We headed off from Nice, passing through the French Alps, and we mean through, certainly the longest tunnel we have ever been in, and probably the longest in the world. The trip was long, but a long way from boring. The scenery is spectacular (not too flash in the tunnel though) and travelling with the backpackers was fun. The bus driver allowed passengers to put their own music on the bus system, and we spent much of the trip listening to 'a little bit of Erica by my side' a popular song of the time. After the tunnel we were in the Swiss Alps and wound our way past Lausanne and Interlaken until we arrived at Chalet Camping Jungfrau in Lauterbrunnen.

Our first day in Lauterbrunnen was a catch up day, we had a nice chalet, sharing with another lovely couple Paul & Kelly from Melbourne, but with our own room. So given we had some creature comforts we caught up on some rest and the washing (the washing turned out to be very long winded as everyone had the same idea). We also found time to go for a walk and found ourselves at the foot of a lovely waterfall. It was the stuff of fantasies as it was possible to get behind the cascading water (remember the phantom?, but no cave). We had fun taking some video looking through the waterfall, then on the way back to camp we came across the absolutely neatest cemetery ever. Lauterbrunnen is incredibly picturesque nestled in a deep valley between Mt Jungfrau 4158 metres and the Schilthorn 2971 metres. A cable car is connected to the top of the Schilthorn and it is possible to travel 3454 metres up the Jungfrau (Jungfraujoch) and both have restaurants.

As we were counting dollars, on the second day we decided not to go to the top of either mountain and contented ourselves with catching the funicular at Lauterbrunnen up the Schilthorn as far as Grutschalp then the train to Murren. From Murren we walked to Gimmelwald where we caught the cable car over the edge and down the mountain to Stechelberg. At Stechelberg we caught the bus to Trummelbach Falls. These were truly amazing and unique, as the falls tumble down a crevasse enclosed inside the mountain and we were able to climb steps alongside the falls up into the crevasse. The noise of the falls is deafening as the water twists, turns and cascades down finally flushing out into the open at the bottom.

Back at Lauterbrunnen we caught the train to Interlaken and we spent the afternoon wandering around this lovely little town. Unfortunately it is also where the young Australian backpackers recently drowned when the river became swollen while they were canyoning. The organizers of the event are facing criminal charges.

Thursday and back on the bus first stop is just down the road, Lucerne. We are told we have two hours in Lucerne while passengers are organized (Paul and Kelly were getting off here) so we headed off on foot to explore. Lucerne is very old and has a real medieval look about it, many of the structures dating back to the 13th century. In fact one bridge we crossed is claimed to be the oldest surviving wooden bridge in Europe.

Footnote: Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch is UNESCO World Heritage listed. 

Next stop Munich in Germany.