I Saw the Alps with my own Eyeballs

We were up early to hit the lounge for breakfast before catching a train to Interlaken. This place had been highly recommended for its beauty and ability to see the Alps while in the Alps without going WAY up into the Alps. That checked all the boxes for us.

We’d snagged first class train seats so we had tons of leg room and both had window seats and WHOA was that worth it. The route was about 2 hours and had about 4 stops on the way. The entire thing from end to end was absolutely stunning.

Once we got to Interlaken, our whole goal was to find a place on the water to sit and have lunch while staring at the Alps. A simple goal. But a hard one to accomplish. We first walked straight off the train and into a neighborhood as though we had any clue where we were going. Within a few blocks, we acknowledged there was no water in sight. This clued me in to look at the map- which confirmed there was no water in sight. With that, we turned around and headed back. We did a few random loops. We ended up in a few places with some potential but not ‘just right’.  One particularly cool looking Irish pub with a Biergarten that said OPEN but was 100% not open in anyway.

Finally, after probably way too much time for a place that really was NOT all that big, we found a spot! It wasn’t exactly the image we had in our minds which was pretty much a repeat of Lucerne, but it was still lovely. And, it turns out, it was also right under where all the sky gliders launched. And man were they launching.

We had a terrific meal, enjoyed the non-stop people watching and sky diving, lingered a bit, and then walked back towards the train station again to a cool spot we saw where you could have a drink while waiting for the trains. Conveniently, there was also a pharmacy because just that very morning my deodorant ran out. The horror!

We trained back. Most of the ride was calm and chill and not crowded until we got to Bern and then everyone ever got on to head back to Zurich. Apparently this is a very common work route and it was right at quitting time when we rolled through.

So, about 4 hours of training for about 4 hours of visiting the actual Alps and I’d say it was worth it to see it with my very own eyes. Incredibly gorgeous, just as I’d always imagined. There were still so many things to see and do but with just one single day left, the ‘someday maybe’ list would get a few added bullets. 

Back at the hotel, we had another card - this time addressed to us - and with a free bottle of wine. We think our daily praises of the staff to the front desk has made us the favorites.

Taking a Sea Day

 With just a few days left in the trip, it was time for a sea day. If you’ve followed along on our travels before, you know we often weave in a ‘sea day’. This mimics the cruise ship style of having some days where you don’t go into port. You just kick it around the ship. It’s more chill. (Sometimes!) A rest day, if you will.

Ash had a train booked at 1 but had to checkout by 10 so she came over and enjoyed a late breakfast with us in the lounge and just a little extra hang out time before she took off towards the train station. We could see her walk across the bridge- there she is! So tiny way below us there.

Jason and I decided we would wander around and find a local wine bar and shop- hopefully we’d get lucky like we did in Buenos Aires and get to chat with a local wine guru/som and possibly even ship some home.

We headed over towards the train station, once again taking a slightly different route and once again making it there in record time. Today the free food giveaway inside the station were these delicious chocolate bars and…sort of a cookie/graham cracker type thing. Think S’mores without the marshmallow. Delicious!

As we’re nearing where we think the wine bar is, suddenly we hear a man yelling at us. Well, not yelling AT us but trying to get our attention. He says, “Are you really from San Francisco?” Which is really a weird thing to ask random people on the streets of Zurich. But then I realized I was wearing a 49ers t-shirt. Less weird. Still weird though.

Turns out, he was from the Bay Area and had been living in Switzerland for 18 years. So friendly. He made a recommendation for a place to eat. Great.

We walked away and a minute later he came running back up to us. He gave us 20 francs and insisted we try the sausage place on him! MAN! Who ever heard of such a thing? Jason then spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out how this was a scam, if the money was laced with fentanyl, or if we had somehow been cursed. I spent an equal amount of time being thrilled that we’d been the recipients of a random act of kindness. We never died or got trafficked so I guess I’m taking home the win on this one.

The wine bar was cool- super large space. They had fresh sandwiches so we shared a bite and tried another bottle of our new favorite - Riesling Sylvaner, a dry white blend with just the right zing. Unfortunately, there was no witty banter and friendship with a wine guru. But there was a shot of grappa made from Amarone, which is my favorite wine so I couldn’t really pass it up.

The back of the bar had a shop so we did get to venture through there and bought a couple of bottles for the room based on the shop owner’s recommendations. All were terrific.

Back at the hotel, we didn’t really need dinner so we snacked in the lounge and had an early night. The perfect easy breezy day to recharge because…we’d decided to cough up the cash and head to the Alps the next day. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and make the call you know you won’t regret.