Laughterbrunnen

Tori’s European Escapade

Summer 2012

July

28/7 – 29/7

Lauterbrunnen - Switzerland

Heading back in to Switzerland was exciting. As we drove into Bern we saw the beginning of the Alps, covered in haze and ominous clouds. I was thrilled at the prospect of rain and it did not disappoint. As we pulled into the camp ground, they sky unleashed torrents. The short haul from bus to cabin saw ourselves and our bags get a thorough wash. I loved it.

Of course, there were downsides. This was the only time for the full 2 months where the bathrooms were in a different building altogether, and the trip up to the Jungfrau the next day would be fairly useless if the world class views were hidden in a dense cloud bank.

Nevertheless, we soldiered on, spending inordinate amounts of money in the tiny bar and participating in "Olympics"

We were previously informed to dress in country colours, and there would be a series of alcohol related events for the evening. With that in mind I had duly sought out my fellow kiwis and we donned our black gear and went tribal.

Sarah, Girl Jo and myself.

Team NZ consisted of 2 couples - Sarah and Nick, Boy Joe and Girl Jo (yes, they know), our driver Marcus, Dane and Ryan. Unfortunately we lost the Olympics to the Canadians during Flip Cup, but in our defence we had significantly more people than they did.We all managed to get to know each other better, and with the excessive volume created by a trio of Melbourne boys, we got our theme song for our trip. So to my disgust, the next 32 days of my life started with the whiny, terribly written "Call Me, Maybe". Wooo.

The next day the groups split up, with some of us heading up the mountain, some crazies jumping out of planes and a few independently discovering the wilderness. The trip up to the Jungfraujoch is an expensive one, and the collective worry was that there would be nothing but whiteness to gaze upon at the top. Still, we donned our warmest gear and headed through the quaint little town to the Bahnhof.

This was the moment of truth for one of my serious packing decisions. After a few days of staring at my case, I had made the epic choice to travel without closed toe shoes or long pants. I reasoned that I was travelling in the height of summer, any walking/tramping could be done in my Merrel shoes, and it would only be cold for one afternoon in the Swiss Alps. Shoes and pants just for 1 day out of 60 would be taking up extraordinarily valuable space. After all, I was living off 18kg for 2 months. My tour leader Deni was aghast at my 3/4 pants and choice of footwear, but the decision had been made almost a month before, in the scorching heat of the desert and it was certainly way too late to change my mind. To balance out my summery lower half, I Kathmandu'ed my top half, with a hooded merino and a waterproof jacket. I would be just fine.

Clouds filled the sky as we walked to the train station.

To get to the top of the mountain, we caught the Wengener Alp Bahn from Lauterbrunnen. This took us as far as the alpine town Kline Scheidegg, where we transferred to the Jungfraubahn. The Jungfraubahn is a railway that takes you to the highest railway station in Europe, the Jungfraujoch. It is an electric gauge rack railway that runs almost entirely though a tunnel inside the Eiger and her neigbour Mönch. You travel up 9.3km of track, to an elevation of 3454m above sea level, at about 13kmph. The longest tunnel is over 7000m and it's steepest gradient is 25%. And all of this is made so much more impressive considering it was built in the early 1900s.

Just leaving town on the first train.

Inside the Jungfraubahn. From left going anticlockwise we have newlyweds Chris and Rody, Vath, Millie, Kim, Fabian, G, Achillies, (ALL Aussies) Girl Jo, Boy Joe -hiding (NZ), Loren (Aus), Me, Nick (NZ), Micheal, Nat (Aus), Ryan and Dane (NZ). We also had Canadians, and one South African at this stage, but they were off doing other things.

Despite frigid temperatures, the decision to open the windows was unanimous., and the quality of the air had me leaning out like a puppy. Delicious.

And then everyone had a go!

Magnificent views, with cows and their bells adding to the music.

Ominous weather...

Stopping at the Eismeer Station in the longest tunnel to look at the view through holes carved in the cliff face. But oh no, there were only clouds. "We will pop above them" I assured everybody, nervously.

At the top, there is the standard foodcourt, mini museum and souvenir shop (where I bought my most expensive magnet of the whole holiday!) an ice sculpture room, outdoor sledding and tube racing, along with a lift shaft to take you to the viewing deck. As expected we bypassed most and headed straight to the top. And, oh-o, it was as cloudy as a cigar room in the 18th Century.

Barely able to see in front of us, we headed into the food court, trying not to be dispirited. We had been supplied with a packed lunch - which we ate, and some chocolate. This was important, as we were so high up, the altitude could make you sick. It was incredible how much the chocolate helped - you felt really queasy, and of course did not want to eat something like chocolate, but once you ate a little, immediately you felt fine. I always knew chocolate could be miraculous.

No to be deterred from having fun, Nick, the Joes and I headed to see the ice sculptures' and stand on the Junfraujoch. To clarify - the Jungfraujoch is the saddle between the Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. We stood on the observatory, which as the 14th highest permanent observatory in the world at 3,571m above sea level. We didn't quite make the actual summit of the Jungfrau which is a shade taller at 4,158m.

Look how high up we are! Girl Jo, Boy Joe, me and Nick.

Nick and me being pensive in the Ice Sculpture room.

Outside in the clouds, with slightly cold feet, but holding up well!

After having our fun, we headed back up the lift to the observatory to try our luck again, and the clouds had just lifted enough for us to behold the incredible tops of the Swiss Alps surrounding us.

Phenomenal views.

Being a trifle silly.

As the clouds set in again, we headed back to the train, exultant in the co-operation of the weather and the day. The views on the way down were as incredible as the ones going up.

Meeting up with some of the others at the camping ground, we proceeded to invent "Drinking Frisbee" which we also played in Venice, to great success. The rules were simple. Throw a bad throw: you drink, drop a good throw: you drink, catch a bad throw: nominate a drink. I can't remember how the night ended, but I know I had fun.