Superb Switzerland

Well to be honest the drive into Switzerland was uneventful, we expected this time to at least have our passports looked at, but nope.  We stopped for a vignette our first toll sticker, and at the time I had a hard time justifying to Daryl the NZD 56 sticker – it proved invaluable later.

Had our first night at Agno at the lake edge and although the temperatures were comparable to the Italian Lakes it felt fresher.

The next day we moved onto Lauterbrunnen, just south of Interlaken.  We decided not to take the motorway as we wanted views, and again I had to try to justify that sticker!

We drove through the villages and then came our first Swiss Alp, 2431m high.  Half way up we hit he cloud and from them on could only see a few metres in front, relying on tomtom to tell us where the corners where.  Why did we take the scenic route with huge mountains and no views?

We passed through snow at the sides of the road and when we crested the top to begin our descent we were suddenly above the clouds!  And it was FANTASTIC , we stopped for photos and a play in the snow.  Of course that was the day I decided to wear shorts, t shirt and jandels.

We had amazing views down and Mildred ran extremely well.  We stopped at Wassen for a lovely lunch at a picnic area and let our smelly hot brakes cool down.  We were ready for the next alp, bring it on!

As we left the village we seen a sign saying Geschlossen – we thought – oh maybe that’s caution and we are definitely cautious!   So we continued, until about 12 km up the mountain when Daryl said why is that car parked on the road outside the coffee shop – well because 50 or so metres up the road was closed!

So back down we go and now have no option but the use the toll motorways – I knew there was a reason we brought that sticker!

So off we go on the motorway thru heaps of tunnels the longest of which was 9.3km several 5 km and 3 km ones as well, in fact we both started to get tunnel eyes.

And the rain started, just as we fuelled with our first Swiss fuel (v expensive), the heavens opened and the road also became a river!

We arrived at our Camp Jangfrau, Lauterbrunnen, at the foot of the towering Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau peaks in a valley of the 70 waterfalls (yes straight from their brochure)

Planned to splash out and go up the world’s highest railway to the ‘Top of Europe’ some  4,158 m but only if the weather cleared we weren’t prepared to part with just over NZD400 for a trip in clouds.

Needless to say the next day was crappy weather wise so we wandered through the village and had a Swiss Hot Chocolate.  Have decided on Cheese Fondue for lunch then a walk closer to the main waterfall.

Trying to have national dishes at each country, Pizza and Pasta for Italy, Tapas Spain along with this lovely soup that had an egg in the bottom of it, Portugal fish and veal and France Croissants and Pate, although I still hope to get back for some snails.

Off to Lucene tomorrow.