So you gotta know that you can't "Deponie Ausfahrt" if you're heading to Interlaken. Between the construction detours and the lack of language here in Switzerland it is a wonder we aren't sitting on an Alp somewhere tearing our hair out!!
Deponie Ausfahrt means exit for landfill. Now that isn't where we ended up but as a via point it was kind of interesting.
So here it is Friday night and our last night in Isenthal. We had a magical day.
The sun came out!!!! This morning it was foggy and cool. We have gone north, east and west so the only logical direction to take was south.... to the area around Interlaken.
Before I go on you have to know that we still have an issue with the highways, or at least we did until this morning. We broke down and bought a pass for the major highways in Switzerland. Last year Shane and I had no problem with the roads but this year is different. The village of Isenthal isn't easy to get to unless you take a major road. That sounds silly when you realize that we are up a twisty country road that even the buses have trouble negotiating.... That being said, if you are arriving from the west you have to get within 5km of Isenthal then cross the lake by ferry and then drive another 20km around to get to the windy road that takes you up to town. If you arrive by a major road you go past the village (cause you're in a tunnel) then do a U turn at the nearest town and end up in your bed before midnight. So, given my frustration level at the end of a long day's driving, we decided to break down and buy the pass.
That made today almost perfect.
We headed west and then south to the area of Interlaken. As we made it over the Bruingpass the sun came out and the Alps stood out in all their majesty before us. It just kept getting better. Drove through the valley towards Stechelberg. At every turn of the road there were pictures to take. Sipping cappuchino in Lauterbrunnen sitting in the sun looking up at the sun hitting the Alpen glaciers. Wow!!
Drove to Grindewald which was equally spectacular. There are just not enough words to describe the day we had.
We topped it off by a visit to Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg. No, that's not a swear word. This is the place where houses, barns, water wheels etc. were taken from different Cantons in Switzerland and reassembled on a 16 acre site. This is a museum that everyone who visits Switzerland should see. It is history at it's best. We spent over two hours here and did not see it all. Too bad. To do it justice you would need at least 5 hours.
Tomorrow we head north to meet with my friend Katharina in Schmerikon. We are going to a festival together with her Dad, Walter. More history.... more fun!
Don't know when I will be on line again... next time will probably be from Germany.