Air West to LA, getting in and getting to Swiss Air gate went smoothly. Everybody was polite, there was an edge of anticipation in the air.
The flight was long but went smoothly. Peter didn’t go to sleep till 4AM Zurich time (8PM Mountain). He just wanted to watch movies. We had to wake him up at 9 AM Zurich, where we hussled to the train with the Idyll guide. Then we had a 4 hour or so train ride with a change in Lucerne. A stunningly beautiful ride, Peter was doing great, but very tired. We arrived in Meiringen in the early afternoon and were met by our landlords. No luggage, though.We didn't get it for another day! Fortunately, we had some basics with us and were dressed for Switzerland and walking. We were feeling tired but a little stunned and walk through Meiringen for the first time. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and were charmed by Meiringen as we walked the short ten minutes to Maelchplatz, our home for the next two weeks.
Photos around Meiringen and the apartment
The next day was the orientation at the Church Hall in Meiringen. When we dragged Peter out of bed, he didn’t feel good and finally threw up. He seemed to be feeling better so we walked into town. It was sunny and unusually warm. There were about 50 people there, of all ages and not a few kids. They came from all over the Heartland by bus and train to pick up a few last minute tips, updates and most importantly, how to read the Fahrplan-the mass transit plan. Regional booklets and information are at every station, and the master plan is placed in each Untours apartment That is what we brought for the orientation. Suddenly, Peter said he didn’t feel to good and he didn’t look to good either. I picked him up and headed out the back door of the meeting room and just got out when he puked on my shoulder and down the front of my shirt. Very little hits the floor. Luckily, I had on a grey REI polypro shirt. We headed to the restroom and I washed it out in the sink, back into the meeting room carrying Peter (still looking pretty green) grabbed the blanket and back outside in the shade of a tree in the yard of the Rectory. We stayed there all morning, Peter throwing up a couple more times, but eventually feeling better. I could see the group inside and didn’t mind at all lounging outside while they learned to read the schedules. Peter was feeling better by the time they were done, and it was still a beautiful day, so off we went to to the Cable Car to ride to Hasliberg-Reuti. Walking through Meiringen a several blocks to the cable car next to and over Alpbach falls.
Here we had our first picnic lunch at at playground picnic table looking over Meiringen from Hasliberg-Reuti. We mostly passed through Hasliberg-Reuti going up or down the mountain, but a couple of things are worth noting. Peter had the greatest time at the hotels on these electric cars. Two different hotels had them. For one Swiss franc, Peter got to ride for about five minutes. He loved it.
There was also a great restaurant at Gasthaus Weber. We were too early for dinner, but could order one of the wonderful mixed salads, Goulash, bread and a plate of Hasliberg cheese shaves. The locals in the bar, listening to sports and talking, and the three of us were the only people there. I am sure dinner would be fabulous. By then it was mid afternoon, we were all pooped, so we headed back down to do some grocery shopping, dinner and bed.
insert visit to Interlaken
Food
We had the great Mussli, fruit and coffee for breakfast and carried fresh bakery bread, cheese, fruit and a chocolate bar for lunch most days. The cheese and bread we picked up along the way, giving us a variety of local breads and cheeses. Swiss chocolate of course! mmmmm......
We ate at restaraunts some evenings or at lunch then had our lunch at dinner time. We did not have bad food at any spot, and had much good food. Peter liked Schweine Schnitzel and Pommes Frites. The green and mixed salads were very good and varied a little where ever you eat. At many restaraunts we had a choice of Swiss German, Italian and French style cuisine. We had great Pizza in Interlaken. We were warned the coffee was expensive, but it was good, even on the trains. Peter also loved Gipfeli (croissants) and a pastry called the Tazelwurm. It was an eclair like pastry with decorations to make it look like the legendary Tazelwurm of the Aareschucht (Aare Gorge).