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Published: June 25th 2011
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We were ecstatic about starting our full day in the Alps. Our hotel recommended that we have breakfast in Schiltorn, which was the highest point you could be as a visitor. It was in the 40's so we bundled up with as much as we could. Since we deliberately packed light and were going to be in so many different climates, our Swiss Alps gear was limited. We took a cable car from Gimmelwald to Murren and then a vertical cable car from Murren to the summit. Visibility was limited because we were literally in the clouds. It's definitely not something one who has a fear of heights should try. 😊 There was a huge multilevel structure that looked like something out of a sci fi movie and on one level was a rotating restaurant where breakfast was served. The breakfast was fine but hard to think about food when you're surrounded on all sides by the snow capped Alps. We did wonder how supplies and equipment were taken to the top in order to prepare food for hundreds every day. After breakfast and, in spurts, we braved the below 30 degrees and walked around the terrace in absolute AWE. Neither
of us had ever been any where so high up. The scene resembled what one might see in pictures of the Arctic and the sky did not seem so far away. Schiltorn happened to be built around the same as the first James Bond movie. Directors chose Schiltorn as the film location after searching for just the right venue. It's incredible how they filmed there! About 4 hours and 2 Bond movie clips later, and as breathing was becoming more and more challenging, we took 2 cable cars back down to Murren. From there, we hiked back to Gimmelwald joined by the company of the Alps, black sheep, and fields of wild flowers. Along the way, we saw charming huts and mountainside contraptions intended to prevent avalanches.
Our intention in heading back to the hotel was to make reservations for....PARAGLIDING! We were nervous but so excited to have this experience. Our reservations were in 2 hours and our guides would meet us in Murren for our tandem flight. Wisely, we decided to skip lunch and take a cable to car to Murren where our guides, Benny and Benny, were waiting for us. They had the huge parasails (which cost
$6-$9k a piece!) on their backs and led us on a steep hike to an open field. They prepared the sails, dressed us in gear, gave brief instructions, and just like that we were off....FLYING.
Paragliding in the Alps was the most exhilirating, invigorating, adrenaline inducing experience ever!! We were able to see one another in the sky and the guides took a ton of pictures and video. It was not as threatening as it might seem and was actually quite peaceful. It was also a vantage point of the Alps not possible in a helicopter. Freezing cold hands being up so high was the only physcial thing that was uncomfortable. When Jordan expressed to his guide how breathtaking the scene was, Benny responded "yes, now you see why za birds sing, eh!"
30 minutes later, we were back on the ground after our smooth landings. We took a cable car back to Gimmelwald for a much needed soda to settle our stomachs and a nap after that experience. Hours later we were ready for food again 😊 and had dinner at our hotel-a delicious taggliatella with porcini mushrooms, walnuts, and spinach. We met a couple from Boston
who were in Switzerland for a 2 week continuous hike. They stopped at night to sleep but hiked all day. So many people we were meeting in Gimmewald. We completed some errands and walked around Gimmelwald the rest of the night, socializing with the youth hosteliers and the staff at our hotel. What an amazing day!!
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