Rise and shine early in Interlaken for a full day of Swiss exploration. We know nothing about Switzerland but we know that we like it, and that's enough for us. As wise travel savy (psh) Kelly had guessed last night during our pitch dark arrival, the mountains were indeed all around us...and huge for that matter! Staring up at them, some snow covered and rocky, some coated with lush green trees, we were amazed at a little building that sat on top of one of the mountains. Who the heck would build that, and who the heck would ever go up there?!
With the guiadnace of our super awesome hostel staff (Balmers Herbage is awesome!) we headed off to do some hiking. We were warned that it was a pretty hard hike and we would be very happy to get to the top. After Cinque Terre we were pretty certain we were the hiking masters...before we got schooled by a Swiss mountain. This hike was 3 hours straight up with rocky, tree stump floored trails. The views were UNBELIEVABLE! The city of Interlaken lies between 2 lakes which are both literally aqua blue. A picture can't capture this color but it looks like the most amazing bright gem in a piece of jewelry. Tree blanketed mountains are next to snow covered ones going up into clouds so thick they look like billows of white smoke. Switzerland is so crisp with insane natural beauty. About half way up we got to a tiny house surrounded by cows grazing while the noise of their huge cow bells chimed into the surrounding silence. This made us miss our pet cowgoats in CR, which seems worlds away from this mountain. As we climbed up we hit rain, super hot patches, freezing areas, and cool breezes. Mountain climates are a mystery to us but walking in and out of rain storms made Switzerland even stranger to us. We finally got to the top!!! And looked out and realized we were in the tiny building we had spotted on top of the mountain earlier that day. If we had known our destination there is no way we would have attempted this crazy hike! We enjoyed the view from the top and the satisfaction of our day before starting our long decent to the bottom. As wel walked down we met young American siblings enjoying time off work together in Switzerland and then Spain, reassurance that once we woman up and get real jobs vacations still exist! We deserved a legit siesta once we got home, after which Kel booked a flight for the final leg of her journey home. We haven't really processed going home yet but we know it's going to be strange and different.
After a failed hunt for an open grocery store we settled for nutella sandwiches for dinner and sat down in the cozy movie room to watch Calendar Girls, a feel good flick about old fogies who make a nudie calendar for charity. Good to know there is much fun to be had in the saggy tit era of our lives. We talked to a really nice interesting Australian couple who had to be in there mid 60's. Our conversation turned to politics and recessions - apparently Australia's prior prime minister saved them from recession. Maybe we need to move there and job hunt instead?
In addition to our cheerful friendly interesting Australians we met a Canadian traveler who taught us a valuable lesson. Do NOT become people who talk incessently about travel and backpacking as if we have seen/done/know it all. It is not only obnoxious but puts a nasty damper on the glorious free childlike feeling of travel. If we knew it all, we wouldn't have gone on this trip. Much like our knowledge of Switzerland, we know pretty much nothing about this life we are living, but we know we like it and that's enough for us.
With the guiadnace of our super awesome hostel staff (Balmers Herbage is awesome!) we headed off to do some hiking. We were warned that it was a pretty hard hike and we would be very happy to get to the top. After Cinque Terre we were pretty certain we were the hiking masters...before we got schooled by a Swiss mountain. This hike was 3 hours straight up with rocky, tree stump floored trails. The views were UNBELIEVABLE! The city of Interlaken lies between 2 lakes which are both literally aqua blue. A picture can't capture this color but it looks like the most amazing bright gem in a piece of jewelry. Tree blanketed mountains are next to snow covered ones going up into clouds so thick they look like billows of white smoke. Switzerland is so crisp with insane natural beauty. About half way up we got to a tiny house surrounded by cows grazing while the noise of their huge cow bells chimed into the surrounding silence. This made us miss our pet cowgoats in CR, which seems worlds away from this mountain. As we climbed up we hit rain, super hot patches, freezing areas, and cool breezes. Mountain climates are a mystery to us but walking in and out of rain storms made Switzerland even stranger to us. We finally got to the top!!! And looked out and realized we were in the tiny building we had spotted on top of the mountain earlier that day. If we had known our destination there is no way we would have attempted this crazy hike! We enjoyed the view from the top and the satisfaction of our day before starting our long decent to the bottom. As wel walked down we met young American siblings enjoying time off work together in Switzerland and then Spain, reassurance that once we woman up and get real jobs vacations still exist! We deserved a legit siesta once we got home, after which Kel booked a flight for the final leg of her journey home. We haven't really processed going home yet but we know it's going to be strange and different.
After a failed hunt for an open grocery store we settled for nutella sandwiches for dinner and sat down in the cozy movie room to watch Calendar Girls, a feel good flick about old fogies who make a nudie calendar for charity. Good to know there is much fun to be had in the saggy tit era of our lives. We talked to a really nice interesting Australian couple who had to be in there mid 60's. Our conversation turned to politics and recessions - apparently Australia's prior prime minister saved them from recession. Maybe we need to move there and job hunt instead?
In addition to our cheerful friendly interesting Australians we met a Canadian traveler who taught us a valuable lesson. Do NOT become people who talk incessently about travel and backpacking as if we have seen/done/know it all. It is not only obnoxious but puts a nasty damper on the glorious free childlike feeling of travel. If we knew it all, we wouldn't have gone on this trip. Much like our knowledge of Switzerland, we know pretty much nothing about this life we are living, but we know we like it and that's enough for us.
Interlaken
hikemania
Local waterhole
When you come to a fork in the road, take it!
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