Alexis Tia Adventures, Eats, & Turning Wheels: The Recap: June 21-23, 2011

Saying goodbye to Salzburg was bittersweet. We had so many chances to get Mozart liqueur but kept stalling, hoping to find a cheaper price. Good thing they sell it at World Market in the U.S.

The journey to the Swiss Alps was a long day. We left beautiful weather in Salzburg and arrived in a massive downpour in Interlaken. The weather cleared up thankfully as the journey to Mürren included a train ride to Lauterbrunnen (valley floor), gondola ride up, and transfer again to a train. The best way I can describe the Berner Oberland is Mammoth and Yosemite times a million! About 5,413 feet elevation, the view is like warm fuzzies, awe, and magical unicorns --- truly breathtaking. We were lucky enough to snag a hotel room at the Alpina Hotel, where our balcony view looked out on the three famous peaks in alps: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrauh.

The Swiss Alps was absolutely amazing and had easily become one of my favorite places, however, I was shocked how expensive everything is (literally double).

The next day, the clouds and blue sky allowed us to hike from Mürren down to Gimmelwald (about a half hour), where we took a gondola to the bottom of the valley. An easy half hour walk later, we arrived at Trummelbach Falls --- 10 powerful, cold, and loud glacier-waterfalls inside the mountain that continue to carve a path through the rock. We got to meander through man-made caves and check out the falls. Pictures and video do not do justice.

After the falls, Dave and I walked leisurely along a trail, shooting pictures, smiling in awe of the alps. Before heading back to Mürren, we enjoyed bratwurst for lunch. Not surprisingly, it rained during dinner (weather in the Swiss Alps is unpredictable and typically rainy), but thankfully we were warm inside. I enjoyed fondue for the first time, which was made from local, fresh cheese. Delicious and of course, expensive. The rain let up after dinner, and we concluded the night by frolicking on an alpen hilltop --- a wonderfully awful impression of Julie Andrews from the Sound of Music.

The next morning we were in the clouds --- literally. There was not a mountain nor tree in sight. We only saw white, thick clouds around us. Crazy how the weather changes.

We bid adieu to the friendly hotel owner, Roger, whom Dave had seen one week prior when he was in the Swiss Alps with his students (travel photography EuroFoto Trip and highly recommended! Check out 2014 Dates). Taking in the grandiose view of the Alps as the gondola carried us down to the valley floor, I felt the same feeling when I saw Yosemite for the first time. There are so many hiking trails, biking trails, places to explore, an amazing view of the sunlight hitting the majestic mountain tops, puffy clouds, and green trees. It makes me feel small and lucky to experience this place.

Auf Wiedersehen, Swiss Alps! Hope to see you again one day (fate would have it that I visited again in 2012 - a piece of my heart is here).