Sadly, two days is not really enough for this magnificent place, but I enjoyed every second of my time there, especially long evenings sitting on the balcony, listening to the happy sounds of children playing in the nearby playground and admiring the beautiful pastel colours of clouds at sunset. No need for television!
I was determined to try out the brand new lift they now have from Grindelwald to Eigergletscher. After years of discussion as to whether the lift would damage or enhance this spectacular environment, the project was given the green light. I can only compare this to the debate in NZ as to whether we should build a similar gondola to connect Queenstown to Milford. So many pros and cons, but I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised as to how uninvasive this Eiger Flyer is. From afar you see only a few of the cables and close up you hear virtually nothing.
It can transport 24 people per cabin and whisks you to the top, past the awesome North face of the Eiger, in about 20 minutes.
Eigergletscher station and small cafe with terrace had been transformed into a modern, bustling station where hoards of people transfer to the trains to Jungfrau Joch. New restaurants, terraces, but still the same old majestic peaks around you of the fabulous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
The glacier has receeded terribly since I was last there, but this in no way detracts from the splendour of this incredible area
It is one of the most spectacular, accessible sites in the world possibly.
The walk down to Eigergletscher looked uninviting on shingle paths, with hundreds of day trippers intermingled with crazy ultra runners running the Eiger Ultra trail, from 32 - 130 kilometres, depending on which length you choose. With temperatures in the high twenties, and altitude difference of 2700metres, it was very easy to question the sanity of the hundreds of competitors running many of the wonderful tracks, with no time to stop and stare!
How peaceful it all looked a little below Scheidegg.
The cow bells rang out loud and clear in this marvellous mountain air.
Down in the valley between two lakes is my very first Swiss home, Interlaken. I arrived there 52 years ago and lived in a room in the tower of the Grand Hotel Victoria Jungfrau. It's a fact I struggled with ! Am I really soooo old? Yes, but how fantastic to be able to return to the hotel after so many years and sit in the park opposite reminiscing.
'Do you have pleasant memories?' a lady asked me. Actually, I have, but there are two which stand out.
The first night I slept in the tower, it was freezing and I was super scared. The hotel was closed between seasons and everything draped in white sheets, no heating and nobody there except me! It was a perfect murder mystery scenario!
Second memory was of a sudden huge storm which swept through, killing some sailors on the lake and causing havoc in the town, with benches flying around, along with the occasional poor little poodle! Embarrassingly, my underwear which was hanging outside my window, was never to be seen again! Or not by me!
I sat and chatted to a local resident and she encouraged me to go in. The hotel has certainly been revamped and can now certainly be classified as a luxury hotel. It was 5- star when I worked there, but didn't deserve so many stars then. It certainly does now.
The elegant new entrance, with its 3 very welcoming concierges, used to be a pathway between the two hotel buildings.
The very smart reception was totally different.
As it was too hot to be walking far, I spent a lovely afternoon on the hotel terrace, listening to a pianist and drinking delicious, yet rather expensive tea. The waitress was fascinated by my story!
What a brilliant afternoon, topped off with a short visit to friends near Bern, Andy and Beatrice. We sat on the terrace enjoying a delicious Raclette, catching up on our various trips, and enjoying nature's very own Son et Lumière show.
On one side we watched the most incredible full moon rise up over the mountains, and on the other side was a barrage of thunder and lightning, which lasted for hours luckily not so close!
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