Switzerland

Switzerland 

Yesterday was spent in the beautiful little town of Lauterbrunnen. 

We arrived the night before after a day long drive from France to Switzerland where we joined two other Top Deck tours at our accommodation which was made up of little log cabins set between two waterfalls with view of the Alps. Things got festive in the bar at the camp with a pajama party and the likes of the crazy Australians meeting South Africans in Europe.

After a breakfast of steaming bread rolls and Swiss cheese (cue Heidi vibes), we took a short walk to the train station to take us to the very top of Europe on an Alp named Jaungfrau.

My dearest friend, being the adventurer that she is, decided on the bus the previous day that she would opt for the Sky dive over the Swiss Alps instead. I gave her extra hugs that morning.

At the station we were given a fake Swiss passport before we boarded the train which we could stamp at the top. Picturesque is the word I would like to use for the views that we saw, but I would like to use it to the most extreme extent possible. You see these amazing scenes in postcards and sometimes on TV, but once you're sitting in a little train cart chugging straight up these steep slopes, you will never be able to appreciate them for all they are worth. 

Half way up to the top, we had to switch to another train. At this point they have a skiing school and all around you are masters and amateurs of this sport in brightly coloured suits getting their ski on. Starting from tiny ants at the top and changing to a person flying past you near to the bottom, it's difficult to note ant to join in. There was also a Heineken beer tent suited in the snow where skiers stood around enjoying the coldest beer they will probably ever have and having a laugh. The Swiss are such friendly and happy people, one has to wonder whether it's due to this lifestyle they're living.

Back on the train to the top, it was very obviously embarking directly to the top right through a tunnel built through the mountain many years ago. We also saw a frozen glacier stopped amidst its tumble down the slope. There were different viewpoints along the way which added to the trip. 

Eventually we got to the final stop and took an elevator to the highest viewpoint which is an astounding 4160 m above sea level. Not only does the air quite literally take your breathe away because it's a lot thinner, you feel as though you really are on top on the world. Abandoning the urge to "yodilayhihooooo", we took some photos squinting into the sun and made our way to the ice palace. 

All along the passages of the palace are ice sculptures and there are tunnels and places to sit and get cold. 

What would the Swiss Alps be without a Lindt chocolate shop? No half measures are taken here. Eating Lindt chocolate is awesome anywhere, but eating Lindt chocolate on the Swiss Alps at the highest point in Europe takes it to a new level. 

After a quick lunch overlooking the exquisite scenery, we headed back down the alps to find Jo, hoping she had made it.

We found her later in the local coffee shop where she relayed how unbelievable her experience was. Few have the opportunity or guts to jump out of a plane with a view of the Swiss Alps...my friend is super cool.

The day ended with a visit to the Swatch shop and followed with a few local ciders with half of our tour group trying to play one drinking game together. Interesting.

We have still been able to enjoy the alps for a bit longer as we drive through Switzerland and make our way to Venice, Italy.

Now that we're all chocolated out, we can't wait to smash some pizza.