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Published: January 1st 2013
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As I sit in the best room we've had so far, listening to the outdoor concert for New Years Day and waiting for fireworks that I'll be able to see from the balcony, I think back over the last 3 days in Interlaken.
Getting to Interlaken, although long, had to be one of the best train trips we've had so far. 2 legs, 2 compartments that we had to ourselves, definately the way to travel. We walked the 900m to our hotel, dumped our bags and headed out exploring. Walking down the main street, you can see the Alps to your left and your right, it is stunning. Interlaken itself is not very big but a great spot for exploring the Alps.
We bought a 3day Ski-Pass. With this we could catch as many trains and cable cars through the mountains as we wanted, with one exception, we couldnt get all the way to Jungfrau, we had to buy an extra pass. However this Ski Pass was brilliant value, definately worth it, we saved alot of money and time by doing this so even if you arent looking to ski, I'd recommend the pass for exploring the Swiss Alps.
On our first trip up to the Alps, we decided to go through Lauterbranunnen and headed for Schilthorn, James Bond Mountain. The Mountain was used in a James Bond movie 60's and they are definately milking it. In the restaurant, you can get James Bond spagetti which is what Chris got Outside on the viewing platform, you got a remarkable view of the surrounding mountains, but my god, I have never EVER been so cold in all my life. The wind cut through you and within seconds, everything hurt (ears, cheeks, toes). This was despite my thermals, despite the 4layers I had on, it took your breath away.. both the wind and the view.
Getting to Schilthorn was no mean feat, it took a train, a cable car, a train, a 10min walk, another 2 cable cars before you got up there which meant it took the same amount of trouble to get back. We hoped our next trip up the mountain to Jungfrau, the highest spot in Europe, would be simplier.
We were in luck! The trip to Jungfrau just took 3 trains, no cable cars this time ( I should mention they werent the nice
cable cars you got to sit in and enjoy the views, these cable cars carried around 60people, tourists and skiiers with all their gear and everyone just pushed on, it wasnt particularly fun). The view and the wind were still breath taking however but unlike Schilthorn, Jungfrau is set up as a tourist play fair. There are many things to see and do, you can go to an Adventure Playground (which was closed for the winter), go outside and see the views and go through an ice cave aswell as enjoying lunch with a view. It took us 2.5hrs to get up there and then another 2.5hrs to get back but it was certainly worth it.
On the last day of our Ski pass, we headed the other way up to the mountain and ended up in Grindlewald. Its probably a good thing we didnt go this way on our first day. Grindlewald, unlike every other village we went through, was set up for the beginner skiier (ie me). Here there were many schools offering to teach you to ski which we didnt find anywhere else. Had we come here first and seen all this, I think I may
have been dragged onto the ski fields and not allowed to leave! (Over a glass or two of wine later in this village, we decided to explore the possibility of skiing in Melbourne later this year).
Interlaken is simply stunning. The Swiss Alps and all areas around here, I cant describe how beautiful they are.. You'll need to come see for yourself!
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