Saturday August 4 - Basel to Grindelwald via Interlacken
It was a fairly easy drive - we stopped in Interlacken for lunch at a mountain restaurant overlooking the lake - totally excellent. After a bit of stuffing around on another 32℃ day we finally got into our apartment around 2:45pm - it was spectacular - all we had hoped (and paid) for. We dropped our bags had a refreshing beer & G&T then walked to the Coop to buy stuff for dinner (sambos) and brekkie (fruit and yoghurt). We were both exhausted so hit the sack early without even fully unpacking.
Sunday August 5 - Grindelwald
It was a glorious morning - another scorcher forecast. We had a slow start as we completed unpacking and doing laundry - the apartment has it’s own laundry which is great.
Late morning we took the gondola up to First - did a bit of a hike to test out our legs and my new hiking boots. We had a late lunch at First’s mountain top restaurant which was pretty ordinary then because it was getting late we took the gondola down - we had planned to walk part way down then take the bus.
Back at home we showered and had five’es as a huge thunderstorm moved in - bringing torrential rain.
We stayed home for an excellent dinner of Irish rack of lamb with roast potatoes and salad.
Monday August 6 - Grindelwald - trip to the Jungfrau
We were up early for the “headline” tour - up to the “top of Europe” - we took the cog-wheel train to Kleine Scheidegg then another cog-wheel train up through a tunnel to the top of the Jungfrau (3400+m) - The views of the glaciers and the Eiger were spectacular. This tunnel and train line were built over 100 years ago - an amazing feat. We had a light lunch on top then headed home - arriving just before another thunderstorm swept through.Dinner at home - pasta and salad.
Tuesday August 7 - Grindelwald - Mannlichn to Wengen
We took the train to Grund (5 minutes) then the very slow gondola up to Mannlichn (30 minutes) - from here we walked down to Wengen - a gruelling trek of 2.5 hours - we were both very weary. We had lunch at Wengen then took the super fast brand new cable car back up to Mannlichn - this cable car even has (summer only) a roof terrace for an extra 5 CHF. At the top, we started the trek to the very peak (another 30 minutes) but turned around about half way up as it started to drizzle and we know this can be the prelude to thunderstorms. So we took the (slow) gondola back to Grund then by chance caught the bus back to Grindelwald (faster than the train). We did a quick shop at the Coop then headed home for afternoon five’es and sambos for dinner - we were "shot ducks".
Wednesday August 8 - Grindelwald - Mannlichn to Kliene Scheidegg
We started the day much like yesterday - up to Mannlichn where we made the 30 minute trek to the very peak - it was a wonderful clear day with views all over Switzerland. From here we made the relatively easy 1.5 hour trek to Kliene Scheidegg - with panoramic views. Unfortunately I developed a blister on my small toe and since we did not have any bandaids in our backpack I wrapped it in Kleenex which helped but I was not the best.
At Kliene Scheidegg we had a great lunch then took the train back home for a bit of grocery shopping - we were too tired to go out so we had dinner at home - later in the evening music started and we determined it was a street festival which we had not been aware of - by this time we were too bushed to join the fun.
Thursday August 9 - Grindelwald - Interlacken
We decided to take a bit of a rest from trekking to give my blister time to heal and our weary muscles time to recover. So it was off by train to Interlacken. We took a short boat ride then took the funicular up to Harder Kulm (1322m / opened in 1908)) where we had lunch at a lovely restaurant sitting outside in the sun shine - the day was cooler with a high of 20℃.
We walked along river and through the old town then back to the train station - we hopped onto the train to Grindelwald but after the second stop it seemed the train was going to Lauterbrunnen - in a panic we jumped off at the next station to change but all we really had to do was get into a different car on the same train - all very confusing.
We went out for dinner at the hotel opposite us (Spinne) - it was just OK - unfortunately it was raining so we could not sit in their garden terrace.
Friday August 10 - Grindelwald
We took the gondola to Mannlichn then the Romantic walk to Alpiglen then the train home. It was glorious sunny day - the vistas were amazing - we had a packed lunch along the way. From Alipglen we took the train home and had dinner at home.
Saturday August 11 - Grindelwald
We went from Kleine Scheidegg to the glacier (a station on the way to Jungfrau) in the fog - a return walk of 1.5 hours - not too strenuous - just a risk of getting lost. Along the way there was a resting station where you could sit on these benches and rest your feet in the water which had has a built in spa. We stayed home for dinner.
Sunday August 12 - Grindelwald
We took the train to Kleine Scheidegg then walked to Wengen in great sunshine then the cable car to Mannlichn then the Gondola home. Again it was dinner at home.
Monday August 13 - Grindelwald
We took the bus to Grosse Scheidegg then walked to First - it started raining the last 15 minutes of the walk so we cut the day short and took the gondola home. After some shopping we decided to use the last day of our all area lift/train/bus pass to do up the Pfingstegg but alas it was not included in our pass (our political reasons according to Trip Advisor) - we were quite perturbed as the tourist office had told Dieter it was included. Instead we walked over to the glacier gorge but since it was already 4pm we decided not to go in as the entry is 19CHF and it only takes about an hour. We walked back home (an hour all up) and had five’es then decided to stay home for dinner (rack of lamb) as the rain moved in - as it came to pass it cleared up later.
Tuesday August 14 - Grindelwald
The day started very overcast with clouds low in the mountains and rain threatening. Since our 8-day pass was finished we had planned to drive to a few places but deferred this due to the weather. We took the bus to the Oberer glacier hike and hiked up to the top of Pfingstegg gondola. We passed the MIlchback cafe which has seen better days as it once overlooked the glacier which has now receded. The proprietor showed us a picture of people sitting at a mountain hut right on the glacier (which is still there) - now you cannot even see the glacier. See this video made only in 2009 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQBlXJvsGTM .
By the time we reached the top of Pfingstegg it was raining so we stopped for lunch at the restaurant. We took the gondola down as the rain continued and arrived home a bit earlier than usual for a relaxing later part of the day.
Tuesday August 14 - Grindelwald
It was a perfect sunny day - mid-20’s so we drove to Lauterbrunnen - first stop was Trummelbach-falle - an amazing waterfall inside the mountain. From here we took the gondola + cog wheel train up to Murren - a lovely little town high in the mountains with no road access. We had lunch on the terrace of one of the hotels. We then headed home.
Wednesday August 15 - Grindelwald
It was another sunny day.
Thursday August 16 - Grindelwald
It was a glorious sunny day - again mid-20’s - we took the Pfingstegg gondola up to the start of the hike to the Baeregg hut (1772m) - 1.5 hours up a cliff face (sort of) - the walk was busy and so was the hut where you can even overnight (bunk room accommodation). From here the really serious hikers can continue for another 2.5 hours to Schreckhornhutte (2527m) which crosses the glacier and has ladders etc - not for me. At Baregg we had a drink then started down - about half way we stopped for our packed lunch then continued but instead for going back to Pfingstegg we walked all the way down - a really rough and steep trek - we stopped at Marmourbruch for a final refreshment. It was long day - 5 hours of just walking + rest stops. We stayed home for dinner.
Friday August 17 - Grindelwald - last full day
It was a mix of sun and cloud and a bit cooler. We drove to Isenfluh - up a very narrow windey road which even has a narrow windey tunnel. The town itself is very small with only a single lane road - which serves both directions. From the town there is a small gondola which ascends 500m - the gondola, according to the documentation, holds 8 persons or 1 cow (however we did not see a “singles” line for cows). We took the gondola up to Sulwald - a micro town - where we started the very steep hike up to Lobhornhutte - but as it was threatening rain (and we did not have our jackets with us) we turned around about 15 minutes from the top. We did not realise it until we got down that we just missed a mountain lake which would have kept us going a bit longer.
We drove home and had our packed sambos then took the bus to visit the glacier gorge but alas we took the wrong bus and ended up just walking home from up the hill.
WE went out to ?? for our final dinner.
Saturday August 18 - Grindelwald - Chamonix
We were up early to pack up and depart for the 3 hour drive to Chamonix. We left around 9:30am and reached our holiday apartment around 2pm to find that we able to get in earl which was great …..