Thun Favorites

Fondest memory: Sept 22nd 2002 - Thun was the venue for a VT get together. It had not long been long since my last visit to Switzerland but I needed little persuasion to return again a few weeks later (especially with good company and accomodation arranged for me...thanks so much Rebibi). The weather was not wonderful but the people were so warm-hearted and we had a lot of fun. If you can make a meeting...don't hesitate to go.
This is usually what happens at such meetings.....eating and taking pics!! here is Rhia and me in action (pic courtesy of YumYum)

Favorite thing: Well, it doesn't actually look like a city at all. Thus is a large-ish town set on a charming lake - called Lake Thun (would you have guessed it?). It supposed to be the gateway to the Bernese Oberland, which is the home of many glorious mountains - and, more generally speaking, one of Switzerland's most scenic areas.

Fondest memory: The highlights of Thun aren't many - but they are pretty nonetheless: a charming old city centre, an imposing castle, on old covered wooden bridge and really friendly people.

Favorite thing: From Grindelwald station, I got a ski pass which entitled me to approach the Jungfrau region. This would not bring me all the way up to Jungfraujoch, the top of Europe, but close enough to witness the Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger sweat in daylight. The ticket for the Jungfraujoch trip costs 159 CHF, which I thought was exorbitantly priced. The one I got costs only 42 CHF and covers First, Mannlichen and Kleine Scheidegg, all of which offer good ski grounds. You don't have to be a skier or a snowboarder in order to get that pass.

First is reachable by train or chairlift from Grindelwald. From here I took the cable car to convey me up to Mannlichen, where there are more challenging choices of ski trails. Proceeding down to Wengen from here via the funicular which connects the two, I spent some time to unwind myself in this nice little town, which has very little to disturb the peace.

There is one of two ways to go from Wengen. One is to the lower Lauterbrunnen Valley and the other is to the higher Kleine Scheidegg, both accessible via the mountain railway. The former is famous for its waterfalls whereas the latter offers yet more trails for challenging runs. The trip to Kleine Scheidegg was undeniably breathtaking.

Favorite thing: I continued on up to Eigerwand, which is two stations away from Jungfraujoch, but close enough to see Jungfrau's peak smoulder and the phenomenal jade-white glaciers bite onto the massive rocks.

Also from Lauterbrunnen, you may take a cable car up to the revolving restaurant which sits on the 2970m Schilthorn, where James Bond performed his stunts in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The peak offers views of hundreds of Alpine peaks and is almost as popular a destination among mountain lovers as Junfraujoch's. The return cable car fare costs 83 CHF, nearly half of that of Junfraujoch. These spectacular mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and lakes, plus scores of charming villages and holiday resorts collectively define the Bernese Oberland.

This completed my 6 days visit to Switzerland. Sweet! Though time was chasing me out, I have had good moments of it. One thing for sure, except for being lost in the beauty, my navigation skills have improved tremendously.

On the way back to Geneva to catch a night train to Barcelona, I swung by Switzerland's capital, Berne. Because I had to make a transit here. I couldn't do much but wandered around the vibrant city's arcaded streets, which were packed with tons of people. But I will come back again to appreciate its charm. Till then.

Favorite thing: From Interlaken Ost, the trip to Grindelwald took 40 mins by train. The views kept getting better as the train climbed towards Grindelwald, which is even closer a gateway to the Jungfrau region than Interlaken. It was almost dark upon arrival but I still chose to stay in an uphill hostel, right up on the hill so that I have to march on many 45 degrees slopes with my loaded backpacks under the starry night. Whew! The hostelier had better kept her promise that the accommodation would be a cosy one with good view of the mountains.

Her advice was good. I awoke to a clear day full of bright spell and the entire Grindelwald was gorgeous from the room's window.

Favorite thing: Deeply impressed by what Zermatt has offered, I was determined to once again stay near the mountains for yet another night. Heading north from Zermatt I landed at Interlaken, a scenic holiday resort accessible via one of two train stations - Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West.

Most Interlaken's visitors would go for boat tours along Lake Thun and/or Lake Brienz, to such neighbouring towns and villages as Spiez and Thun, each has a castle, and Brienz, famous for its local craft of wood-carving. But I was more interested in hitting the mountains. I wasted little time in Interlaken and headed towards Grindelwald, which is a busy ski resort under the north face of Eiger, just before dusk. Before narrating whazz up there, I thought of mentioning one thing that caught my attention and fascinated me most in Interlaken, which was the fine animal-shaped woodcrafts particularly those of red deer and antelopes. They really cost a lot, as much as a hundred CHF or two, but I was still tempted to carry one home cuz they are just so perfectly hand crafted. Unfortunately I had got Spain to do after Switzerland and my backpack had unkindly said no.

Favorite thing: go hiking in the alps and enjoy the breathtaking scenery!

Fondest memory: 'Obsi' and 'Nidsi'
The hike up to Glecksteinhütte with Elisabeth (Rebibi) and her family has definately be the best thing I ever did here! Thank you for taking me with you! Have a look at my travelogues for astonishing views!!!

Favorite thing: A day out by PostCar. The tour starts ascending the Susten Pass, from where you can enjoy views of the Stein Glacier. A stop in Andermatt . Takes you over the lofty Furka Pass, with its amazing views of the Rhone Glacier, to the little village of Gletsch in the Upper Goms valley. After traversing the last of the three passes - the Grimsel (2165 metres or 7100 feet above sea-level) - thePostCar passes through the rugged Haslital and along the deep-blue waters of Lake Brienz on its way back to starting point.