After a nice breakfast at our hotel (included), we walked down the street to find Europcar and pick up our van. There was some problem with the reservation but thankfully Monika was able to work it out. We were "upgraded" to a large VW van, which includes captain seats in row 2 that not only recline but swivel as well. The height of the van makes it easier to see the countryside as we travel through, as well.
Based on what appeared to be a forcast for excellent weather, we decided to summit the Schilthorn today. After a slight correction when our rental car nav decided to head in the wrong direction, we made our way up the valley towards Stechelberg, passing Lauterbrunnen on the way. We parked at the tram and loaded the first of 4 tram rides to the very top, connecting in: Gimmewald, Murren, The Berg and Piz Gloria (of James Bond fame).
The top of the Schilthorn is nearly 1000 meters lower than Mont Blanc; still very high up but not an panic-driving. The view was stunning and panoramic, with Alpine ranges surrounding us. I didnt want to get too close to the edge but I was certianly more comfortable on the viewing platform of this viewpoint. We got some really fun family photos thanks to a stranger who turned out to be quite the photographer.
The james Bond movie, "In Her Majesty's Secret Service' was filmed at this mountaintop, which includes a rotating restaurant. You really cant miss this fact as they remind you every turn (even the bathrooms are bond themed). They have an interactive exhibit with a video sled ride that left s giggling when Steve decided to give it a try. Going to have to post that gem online.
After a break at the restaurant where I had a 007 Martini to celebrate making it to the top of Bonds Berg (and the kids had Rosti and Streudal), we made our way down to Murren. This is a very small but adorable little village that was peaceful and idyllic.... mostly because there was nothing open. I am sure this place is amazing in the season but we are at the end of skiing season and not yet warm enogh for summer. So everything is pretty much shuttered up for the season.
We elected to walk down to Gimmewald from Murren to take in a true Alpine walk. Downhill all the way, it was a pretty easy walk. But the scenery is just amazing; granite walls hug around you, very old wood houses/huts dot the landscape and the occassional cow could be smelt but not heard. The wind picked up a little but not enough to do more than chap our cheeks (which were grinning ear to ear anyway).
Once in Gimmewald i had to track down the hostel, which was the setting for a now infamous scene from my teenage years when my mom dressed down the teacher chaperone who took a group of students on a hike to the top of the Schilthorn in shorts; having seen this landscape now I have a really tough time seeing students ascending this route, even in the heat of summer. But the story of that event and the memory of the events that transpired (including a fundue moment) necessitated a visit. it looked very different from my memory (which is admittadly fuzzy given the time span) but i did feel better when i noted the sign that they had remodeld in 1996, 5 years after we descended on the hostel.
After catching what I am sure was one of the last trams down for the day, we loaded up in the van and made our way back to interlaken. We ate dinner at a swiss/french restaurant where the smokers outside sort of put a damper on our meal. The boys are really not used to being around smoke.
The weather is changing here and we have been so lucky to this point that we cant complain. But there is definitely rain brewing and the forcast is calling for snow on Thursday. Tomorrow we plan to drive to Bern, where the rain wont slow us down.
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