room at "The Glocke", which had a surprisingly great kitchen, comfy couches & nice tables for meals. Next up, meeting Jane for a day of touring Berne.
View from our room...




Jane on her cool electric bike she commutes to/from work on!




Touring town on bikes, our new fave, especially because they loan for free in Berne, just have to leave a deposit. Here we are in front of the Parliament Building, their White House. Can you believe you can just ride right up to it, no guards, nada!




Jana could not get over these "underground" stores. Behind the cellar like doors are shops, cafes, small theatres.




Just visited the town bears for which the city is named after, Berne. The city was named after the first animal that was spotted by funders. We are across the city, overlooking the Aare River, where we're headed next to float!




One of Jane's daughters Kim joined us for a lovely morning and to be our "float leader". She's delightful and had cool floaties too. Even locals use them as the current in the Aare are strong.




So fun, let's do it again and again and again!




We spent most of the day lounging riverside and before we knew it hundreds of others had filled in around us some on holiday, others taking their lunch break and even a quick float before going back to work.




This pool is next to the river and the grass area was where we sat and relaxed for hours. There's also a lap pool and it's all FREE! The Parliament Building is in the distance.




An afternoon gelato before our goodbyes. It was nice to have Jacob, Jane's husband join us for part of the day. On his day off no less as Thursdays, doctors have the day off.




Loving filling up for free with fresh cold water! Note, despite Jana telling Syd repeatedly, filling up was o.k. Jane finally convinced her.




Tired and weary after Easy Jet flight from Basal, Switzerland to Gatwick Airport in London, England. At about 11:00pm....




Just after midnight and still figuring out trains to get to our hotel...




SAME BUT DIFFERENT
LOVE the Swiss bike locks. So easy to use and no fuss with combos or the darn coils smacking you in the face.




Saw these recycling receptacles a few places in town. Each one for different types of rash.




FPOD:
Shelby: Floating in the river and riding bikes
Sydney: Floating in the river!
Jana: Jane & Kim as tour guides, biking in Berne & relaxing @ the park
Scott: River float and riding bikes
EDITOR'S NOTE
Today was one of our longest travel days to date and we all felt the effects.
Within minutes of boarding the train in Berne, headed for Basal, there were tears, threats, a dramatic storming off and much of the remainder of the ride was in silence. Hopefully a good nights sleep will do us all some good.

Location:Berne, Switzerland

Let's Hike to That!!!

Seeing the top of Europe yesterday, we got the itch to do a hike to the top of Schilthorn. There is a 360 restaurant and viewing area where on a clear day you can see France and the Black Forest in Germany, along with the three peaks in the Swiss Alps. A James Bond movie and ski scene were filmed on Schilthorn. A little trampoline warmup in the back of the pension, as our goal is to make the peak behind Shelby called the Birg.





Sometimes, actually many times, I push the girls to their limits, as this was definitely one of those days. It will also be a hike to remember.







Having limited time to due the hike, as the train was leaving at 1:00, we decided to hike up the steep part head on. It was suppose to be a 2-3 hour hike to Birg and another hour to Schilthorn. Goal was to make it to the lake, so Sydney could swim.




Not sure of the total elevation we climbed, around 3,000 feet, and a true family effort to make it to the lake in two and a half hours. Absolutely amazing view and greenery to the lake. Sydney was boycotting going up the steep trail, so decided to climb up the creek rocks instead, as she is at peace with water.




Trudged through snow, rocks, meadows to make our goal of reaching the lake! Sydney jumped in and got her swim workout in with a couple of breastbone sets in 50 something degree ice water.









Running short on time, no Schilthorn this time, but determined at some point to come back and conquer. Brig provided a gondola down to the valley where we started our ascent. Although pictures might not do it justice, it was steep and glorious. Top of Birg with our tiny pension below.








Off to the train station, as it was another spectacular train passing by Lake Thun on our way to Berne. As our train approached the platform, it was a welcome sight to see Jane waiting for us as our welcoming party.





We have made it on our own for this part of the trip, but must say it was wonderful to have a local friend provide us a great dinner, history and politics of Switzerland. Very appreciative as they took us in and directed us to the hotel.




A long day, but also a proud moment to make it through such a difficult hike.


- Posted using BlogPress

Location:Blumenthal, Switzlerland

The Top of Europe!

Sometimes on a vacation or trip, the family has to rally up and early to see the best things in the world. Today was one of those days, despite the need and wanting to sleep in. So our day began at 7:00am sharp to experience the 100 year anniversary of the making of the Jungfrau express.
Cog, train, funicular, train up to Wengen then to Klaise ???.

At the base station we load a train built 100 years ago that climbs to the top lookout in between Monch and Jungfrau. Two thirds of the train ride is a tunnel that carves through the face of the Eiger, where it stops to view the valley below via window in the tunnel. On up through glacier on the Monch and end up at the observation lookout on the back side of the Monch and Jungfrau. Unload out the tunnel to daylight, sun, on top of Europe, 11,350 feet. Needless to say, the Swiss are the best in the world in their various forms of transportation.

Views included the longest, highest glacier in Europe. Absolute stunning views of the Alps and the valley below. Hikes on the glacier and up to Monch via snow.











Everyone enjoyed the ice caves that included caves and sculptures of ice. Glorious photos on the snow and with the Swiss flag and mountains. The one negative side is that it was somewhat crowded even arriving on the first train, as there were abundance of Asian tour groups. Three and a half hours later back down the valley, brief stop in Lauterbrunnen to see a waterfall.




Jana has, in her hand, the observation deck where the previous picture was taken.




What is a Swiss trip without fondue? We walked down to Murren and gorged on cheese and various meats. Needless to say, Shelby and Dad loved the cheese fondue, while Sydney and Mom enjoyed the chicken, pork, and beef fondue. A wonderful Swiss meal and then a twenty minute walk straight UP to the pension. Murren only has a couple of cars in the city, so lots of walking. Perfect for digesting late dinners.




*When we were done with our fondue the waiter asked if we wanted to eat the broth. Apparently that's how they do it here; mix the left over bouillon with sherry and eat it up. Very yummy!

A full day to the top of the Europe and a great meal also our first successful travel tripod picture and one not so successful but it made for a good laugh!







FPOD
Shelby: All of it but especially fondue, walk home with Mommy and all of our time at Jungfrau.
Sydney: Ice cave and meat fondue.
Jana: Walk to town for fondue.
Scott: Top of Europe, Jungfrau, cheese fondue.
- Posted using BlogPress

The Hills Are Alive with the sound of cow bells!

Blumenthal, Switzerland - Pension Sonnenberg

Waking to the sound of cow bells, a hundred or so in the hills above ain't all bad. Neither is this view from our window. We have to keep reminding ourselves it's real and not a screensaver!

Traditional Swiss breakfast with muesli, yogurt, bread and preserves and then off on a leisurely hike. Up and over the beautiful hills for panoramic views of Murren and Lauterbrunnen Valley. All the while The Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau Mountains calling to us for a visit. They will have to wait until tomorrow. Today was about fresh cheese and leisurely strolls! It's a vacation after all!

Pension Sonnenberg - our room is on the far right.


Just above our pension











This one's for you April!


After a snack of fresh cheese, salamis and vanilla milkshake at the house below, Scott and Sydney walked back the way we came documenting all the different gates we'd encountered.....Over 14 different styles of gates, latches, levers, etc.






Cheese presses


Shelby and Jana took the low road back to Murren and then the Cog up to Blumenthal. Everything is so well marked with estimated times to get where you're going.



Jana & Shelby walking on the low road





The afternoon found Scott & Jana wanting to explore the lower valley on bikes. It was clear all Fortunes were not enthusiastic about said plan so the girls stayed at the Pension while Jana and Scott went their separate ways; Scott to Interlaken for biz while Jana grocery shopped in Murren.

Jana loved her outing to the COOP (You say COOP we say CO OP) Grocery Store. So fun to compare products, see new things, etc. The store was so efficient; you print your own labels for produce, bag your own and at check out and the cashier directs where your groceries so as you are bagging, the next customer can be rung up.






A beautiful dusk on the patio reading while the girls whittled and played their version of the Hunger Games - "The Swiss Games". Fortunately they both came back alive for dinner!





FPOD
Shelby: Hike for fresh cheese, reenacting Hunger Games and walking with Mom.
Sydney: Waking up to a beautiful view, reenactment of Hunger Games & reading on my Kindle on the trampoline with the cows all around.
Jana: Walking time with each of the girls, grocery shopping & reading on the patio.
Scott: Hike to cheese house, lunch on the patio with Jungfrau & Monch in the background.

Location:Bir Mittleren Tili,Lauterbrunnen,Switzerland