Coup de Foudre: fondue

Oh Switzerland, how I like you.

So clean and fresh and green. Even the rivers were green.

Watching the sunset as we passed through Lausanne that sits next to Lake Geneva was breathtaking.

We stayed in the city of Bern.

Our first day we took an early train ride to Interlaken. Cool, crisp air but extremely cloudy foggy. Not an ideal situation for seeing the Swiss Alps.

Fearing it wouldn't clear out at all (the weather forecast showed rain all day), we took the harderbahn (a funicular) up to Harder Kulm anyways. This is a little platform that juts out off the side of the mountainside with an incredible view of Interlaken in-between the 2 lakes (Brienzersee and Thunersee).

This is the view we were hoping for...

(picture source)

This is what we actually got...

Unfortunately we were nestled in a thick cloud the entire time. Still took a little hike through the mossy woods and soaked in a little piece of Switzerland.

(could this not be an ad for the harderbahn?)

As we headed back down, the sun peaked out and the clouds started to clear. Fingers were crossed. Time to head up to the big guys. Would have loved to head up to the Schilthorn but after the train to the tram, then the tram to the gondola, it would have costed much more than our budget allotted. Alternatively, we took the slow moving, open windowed train to Grindelwald.

This map shows the general region of the Bernese Oberland.

(picture source)

You could spend weeks here and still not see everything. Any wilderness junkies out there? Put Interlaken on your bucket list. Do it. Do it now.

Seriously, Switzerland is breathtaking.
(I have to use this word a lot, I just can't help it. If you've been here, you understand)

The train passed through many little Swiss country chalets with pastures & cattle. I see now why my mother's ancestors chose to settle in Nounan, Idaho. We snacked on bread & gouda cheese during the ride up. I find it hard to describe how incredible this place and experience was. It was a moment where I looked at Tanner and was like, "What are we doing? We are in Switzerland?!"

Just a short 5 minute ride in a cable car gave us the best view of Grindelwald and the surrounding mountain range. At the top was an alpine slide at Pfingstegg. We rode completely alone on this half mile course on the side of the mountain through a pasture of cows. Much giggling was shared as we cruised along.
One of my top favorites of this trip.

(you can see the track above and a few of the cows)

mens room

ladies room

(fresh flowers are in every window)

I can now say I've see the Swiss alps.

On a corner in the west part of town, we had cheese fondue and makaroni alfer (mac & cheese with onions & potatoes). Waaay too much alcohol for our liking. We left a bit disappointed. To make up for that moment, we got swiss ice cream from a little street cart lady.
Hazelnut dulce de leche. Made me happy.

Back in Bern.

A session in the Bern Switzerland temple (first one made in Europe) was unlike any other. It's safe to say we were both pretty nervous. There was all sorts of languages going on; seemed like no one was speaking the same one. What an experience! Two American's sitting in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, doing an endowment session in Italian. Five total languages in our particular session. Guys, I've said it before and I will say it again...the church is true no matter where in the world you are.

Pretty little temple.

(I probably sat there for 10 minutes trying to get a perfect picture with the flag just right...it never happened)

(can't forget all your Mormon home goods; let's call this the Deseret Book of Switzerland)

Despite "taking up" our morning and some of the afternoon, it was as if we had more time than we would of, had we not gone to the temple. God works in wonderful ways.

Ever heard of the traditional Swiss-German röschti? This dish is shredded, crispy potatoes topped with fried eggs, onions, and rolled bacon. We scarfed that thing down in about 5 minutes. The waitress thought we were crazy drinking tap water and finishing in under an hour.

(it's okay to drool, it was delicious)

Strolled through old Bern down to the Bear Park along the river. Watched 3 bears doing their thing while it started to rain. Oh and ever played a game of checkers on giant chess board painted on the ground in a park? We have. Tanner won every game.