September 13, 2004
Switzerland, Part III (Interlaken and Jungfraujoch)
The next stop on our Switzerland adventure was Interlaken. Interlaken is a beautiful town in-between two lakes (Inter - laken, get it?) and two mountains. We met up with Rob, Linda, their family and Tiffany's parents; all of whom had arrived by train from Basel. We spent the rest of day exploring Interlaken and buying souvenirs.
Lots of girls and one boyThe next morning we boarded the first of three trains to take us to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. The first train was a normal train, but the next two were cog trains. Tyler loved it of course. The trip took about two and a half hours. Tiffany's parents only came up part of the way due to the high altitude and instead spent the time sightseeing and relaxing.
Serious readersThe third train took us through a tunnel inside the mountain range to the train station at the top of Jungfraujoch. It stopped a couple of times inside the mountain so we could look out windows that had been built into the side of the mountain. The windows are also convenient for mountain climbers who get stuck on the mountain!
Aviann and Brooke at Jungfraujoch
At the top of Jungfraujoch is a glacier. We walked through tunnels in the glacier and admired ice sculptures that have been carved inside.
Inside the glacier at Jungfraujoch
We rode an elevator from the train station complex to a lookout. We couldn't see much because of the clouds and snow. It was also very cold (or at least it seemed cold because we are used to a very warm climate)!
At the top of JungfraujochHere is a view of the Eiger and Monch peaks from Keine Scheidegg, one of the train stations where we changed trains on our way back down the mountain.
Kleine ScheideggThis is how you picture Switzerland: mountains, little villages and lots of greenery.
Just like we imagined Switzerland would be
Swiss cows really do have cowbells. We could even hear them from the train.
Switzerland by train (video). Listen for the cowbells!
As we walked from the Interlaken train station back to our hotel, we passed a kindertrain. Each child had received a free pass to ride it on the way to Jungfraujoch. Tyler couldn't decide whether he wanted to ride it or not, but he finally succumbed to peer pressure from his cousins. The kindertrain took us around the central Interlaken park.
Holly, Tyler and Cassidy riding the kindertrain in Interlaken
Tiffany and Brooke in Interlaken
On Sunday morning we went to church in Interlaken. The meetings were in German, so Tiffany got the most out of it.
At church in InterlakenHere we are in front of our hotel in Interlaken. It was a nice bed and breakfast with beautiful views of the mountains.
The whole group in Interlaken in front of our hotel.
After we checked out of our hotel, we all went to a Swiss living history museum. There were lots of hands on activities and architectural examples from each region of Switzerland.
Men at workWe then drove to Zurich. We took the scenic route out of Interlaken towards Zurich. Did we mention that we loved our car? It was a brand new Opel Vectra. It sure was nice to drive in a nice car past beautiful scenery while listening to our new French music CDs. In total, we drove 1069 kilometers. Once in Zurich we checked into our hotel, returned the rental car and repacked our suitcases.
The next morning we flew home to hot and humid Haifa. It was a bit of an adjustment from the cool Swiss weather. We loved our vacation and want to go back to visit again. It was especially wonderful to be with family and friends.
Pushing BrookeTyler-isms:
"Grandma asked me to take a bath twice, but I was afraid she would wash my hair." - He really, really does not like his hair washed.
"We are climbing up so high. We need to get on a plane to go up in the sky." - Tyler was impressed by how high the train was climbing.
"I am reading my mazgeen about my favorite train." - Reading the train timetable.
"I don't want to go home. I want to go to a city." - Tyler didn't want our vacation to end.
"I'm pushing Brooke because you don't have enough hands." - Our hands were full of baggage, so Tyler pushed Brooke in the stroller.
"I am walking because you have too many stuff." - Our hands were still full of baggage.
"I'm turning my head so my crumbs don't get in your hair." - Eating a lollipop while riding on Scott's shoulders.
"The dog is telling me something ... " - When we asked Tyler what the dog said, he panted like the dog.
"Don't look at my ice cream." - I guess we should get our own.
"Don't hug hands." - For some reason, Tyler objected to his parents holding hands.
"I'm my daddy's special boy." - After Uncle Rob asked if Tyler would be his special boy.
"Those are someone else's cousins." - Commenting on the other children on the McDonald's playplace slide.