Advertisement
Published: July 21st 2019
Edit Blog Post
Day 16:Travel day yesterday, so there wasn't much to be said. I'm staying at a cute but rustic mountain hotel the next few nights in Kandersteg, so I didn't want to go super early since I wasn't sold that someone would actually be there haha. As such, I had a lazy exploration day just around Interlaken. I went to the train station (where all the busses overlap) and got on the first bus that arrived and went for a ride! I first ended up at Ringgenberg which wasn't exciting haha. It's a little town, but it's also like +30C by 10am so I didn't go that far away from the shade. I then ended up in some other little town (Bonnigen?), but then wandered my way back to the hostel and to the train station.
Kandersteg is THE CUTEST. I'm so happy I chose to add this place to my trip - when you picture a small mountain town, this really is it. It's nestled in a little valley, so you're surrounded by mountains again. It's a slow pace, but it's so beautiful that you want the slow pace, so you can sit back and enjoy. Since Kandersteg is my
last rural stop in Switzerland (Geneva is only 1.5 days and I'll fully be in the city), I'm treating myself to good Swiss food and drink. Doesn't hurt that my 30th birthday is later this week either 😉 All that to say, I had heard the Bernerhof was a really good restaurant (food and service wise... and trust me the service is VERY hit or miss here since tipping is pretty much included in your bill). It did not disappoint! I got my rösti (kinda like shredded potatoes..?) and a beer - I was happy. I'm going to come back on my last night in town.
Day 17: Today it was off to the aptly named Blausee ("Blue Lake"). I don't even know how long the walk was... I think it's supposed to only be 90min, but I followed some path that led to a dead end and then had to double-back at one point, and I stopped a lot to listen to the water (the walk is mostly along the river) and just to appreciate the view. I also found a cow chilling in a field up in the forest area - pretty sure it was sleeping, but
I watched him for a bit too haha. The walk is downhill to Blausee, and I was certainly glad about that because it's getting warm here too - I def appreciated the shady parts of the walk. (And I felt for the people walking the other way... there are some pretty steep parts to the walk).
Walking down thru the valley, I could hear the cow bells and I was like... this is my moment! haha. Sure enough, on the last part of my walk I did come across three cows that were happily eating and walking near the path. Hi cows! I watched them for a bit - they're just so sweet. I always think back to when I was a little kid and my grandpa had cows on his farm - and I remember one licking me in the face (like it's tongue covered my entire face, ew) and omg did he laugh at me haha.
Anyway, I made it to Blausee and the colour is pretty striking. I've seen more vibrant colour elsewhere, but it's more the shade of the blue here. Regardless, well worth the walk. People at my hotel had warned me it
would be really busy since it's a Sunday - I don't know, maybe I'm used to crowds from other spots... sure it was crowded by Swiss standards, I suppose, but you could def find yourself some space if you wanted to. I grabbed a table in the picnic area and ate my lunch while I people watched - they have a giant play area for kids and they have a bunch of grills for you to literally grill your food by the lake side. It's a great set up.
I walked around the lake after that - the colour really is beautiful and the water is crystal clear - you can see right to the bottom and you can see the crazy number of trout all over the place lol.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.096s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 10; qc: 31; dbt: 0.0503s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Joan O'Connell
non-member comment
Happy Birthday!
Hi Julie, What a great way to spend your birthday. I hope you have spectacular day and a great year ahead. Justin reaches that milestone himself in October.