We have been privileged to visit Grindelwald a number of times now and it was great to return (www.grindelwald.ch). Grindelwald is a mountain village with views of the Swiss Alps all around with trains, gondola and cable cars heading off in all directions to high in the mountains. We were guests of Nicole (our lovely host daughter from 1999), and met her husband, Christoph and their eleven month old daughter, Mia. They live in a newly built chalet with views from the living areas to the Eiger and surrounding mountains. We have always visited in summer and we can only imagine what the area looks like in winter when the area is completely covered in snow. Apparently the village gets at least 60 centimetres of snow in the winter and of course much more in the higher mountain areas. When in Switzerland, do as the Swiss do. After discussion we decided to have fondue for dinner but the local shops said that was a winter food and Nicole had to try a couple of shops before she could buy the correct cheese. We had this with fresh chunky bread and also boiled potatoes - yummy to say the least. Nicole is the principal of the Grindelwald and area schools which includes the school in the village and seven smaller schools in the outlying mountain areas. It is the end of the school year and in the evening we visited the school for the leaving students presentation to parents. While there we were able to sit in on the local yodelling group practice - one girl and about twenty guys of various ages. It was amazing to be part of a local practice rather than a tourist occasion. Wednesday morning Nicole went to work and Christoph was on "Daddy duty" and he cared for Mia and rode his bike with Mia in the trailer down the hill to Interlaken and then back up the hill again. Certainly one fit guy! Sadly we missed taking of photo to share. Nicole had planned our day! We took the mountain train initially to Kleine Scheidegg which is about 2000 metres above sea level. The train had many tourists and we were surprised to see one Asian couple put up their umbrella in the carriage as the sun was shining through the window. Shame they then had to miss the mountain views. Once at Kleine Scheidegg (at the foot of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains) we left the train and wandered up one of the mountain tracks. Here there is a hotel, some ski lodges and a few shops in addition to the railway station but no village. There wasn't any snow on the ground at this level but plenty on the mountains around us however there were a few wild spring flowers about. Mountain walking is very popular and the fit and adventurous were heading off while we boarded the train again to continue on down the mountain to a village called Wengen. Wengen is a very popular holidaymakers village, in particular as it is a carless village with only a few electric trucks and bikes. There are many chalets available for rent and so very popular. We made this our lunch stop and had time to wander through the village and took a look in the shops which were mostly closed for the official lunch break. There was a cable car in the village centre which takes five minutes to ride up to Männlichen which is a popular ski area at 2230 metres. We thought of taking the cable car but at 44 CHF return ($A61 / $NZ68) thought it was a bit rich. Back on the train, which incidentally is the longest cog wheeled train in Switzerland which opened in 1893, we continued on to Lauterbrunne where there are some 72 waterfalls. Travelling on the train it seemed that we passed one waterfall after another which when there are 72 it is not surprising. In the village (population around 2500) we walked to Staubbach Falls which plunge 300 metres over the rock face. We stood at the bottom but there are steps leading part way up. These falls are one of the highest free falling waterfalls in Europe. All around us we could see cable cars heading up and down the mountains to various villages and and ski lifts. The Jungfrau area is so beautiful, hard to describe, and really has to be visited to understood. They're is a train to the top of Jungfrau which is known as "Top of Europe" and as we had previously been to the top of the Eiger (beside Jungfrau) we were enjoying a new experience taking this round the mountain trip. The trains run very regularly, about half hourly, so eventually we were back on the train just a short distance, then after a change of trains arrived back in Grindelwald. It was a super day. In the evening we enjoyed a beautiful dinner in the home of Beatrice and Markus, Nicole's parents. It was so good to see them again and we had a lovely evening together. We are just so lucky to enjoy the friendship and hospitality of these lovely people. Thursday morning Nicole did not have to go to work and she had planned a day out for us, along with baby Mia. We took the car to Interlaken and then took the Harderbahn which is the cable car taking ten minutes straight up the steep 750 metre rock face to Harder Kulm. The restaurant at the top looks like a castle and there is a viewing platform (two lakes footbridge) allowing wide views of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and Interlaken which connects the two lakes, and also the Alps with great views of Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger. Construction of this cable car commenced in 1905. In the afternoon we boarded a boat for a trip down Brienzersee which is one of the two lakes. The boat was a paddle steamer and Peter enjoyed looking at the paddle wheel and motor mechanics. We took the boat as far as Giessbach and then took the funicular up the steep mountain face, past the waterfall, to the historic grand hotel at the top. It started to lightly rain as we arrived but we took a short walk up further to view the Geissbach Falls which thunder 400 metres down. Time didn't allow us to walk the full track to the top of the waterfall so we headed back down to the funicular as the boat was due back and we didn't want to wait a further two hours for the next boat. Dinner on our last night in Grindelwald was very special. With Christoph at the wheel we drove up the narrow roads leading high up the Alps. It is interesting to know that these roads are only usable in the summer months following the melting of the snow. Also only local village people are allowed to drive the alpine roads and the vehicle must show a special sticker to prove this. Berg Haus Bort is a restaurant and hotel high in the side of the hill looking towards the two glaciers opposite. To sit on the outside terrace (with sheepskin rugs on the outdoor chairs) and take in the panoramic views is something that has to be experienced. The restaurant meal was just delicious - rosti for me as it is one of the famous Swiss meals, and the company (Christoph, Nicole, Mia and of course Peter) perfect. If anyone is ever in Grindelwald they should experience a meal at Berg Haus Bort. Soon it was time again to pack up our suitcase, have coffee with Christoph and Nicole at Christoph's work and head on our way to Zurich via Lucern. We have loved our time in the Alps and especially enjoyed seeing Nicole again and meeting Christoph and Mia. I wonder where we will next see them - Switzerland or perhaps our part of the world. The drive to Zurich took us around the lake Brienzersee and over the Brienz pass to Lucern. We stopped at the top of the pass for the beautiful view of Schönbüel in Lungern and then travelled through many many tunnels of various lengths and soon arrived in Lucern. We have been to Lucern before so we had a short lunch stop on the lakefront then took the customary walk through the beautiful covered wooden footbridge called Kapellbrücke. Just 40 odd kilometres further along the freeway and we arrived in Zurich, our last stay planned in Switzerland for this visit. We so look forward to seeing Sarah, who was our first exchange student who lived with us in New Zealand back in 1998.