Alps! I've Arrived!

Today was a travel day.
Spent the morning in Interlaken finding an ATM, going to a bank and the CooP, packing up and getting a taxi to the East train station.

One lesson from this trip? Definitely pack LESS! Even though we did pretty good at keeping the volume down, I could cut that in half!
We decided on a taxi to the train even though the West station was a .25 mile from our hotel. Due to the weight of carrying, and dragging everything. Better pay the $16 francs

One thing about the Hotel Post Hardermannli is the location was so close to everything we needed. Bus stop - 200 feet. Bank - across the street. CooP - 500 feet. Restaurants - all around.

We got the train to Lauterbrunnen (saw some of the famous waterfalls) then caught the overcrowded bus full of tourists to Stechelberg, from which all those tourists (a very large number from China) pushed their way into the Schilthornbahn (cable car). It kinda felt like a daily excursion in an city buss in Indonesia. Which trust me - were so packed with people some hung out the doors! We stopped at Grimmelwald where some got out - not really enough to open up any space though and we moved on to Murren. Where we let all the 'tourists' push their way out and then we go out with out the rush.

We had an hour to wait for our VRBO host "Nick" so had fondue at the restaurant right next to the Bahn station. The restaurant was going to close up early due to a private party being thrown by IBM for some of their employees. Can't complain if your company sends you to the alps for a party!!! LOL

We met Nick. Really nice Brit, who he and his wife (and grown kids) bought property up here and are living their dream! He helped us with the luggage which was so nice of him cause we had to traverse down a LOT (multiple lot to A LOT!) of stairs down to his apt (which was UP on the third floor of stairs) in a really cool old Swiss chalet. Btw, did I mention that the Hotel Post Hardermannli did not have an elevator and our room was on the third floor there too?

Anyway we got settled in and we were going to meet up with Nick for dinner at seven. He left and we set outside on the balcony to enjoy THIS view! The Iger (aka Oger) is behind Pat.. we can't see the Jungfrau and Monk from here like we could from Interlaken. But whose complaining??!!

It was very cool to listen to Pat play the very song he wrote here in Switzerland 45 years ago.

Pat already has three gigs up here. Everyone knows everyone so Nick set up a couple of things in Murren, and Pat has his gig playing again at the same hostel he stayed at when he was 19 - tomorrow night. I was bushed to took a nap while Pat went and played at the Café Liv. I was still bushed when he got back and begged off dinner, while he went back up the 'hill' (aka mountain side) to meet Nick for dinner and possibly play in the restaurant they are going to.

I took some Tylenol, did some stretching and really hoping I will be recovered for tomorrow. I got pain in my left knee, the back of my right leg and my back! LOL URG>. I need my own 19 year old body back!

ALSO - I'm going to take a break from the blog for the next two days so I can truly take in the alps and restore my soul. Don't worry about us, we are in good hands!