UFTA. I’m pooped. We just got back from our 10 mile hike up to the top of Faulhorn and all I can say is that I was definitely NOT a mountain goat in a past life. More on that later…
On Sunday in Zurich, we all caught the train, where we were met by Rosanna’s husband and son, who drove us (all 7) to the senior apartment where we had meeting. Meeting was lovely, hymns in German, but testimonies in both German and English. Rosanna translated and passed us the notes. My friend, Sara VanNordwick from WA, was there! She’s studying abroad this semester. Rosanna also said that she used to live with mom’s uncle Eldon and Aunt Carolyn when she was younger. It’s a small world after all…
After meeting we ran (yes, actually ran) to catch the train to Bern. We took an ideal guide book tour of the capital, climbing up the million steps to one of the tallest churches for an amazing view. We had gelato and beverages at a cafe under a tree, walked along the rushing turquoise river, saw the city bears (I don’t know why they have bears in a pit in the middle of the city), walked through the botanical garden, went to the Alpine museum, ate dinner in an outside cafe and then caught the train to Interlaken.
Interlaken is what you might expect if you can deduce anything from the name. It is a town located in between two lakes. It’s beautiful. The mountains are HUGE and just jump out from the valley floor. Our first hosteling experience has been pleasant. We’re in a 7 person room with views of the mountains.
Today we went on a short little “walk.” We rode a 100+ year old wooden train up to the ridgeline of the mountains. It was more like a roller coaster, as it was often at over a 30 degree angle. The 10 mile + hike was beautiful but exhausting. Shane tried his hand at “foot glissading” down the snow as a shortcut. He declared success. Our goal was to climb to the top of Faulhorn, a popular destination, containing the oldest and highest mountain hotel in the Alps (2681 m). We were all glad to see the gondola at the end of the day.
We got cleaned up, did a load of laundry in the sink and enjoyed a Swiss dinner (mine was Roede… grated potatoes with cheese, onions and bacon) and are now looking forward to an intense night of much needed sleep.
Next up: Rest day in Eiger, Jungfrau (“the top of Europe” as all the brochures claim) and others via train and gondola.
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