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Published: April 16th 2007
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Beautiful Switzerland did not disappoint, despite some initial panic that I wouldn't get to spend even one day in the mountains. We ended up in Interlaken, where I did something that has shocked everyone I've mentioned it to: I went para-gliding! Monday, April 16 Arrival in Bern and rest up in the hostel for tomorrow's adventures. We arrived in Bern with plenty of daylight to spare, but had a frustrating time figuring out which tram to catch. The streets are very unorganized and lack crosswalks for pedestrians. I expected better from such an expensive, highly taxed nation, but I can forgive this one blight.
Our hostel is nice, though there are many rules posted everywhere and the old lady working the desk is very uptight, despite my efforts to be friendly. We obtained our upstairs room key (why are there never ground-level rooms? Or elevators?), which we shared with four beds but just two other girls. The Asian reeked of B.O. and was downright weird, but the Australian girl, Cassandra, was super nice and came out for a drink with us after we showered. I didn't end up getting a drink, since everything was ridiculously expensive, but
it was nice to relax before falling into bed. You wouldn't think I'd be so tired after not doing anything all day but sitting on a train for 11 hours: but I was exhausted!
Tuesday, April 17 Enjoy Interlaken by jumping off a cliff, then travel to Munich. Last night we confirmed my sneaking suspicion that Bern had no mountains to offer, so we decided to store our luggage and spend our precious few Swiss hours in the Alps of Interlaken. Actually, I pretty much spear-headed this decision, since Mary didn't care. Switzerland was my baby from the beginning, since I was determined to go there for my Grandma, and I didn't see the point of staying at that expensive hostel if I didn't get to see some mountains.
Interlaken is only an hour from Bern by train. The brochure we picked up promised at least one furnicular to take us up a mountain, but once we got into the dream-like, mountain-surrounded town, we realized that none of those attractions opened for another week. I refused to be discouraged! On our way to the immaculate, extremely modern tourist office to ask about independent hikes, we picked up
brochures about para-gliding. I'd always wanted to try things like sky-diving and para-sailing, but had never given para-gliding much thought.
After the very young tourism rep showed us that our hiking options mostly consisted of taking an expensive train ride and then walking a little ways up, I gave para-gliding a second thought. What better way to truly EXPERIENCE the Swiss Alps than gliding over and down them?? I made the spontaneous decision to book myself a 10:30 jump off the nearest mountain. Mary opted out because of the price ($150), but I was excited beyond belief and thought it would be well worth the cost. I was also sick and terrified out of my mind. What did I get myself into!?
The time waiting in the tourist office for the pilot to pick me up was excruciatingly too long and too short at the same time. He was also late, adding to my anxiety. But suddenly, "Peach" showed up on his motorbike, an extra helmet in hand, to take me down the street to the pre-jump meeting place. There, I traded in my shoes for some provided heavy-duty footwear and stashed my purse (minus my camera) in
a locked bin, then waited anxiously with an American couple who were also jumping.
We climbed into the back of a van, which had benches and equipment squeezed in, and got the necessary information from one of the five pilots. All of the men were super-extroverted, young-ish, athletic and reasonably good-looking. They were also speaking German, but spoke English to us. My anxiety grew as we wound up the mountain on the 20-minute ride -- again, what did I think I was doing!?
At the top, I was rewarded with the glorious alpine views I craved. After a few photo ops, our pilots -- one drove the van down, one went solo, three took us para-gliding -- got down to business, laying out the equipment and telling us what was going on. It was pretty simple and straight-forward, actually. My pilot's name is Raymond, and he has 17 years of experience. I signed an "air ticket" that gave me permission to be in the sky -- there wasn't a waiver involved, since the pilots assume all responsibility. I pulled on a windbreaker and helmet and Raymond strapped the seat and harness onto me, which is attatched to the
strings of the chute behind us. Then, he buckled himself snugly behind and we were ready.
We took some jogging steps down the alarmingly steep drop off the mountain (a grassy slope, though, not a rocky cliff!) and then he gave the command to sprint. I felt dragged back by the chute but leaned forward with all my strength and pumped my legs... until my feet no longer hit the ground. I sat back in the seat, and we were actually in the air!!
The feeling is incredible; beyond words! I was just gliding -- FLYING -- through the air, with trees beneath my dangling legs and the splendor of the Swiss Alps all around me. My mouth was literally hanging open. I had my camera securely around my neck and resting in my lap (they usually don't let people bring expensive equipment like mine up, but I must've looked pleading) but I couldn't even obsure my view long enough to take many lined-up pictures. I mostly kept the camera in my lap and hit the button periodically to capture what I was gaping at. Raymond also had a camera on an extendable arm, which he used to
In the air!
Absolutely breath-taking. snap pictures of us from various angles. (I later bought that roll of film -- how could I not? -- for more money than I'd like to mention, but the pictures turned out amazing.)
We did slow circles, because the wind was just right, and literally soared like birds. In para-gliding, the pilot can control left and right movements, but up and down is left up to the wind... which also controls how much air time we get. Luckily, we had a perfect day, and were carried up by the wind and gradually floated down as Raymond steered us around the landscape. Time just seemed to stand still. We were in 20 mph wind, but I couldn't tell, and our conversational volume was normal. I was so giddy! And in total awe of God's creation all around me. We flew over two pristine blue lakes, the village of Interlaken and another village. But what impressed me the most, of course, were the mountains. We came so close to one steep, pine-covered slope that I felt like I could reach out and touch it. I was grinning like a maniac in all the pictures he took -- go ahead and
laugh at my facials.
We came in for a smooth landing (too soon!) in a grassy field near our starting point back in Interlaken. Mary got some pictures of me coming down and I was still on an adrenaline high when talking to her. I paid by credit card and felt the worth of every cent.
Mary and I ate a 12-franc meal at McDonald's, the cheapest option in the city. We walked around to buy souvenirs, then it was time to leave, collect our bags from Bern, and catch our train to Zurich, where we boarded for a 5-hour ride to Munich.
Overall, I was blown away by the beauty of Switzerland. Para-gliding was an experience I will never forget, and I can't think of a better way to experience the Alps.
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