Grindlewald and Jungfraujoch

---

Big day today as we set out by train from Lucerne to Grindlewald, which is a mountain side village on the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. Our train provided scenic views which increased with intensity as we neared our destination. My finger itched for the photo button on my phone at every turn! As quickly as we had eaten our thick swiss-style ham and cheese sandwiches on the train, it was soon time to haul our bags up a steep goat track to a very adequately appointed youth hostel that must boast one of the best mountainside views in the world. Pausing again for spectacular photographs outside, we walked to the local train station to set off again for the highest railway station in the world, Jungfrau (the young lady). Well, this young lady was a sight to behold. On the way up I encountered my first serious snow (see photo), saw a frozen glacier, wondered at snow-covered jagged mountains would make even James Bond feel quite at home.... The altitude was staggering, 3454m above sea level. The air was cold and dense. Although we experienced the cold at the viewing stations along the way, the final destination was enclosed and provided food, souvenirs and displays to interest everyone. Not sure if it was the mountain air but I was not the only one to sleep soundly in the train half of the way down (mouth open so Dan tells me). We admired the breath taking views of the layered mountain landscape - the top layer of bare, snow-dusted rock, the middle layer of dense green fir trees, the bottom layer of rolling green slopes dotted with cute wooden houses sporting flowery window boxes and rooves of wooden tiles. So picturesque. Even the local goats and sheep have noisy bells attached to their necks which make a constant jangling as they graze. Arriving back at our hostel, it was too late for dinner so at 9pm we were walking back down the goat track to a cute local pub to sample the beer of the day and enjoy pasta and chicken schnitzel. I could not resist the blackforest cake to go with my coffee, though it was not as good as expected.. Back to our hostel, we sneaked into the louge for our ritual LAN party and began to sizzle the internet lines out. Dan gave up before me and I wa left to write in pece with the low sounds of our fellow guests chatting into the night to keep me company.

---

Comments

[Melinda]

Let it snow let it snow let it snow
What fun!!!