Hostels, Hilltops and Hideaways.

Our latest family adventure saw us exploring the Bernese Oberland region.
After a relatively early morning departure we were greeted with rising giant balloons in Chateau-d-Oex, famous for its hot air. This is where Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones launched their record breaking, round the world, 20 day hot air balloon ride back in March 1999.
The early morning was fresh and clear, perfect for a slow drift noiselessly over hill, dale and forest against the backdrop of the ice covered Alps.
Our plan was to get a little more up close and personal with the pearly Alp Kings and Queens: Eiger (Ogre), Monch (Monk) and Jungfrau (Virgin).

Not a bad shot through the sun roof!

 

 



Unusually we have a well thought out and researched trip planned, but this time we thought we would wing it.

We explored the option of taking the famous 2.5 hour train trip up to the Jungfraujoch (3454m) which was opened in 1912. The final tunnel, through the heart of heart of Eiger took 3000 men 16 years to build, and is the highest railway station in Europe. Total construction costs of 14.9 million Sfr or about  1.6 million Sfr/km.

We decided against it on this trip, partly due to the expensive price tag and also to give us more of a chance to get familiar with the surrounding area.

Two valleys branch southward from Interlarken.The broad valley curving east is dominated by Grindelwald. The valley running directly south leads to Lauterbrunnen, from there you can reach the car free resorts on the hill above.  

 

 

All the colours are very intense in autumn. The sky is steel-blue, the colours of the deciduous trees range from yellow to red and the mountain peaks are snow-white. We seemed to be forever reaching for the camera. So here are a few of our favourites shots.

  

                      


A little about Gimmelwald.

Gimmelwald is a small village in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland,, halfway up the mountain between Stechelberg and Mürren, at an elevation of 1363 meters (4472 feet). The Schilthorn cable car stops in Gimmelwald where it is possible to board another cable car which runs between Gimmelwald and Mürren.
In addition to a shop that sells fresh cheeses, Gimmelwald also possesses its own school and firehouse. Farming and tourism are the main occupations. Farmers raise hay on tiny plots of land to feed small herds of cows. Gimmelwald has a few small hotels, bed & breakfasts and the 50-bed Gimmelwald Mountain Hostel. It was saved from development as a ski resort by having it falsely declared an avalanche zone.
The 2003 population of Gimmelwald was 130, most of whom have one of three family names: von
Allmen, Feuz, or Brunner

Gimmelwald from above.

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Late Autumn check list!

Paid for and picked up early bird Season Ski Passes.        Check

Thermals, hats and gloves unpacked and in draws.           Check

Planter boxes and herbs in from the deck.                         Check

Glass of red wine poured and savoring.                             Check


Snow and -8 deg today after yesterdays 20 deg stunner..  CHECK!

Autumn Colours

It seems that Autumn is still a real season here high up in the hills. I am not sure if it is all the fresh mountain air, brightness of the sun or slightly less oxygen due to the altitude, but the fiery Autumn colours creeping their way up the valley is truly spectacular.

The kids have been making a lot of creative bits and bobs over the holidays with all the crunchy colourful leaves, pine cones and treasures mother nature is shedding in preparation for her winter blanket which will soon be wrapped in close and tight.

The village is in full swing reading itself for the first real onslaught of winter. The fluorescent marker posts line the roads from one end of the village to the other, and half way down the hill. And for those who are not really in the know...like ourselves, these markers are a guide for the guys that plow the roads all day every day. They can easily (for a while at least) see where the edge of the road/bank/cliff is and make more accurate judgments when keeping the streets of Leysin clear.  

 So we thought we would take a few photos to compare the difference in the middle of winter once the snow plow has been past our steps a few times.

Ironically the first day of the mid term holidays also brought the first snow for the season. Lasting only half the day with a stunning warm front following close behind. Since that Monday, the region has been bathed in 20 deg+ days and wall to wall sunshine. 

With half a week left of the holidays, the kids are back to full energy and looking forward to catching up with their friends.

Jack has plowed the first 5 Harry Potter books in the last 4 weeks and is living a secret life at Hogwarts. We will have to have a few exciting books up our sleeves once he has defeated Voldermort, as life may not be the same for a while with out his new found friends and ancient boarding school.

Hopefully I will get a few minutes today to add a post about our weekend away eyeing up the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.

Take care,

Fee.

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Today was Dads birthday and he turned 30 11!
So Jessie, mum and I caught the cog train down to Aigle to surprise him with a picnic lunch.
It was both the girls first time on the train, but I had been on it before.

We stopped at the supermarket in Aigle and brought some salads, fresh juices, warm baguette and of course a little treat for after.

We met a surprised Dad in the carpark and drove to Lake Geneva. The weather was perfect! Sunny and warm and hardly any one was around.

After lunch we walked along the edge of the lake spotting fish until dad had to head back to work.

We caught the train back up the hill to Leysin and got dads presents ready for when he got home from work.

Dad wanted to watch a movie called the 'Bucket List'. It had some funny parts and some sad parts but mostly Jessie and I didn't understand it....maybe it is what old people watch....Sorry dad.

               

“20 years from now you will be dissapointed by the things you didn’t do than by the one’s you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” ~ Mark Twain

From Jack.

Happy 9th Birthday Jack!

A birthday brings with it so much excitement and anticipation and 
Jack has been in count down mode for over a week. 
Thankfully I don't think he was disappointed.

My Birthday

By Jack

Mum wrote a note and put it in each balloon. I had to come up with a different way to pop the balloon each time to find out which present I was allowed to open. My friend Theo and I had lots of fun trying different ways. We could even sit on them and wriggle without the balloon bursting!

I felt really lucky to get presents all the way from New Zealand!

We hiked up to Prafandaz for a picnic lunch. With my favorite lollies (from Grandma), Chocolate Gateau,  chips and  Iced Tea. Then we played tag with my nurf guns.

After a late night of talking and laughing with Theo and wanting to wake up early to open my presents, we were both a little pooped!

In the afternoon we went down to the valley because Dad had racing on at the velodrome.

I had McDonald's for tea! The first time in months. That was a treat.

We dropped Theo home and watched a little bit of cycling, but I really wanted to get home and jump into my  soft bed and read my new books.

I think turning 9 is cool because my next birthday I will be 10! Double figures as dad says.

This was my first birthday away from New Zealand. I wonder where else in the world I will spend my future birthdays?

Thank you to everyone for all my awesome presents and messages.

From Jack.

Picnic Lunch, By Jessica.

Today mum took us to a great picnic spot she found up the track from our house.

It felt like summer even though the leaves are starting to turn golden and go crunchy.

Jack and I make the swings look small. I think we have grown a little.

Soon this whole area will be white with snow, but today it was beautiful and warm.

From Jessica.

Chateau Tourbillon

Tourbillon Castle



The Tourbillon Castle (literally, Whirlwind Castle) on the opposite hill from the Valère Castle, dates from 1294, but was ruined by fire in 1788 and today, aside from the external walls, little is left.

We had planned to do one of the spectacular wine trails through the vines of Sion, exploring one of the oldest and largest Aqueducts in Europe. Autumn is meant to be one of the best times of the year for the 7km amble through this sun drenched wine growing district, as the gold tinged vines hang heavy with ripe grapes.
Alas, this particular Sunday was drenched alright, just not from the Mediterranean like weather the guide book had promised.
Never the less, we explored the old town of Sion armed with umbrellas and jackets till we found a quaint Swiss/Italian cafe filled with its Sunday regulars savouring their mid morning coffees and pastries.
By the time we had devoured our fondu, frites and flat whites we took to the streets in search of history and adventure.

Sion is the capital of the Swiss canton of Valais.
Landmarks include the Basilique de Valère and Château de Tourbillon.
Sion has an airfield for civilian and military use and which serves as a base for countless life-saving air rescue missions on and around the surrounding Alps that rise up steeply from the narrow valley floor.

Sion is one of the most important pre-historic sites in Europe. The alluvial fan of Sionne, the rocky slopes above the river and, to a lesser extent, Valeria and Tourbillon hills have been settled nearly continuously since antiquity. The oldest trace of human settlement comes from 6200 BC during the late Mesolithic. Around 5800 BC early Neolithic farmers from the Mediterranean settled in Sion. The settlements remained small until about 4500 BC, during the middle Neolithic, when the number of settlements increased sharply. To support the population increase, farming and grazing spread throughout the valley.
Now the slopes are solely used for the production of fine Swiss wines. Which rather cunningly they keep well under wraps choosing not to export anywhere outside Switzerland. Though they are extremely generous when it comes to sharing with thirsty travelers who happen to cross their landlocked boarders.

Jed, Jack and Jess. Together again!

Spot the plum thieves!

We will keep Sion on our to-do list and head back down the valley to explore its history and of course its fine wines another day.

Especially because they grow such fine looking Kiwi fruit!