The Technical Bits – how we blog

IB writes the blog and chooses the pictures. Then IG reads through, corrects IB's poor grammer and spelling and uses her editorial veto as she sees fit.

Blogger is a pretty crude tool and the ship's internet is very slow and unpredictable. We can write the text in Word and paste that into blogger, but the pictures need to be loaded into the text whilst on line. To lessen the time on line IB uses a program called Irfan View (thanks to Alan D) which can reduce the 4KB pictures down to a more manageable 2-500MB. Normally a days blog with 6 pictures takes from 10 minutes up to 20 minutes to post.

This is for ship internet which is paid for by the minute. In hotels , where internet is free, or using the dongle which is paid by data rather than time we can do it all on line with no need to copy and paste. Pictures can be loaded 'full fat' with no need to reduce them, saving the de gigging time. At Zermat I am sure we had optical internet that was lightening fast and blogging only took as long as it took to type and choose the photos: they uploaded in seconds!

Schynige Platte and Interlaken

Another clear and warm day: shorts weather as we are not going too high today.

We had decided to have an easy day and just go up the steep narrow gauge railway to Schynige Platte. The bus timetable has large gaps so it was quicker to walk to Ost than ride. Then just one stop Wilderswil where we bought our half price tickets for the ride up to the top.

As we climbed on the 52 minute journey we had views of Interlaken and then the lakes either side of the town.

As we neared to top we had views over to the mountains of the Eiger, The Monch and The Jungfrau.

We got off the train and had a stroll around the viewing areas but decided to do the 25 minute walk up to Daube where we had views back over Interlaken and the two lakes, Brienzersee and Thunersee, and even better views of the mountains.

 It was a steep and rocky path, and at 6500 feet energy sapping.

 We made it and the views were worth the effort. Back down through the Alpine garden to the station. The garden was a bit past its prime with very few blooms this late in the year but it was very neatly presented.

Ate our rolls which we had bought and made ourselves after breakfast (why do we only get our act together at the end of a holiday). They were the best rolls we had eaten all holiday as they had no added yuck: just ham and butter!

Much emptier train down the mountain so we could swop sides to see the views much easier. Looked back at one stage and saw the Lady Guard hanging off the side of the back carriage.

Then she jumped off to change the points at the passing place.

Back to Wilderswil to see our connecting train back to Interlaken pull out of the station.

Normally the Swiss railways have brilliantly timed connection: not here as a wait of 29 minutes is timetabled.

Decide to spend what is left of the afternoon browsing the shops in Interlaken and buy some chocolate. The smell is divine in the speciality shops but the same stuff is much cheaper in the supermarkets. so we got the smells in one shop and bought in the supermarkets!

Short siesta before dinner and the packing!

Jungfraujoch

It was a fairly easy decision to do the Jungfraujoch today, given the cloudless sky and good forecast.

So off again to Interlaken Ost station by bus where we get it right and buy our lunch. Although we have Swiss Rail passes we have to pay extra (131 Swiss Francs each - about £100) to travel up the Jungfrau!

So we catch the train to Lauterbrunnen and then on through Wengen (where the Swiss pass ceases to be valid and on up to Kleine Scheidegg. The weather is perfect and we have great views of Murren

back to Lauterbrunnen

Waterfall at Lauterbrunnen

 

and the mountains

 

Schilthorn

 

 

We change trains again at Kleine Scheidegg for the mainly underground trip up to Jungfraujoch. This tunnel is now over 100 years old and an amazing engineering feat.
There are viewing windows on the way with views over the Grindelwald valley

and towards the Eiger.

Viewing window

 

Jungfraujoch Train in tunnel



After two and a half hours travelling we reach the Jungfraujoch at a height of 11,333 feet. It is -4C but in the sun it is not too cold! There is a lot to do and see and we spend one and a half hours mainly just enjoying the views. The views of the Jungfrau (13642 feet), Monch (13475 feet) and Eiger (13026 feet)  are superb, but as we were nearly as high as these peaks they somehow lost some of their grandeur. We walk on the snow field and go up by high speed lift to the Sphinx Terrace viewing platform.



James with his posh Nikon camera and hoody in front of the Jungfrau

 



 Jungfrau

 

Viewing platform

 

 



So back by underground train, but we decide to walk the last descent from Eigergletscher (7612 feet) to Kleine Scheidegg ((6762 feet). This was the best bit of the day and we really enjoyed the 40 minute walk with what were the best views of the day.

Jungfrau

 

IB loved this bench looking towards the Eiger, in a pool to cool off your feet. As it was -4C at the top it was not open sandal weather at the top, but it was on the walk down!

 

Kleine Scheidegg

We had already decided to go back from Kleine Scheidegg  via Grindelwald and the train ride down was again excellent and the track was very steep all the way with views of the Eiger.

Kleine Scheidegg

So back the same way as yesterday to Interlaken and a very good meal in one of the hotel restaurants.

 

 

A nice walk after dinner to see the sun set on the Junfrau

and back along the river joining the lakes either side of Interlaken.

 

We had a busy day: a relaxing day needed tomorrow for our last full day in Switzerland: forecast is for another warm sunny day!

Trummelbach Falls, Murren and Grindelwald

After a cooked breakfast, well scrambled egg and bacon (did not fancy the German sausage) we decided to go to the underground waterfalls at Trummelbach . The weather was a little disappointing with low cloud and we hoped it might clear later.

So off by bus to Interlaken Ost station to catch the train for a short ride to Lauterbrunnen and then catch a bus to the falls at Trummelbach.

These are underground falls which have cut a deep gorge through the hill side. To get to the top of the falls there is a steeply angled underground lift.

As we arrived at the top we all thought we had to get off the lift up the small ladder at the front on the left!

We were relieved that there was a large door at the back with a wide gangway!

The falls were truly impressive ,but very difficult to capture their power and volume of water by camera. They were well worth the visit.

After a good look around the falls, we decided to walk along the river Lutschine to Stechelberg

While walking we spotted this paraglider. We then got talking to a guy waiting at the cable car and he told us he was a paraglider and I showed him the photo. He said it was him and that he was in a speed competition. I asked him what were his chances and he told us he was world champion: we believed him!

 and get the two stage cable car up to the ski resort of Murren. This was not really a brilliant idea as the low cloud had still not cleared and Murren was just about in the clouds. We got to Murren and it was closed: well at least the Co Op was!

Co Op: closed for lunch - so we could not get OUR lunch!

 

Managed to find a bakers with some ham rolls  but wished we had not. they were pretty horrible. We ate them in the warm waiting room for the train

 to the cable car back to Lauterbrunnen.

We had just missed the train by seconds!  Message to IG and IB: get your lunch before setting out in the morning! So caught the next rain after 29 minutes to find this was the only train/cable car not to meet a train at Lauterbrunnen, so one minute cost us an hour.

Lauterbrunnen Station

 

Train to Interlaken from Lauterbrunnen

 

 

A little fed up after a rubbish lunch, missing the train and not really enjoying Murren, probably due to the cold dank weather, we decided to go up to Grindelwald,

This turn out to be a master stroke. As we travelled up the valley to Grinelwald the low cloud cleared and the sun shone. Grindelwald is in the shadow of the North face of the Eiger.

The town is bustling and picturesque with mountains all around. In the sun it looked fantastic.

 The views of the Eiger and surrounding mountains was breathtaking!

The Eiger

We really enjoyed this end to our day out and we returned to Interlaken tired but very happy.

So time for a cup of tea and coffee before an excellent dinner

followed by a stroll around Interlaken in the cool dry evening,