Monday, May, 9 Walked 3.22 mi
Parker → Denver → Chicago → …
Photos | Map
- 06:40 Parker: Maya drove us to DEN (Denver)
- 08:30 Denver: Caught Southwest #2225 to ORD (O'Hare Chicago)
- 11:41 Chicago: Decided to wait 7 hours for Swiss flight #9
to ZRH (Zurich). 80 open seats = better chance of sitting together.
- 14:20 Chicage: Big Bowl (Orange & Sesame Chicken) $17.87
- 19:10 Chicago: Fly to Zurich $165.88
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 Our plane from Chicago to Zurich
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 Our boarding passes
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Tuesday, May, 10 5.23 = 8.45 mi
… → Zurich → Luzern
Photos | Map
- 10:30 Zurich: Land at ZRH
- 12:10 Zurich: Buy 1/2 fare cards $253.38
- 12:10 Zurich: Buy 1st Class Tickets to Luzern $55.96
- 12:30 Zurich: Train to Luzern
- 14:00 Luzern: Check into airbnb 7 nights $773.51 (Map)
- 16:24 Luzern Lowencenter Coop: $15.18
- 16:36 Luzern: walk around
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 Löwendenkmal
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 Kapellbrücke
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Wednesday, May, 11 6.89 = 15.34 mi
Mt Pilatus, Mt Stanserhorn
Photos | Map
- 08:29 Luzern: Buy "Tell Pass" for Week $646.27
- 08:40 Luzern: Bus to Kriens Zentrum Pilatus
- 09:03 Kriens: Funicular, Cable Car to Pilatus
- 09:50 Mt Pilatus: Lovely views from near summit
- 10:20 Mt Pilatus Dragon Shop: Magnet $7.43
- 10:43 Bus back to Luzern airbnb
- 11:58 Luzern: Lunch at Subway $24.95
- 12:47 Luzern: Train to Stans
- 13:26 Stans: Gondola, Cabrio to Stanserhorn
- 14:05 Stanserhorn: Awesome summit views
- 15:01 Train back to Luzern airbnb
- 16:19 Luzern Lowencenter Coop: $22.30 Roll, Yogurt, Froz Veg, Ham.
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 Stanserhorn Cabrio (Double-deck, open top cable car!)
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 Looking South near the Stanserhorn summit
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Thursday, May, 12 7.33 = 22.67 mi
Reichenbach Falls
Photos | Map
- 09:33 Luzern: Train to Meiringen
- 11:35 Meiringen: Funicular to Reichenbach Falls $17.28
- 14:14 Meiringen: Cable Car to Reuti
- 14:20 Hasliberg - Reuti station Selecta - Vending $3.55
- 15:03 Meiringen: Migros $3.19
- 15:15 Meiringen: avec - Snacks $9.47
- 15:30 Train back to Luzern airbnb
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 Reichenbach Falls
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 Looking East across Meiringen
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Friday, May, 13 5.00 = 27.67 mi
Sattel Skywalk suspension bridge
Photos | Map
- 11:23 Luzern: Train to Rothenthurm
- 12:45 Rothenthurm: Train to Sattel-Aegeri
- 13:11 Sattel: Revolving Gondola to SkyWalk
- 14:23 Sattel: The Sour Bros bakery
- 15:53 Train back to Luzern airbnb (change at Arth-Goldau)
- 16:16 Luzern: Confiseur Bachmann AG - Ice Cream $13.49
- 17:01 Luzern Lowencenter Coop: Tort, Yogurt, RB, Froz Veg $26.19
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 Sattel Skywalk
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 Mostelberg
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Saturday, May, 14 6.29 = 33.96 mi
Mt Titlis
Photos | Map
- 08:35 Luzern: Train to Engelberg
- 09:40 Engelberg: Revolving Cable Car to Titlis
- 09:49 Titlis Panoramarestaurant - Magnet $9.49
- 10:51 Titlis: Ice Cave and Cliff Walk
- 12:10 Engelberg avec: Snacks $5.66
- 12:15 Train back to Luzern airbnb
- 15:43 Walk East along Lake Luzern
- 15:50 Confiseur Bachmann AG - Ice Cream $13.49
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 Mt Titlis summit
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 View West from Gondola
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Sunday, May, 15 6.05 = 40.01 mi
Mt Rigi
Photos | Map
- 08:18 Luzern: Train to Kussnacht am Rigi
- 08:54 Kussnacht am Rigi: Bus to Vitznau
- 09:32 Vitznau: Cog to Rigi
- 10:51 Rigi Kulm: spectacular views
- 12:01 Rigi: Cog to Arth-Goldau
- 12:50 Arth-Goldau Coop: $4.16
- 12:55 Arth-Goldau: Train back to Luzern airbnb
- 14:00 Confiseur Bachmann AG - Snack $2.85
- 14:06 Luzern Bahnhof Coop: Yogurt, RB, Grapes $10.33
- 15:00 Confiseur Bachmann AG - Ice Cream $13.49
- 18:50 Luzern: Walk West to Funicular
- 19:20 Luzern: ride Funicular Gütsch
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 Rigi Kulm looking South
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 Rigibahn arriving with Mt Pilatus in background
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Monday, May, 16 5.84 = 45.85 mi
Andermatt
Photos | Map
- 09:18 Luzern: Train to Göschenen
- 10:54 Göschenen: Train to Andermatt
- 11:06 Andermatt: Walk around, see yaks
- 11:58 Andermatt Coop: Chik Sand, Bread, Chips, Fanta $9.11
- 12:08 Trains back to Luzern airbnb (change at Göschenen)
- 13:49 Confiseur Bachmann AG - Ice Cream $13.49
- 18:00 Luzern: Walk North
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 Yaks
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 Downtown Andermatt
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Tuesday, May, 17 9.08 = 54.93 mi
→ Meiringen → Interlaken → Lauterbrunnen
Photos | Map
- 07:30 Luzern: Check out of airbnb
- 08:06 Luzern: Train to Aareschlucht
- 09:55 Aareschlucht Shop - Admission $21.09
- 10:00 Aareschlucht!
- 11:16 Aareschlucht Shop - Magnet $5.80
- 11:20 Meiringen: avec - Snacks $8.19
- 11:25 Meiringen: Train to Interlaken Ost
- 12:29 Interlaken Ost: Coop $0.84
- 12:31 Interlaken Ost: Buy "Top of Europe" Passes $477.35
- 12:31 Interlaken Ost: Buy tickets to Lauterbrunnen $7.68
- 13:04 Interlaken Ost: Train to Lauterbrunnen
- 14:00 Lauterbrunnen: Check into airbnb 7 nights $1,433.42 (Map)
- 15:06 Lauterbrunnen: Walk South
- 15:16 Lauterbrunnen Coop: $40.80
- 15:50 Lauterbrunnen: Flavors - Ice Cream $11.98
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 Waterfall landing directly in the River Aare
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 View from INSIDE Airbnb: Staubach Falls, Lauterbrunnen 974' high
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Wednesday, May, 18 9.84 = 64.77 mi
Jungfraujoch!, Eiger Express, Grindelwald, Interlaken
Photos | Map
- 08:07 Lauterbrunnen: Train to Kleine Scheidegg
- 09:00 Kleine Scheidegg: Train to Eigergletscher
- 09:29 Eigergletscher: Train to Jungfraujoch
- 10:16 Jungfraujoch!
- 11:22 Lindt: $8.06
- 12:00 Magnet $6.86
- 12:12 Begin Return
- 12:47 Eiger Express to Grindelwald
- 13:05 Trains to Interlaken Ost, Lauterbrunnen
- 13:14 Grindelwald Coop: Pot Sal, Choc Croissant, Fanta, Spork $6.45
- 16:06 Lauterbrunnen: Flavors - Ice Cream $12.10
- 16:29 Bus to Schilthornbahn
- 16:48 Schilthornbahn to Gimmelwald
- 17:30 Return to Schilthornbahn
- 17:45 Walk back to airbnb
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 Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe 11,332'
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 Perplexed Alpine Chough
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Thursday, May, 19 5.82 = 70.59 mi
First Cliff Walk, Eiger Express
Photos | Map
- 08:30 Lauterbrunnen: Train to Grindelwald
- 09:30 Grindelwald: Walk to First Cliff Walk
- 10:00 Gondola to First Cliff Walk
- 10:55 Grindelwald Coop: $11.04
- 12:24 Grindelwald Eigershop Coop: Water, Fanta $2.43
- 13:15 Lunch/Joy Ride on Eiger Express round trip
- 14:00 Trains to Zweilutschinen, Lauterbrunnen
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 The Eiger from First Cliff Walk
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 First Cliff Walk, Eiger, Bachlager Falls
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Friday, May, 20 8.70 = 79.29 mi
Harder Kulm, Hiking, Interlaken
Photos | Map
- 08:46 Lauterbrunnen: Train to Interlaken Ost
- 09:30 Interlaken: Funicular to Harder Kulm
- 09:45 Hike on Harder Kulm
- 12:00 Return on Funicular
- 12:10 Alpine Wildlife Park
- 12:30 Walk around Interlaken
- 12:52 Interlaken Coop: Pot Sal, Roll, Choc Croissant, Pepper, Pink GFJ $8.95
- 14:20 Train to Lauterbrunnen
- 15:14 Lauterbrunnen Coop: Roll, Choc Croissant, Apple Strudel, RB, Grapes $13.16
- 15:15 Lauterbrunnen: Backerei Von Allmen - Ice Cream Bars $7.20
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 Harder Kulm: Eiger, Monch & Jungfrau beyond Interlaken
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 Harder Kulm
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Saturday, May, 21 5.45 = 84.74 mi
Piz Gloria
Photos | Map
- 09:20 Lauterbrunnen: Cable Car to Grutschalp
- 09:40 Grutschalp: Train to Murren
- 10:11 Murren: Cable Car to Birg $68.09
- 10:20 Birg: Skyline Walk
- 10:30 Birg: Thrill Walk
- 11:26 Birg: Cable Car to Schilthorn
- 11:34 Schilthorn: Piz Gloria, another awesome place!
- 13:31 Murren Coop: Pot Sal, Roll, Choc Croissant, Chips, Water $9.08
- 13:56 Lauterbrunnen: Flavors - Ice Cream $16.51
- 14:33 Lauterbrunnen Coop: Rolls, Choc Croissant, Apple Strudel, Yogurt, RB $12.48
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 Piz Gloria
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 View Southeast from Piz Gloria
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Sunday, May, 22 5.63 = 90.37 mi
Eiger Express, Hiking, First Cliff Walk
Photos | Map
- 09:22 Lauterbrunnen: Train to Grindelwald Terminal
- 10:06 Eiger Express to Eigergletscher station
- 10:31 Eigergletscher: Train to Kleine Scheidegg
- 10:45 Kleine Scheidegg: Walk to Wengernalp
- 12:10 Wengernalp: Train to Kleine Scheidegg
- 13:00 Kleine Scheidegg: Train to Grindelwald
- 13:46 Grindelwald Terminal Coop: Pot Sal, Roll, Fanta $5.47
- 14:10 Grindelwald: Walk to Firstbahn
- 14:13 Grindelwald Coop: $3.20
- 14:40 Gondola to First Cliff Walk
- 15:40 Trains to Zweilutschinen, Lauterbrunnen
- 15:56 Grindelwald Eigershop Coop: Toblerone, Choc Pastry, Chips, Evian $11.04
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 First Cliff Walk (visit 2 of 3)
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 Wengernalp with Jungfraujoch in background
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Monday, May, 23 8.02 = 98.39 mi
Trummelbach Falls, Hiking
Photos | Map
- 08:53 Lauterbrunnen: Bus to Trummelbach Falls
- 09:15 Trummelbach Falls $28.89
- 10:11 Bus to Stechelberg Hotel
- 10:25 Stechelberg: Sefinefall
- 11:20 Bus to Lauterbrunnen
- 11:56 Train to Wengen
- 12:30 Walk back to Lauterbrunnen airbnb
- 14:58 Lauterbrunnen Coop: $13.21
- 15:17 Lauterbrunnen: Flavors - Ice Cream $16.51
- 15:40 Lauterbrunnen Coop: $13.10
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 Staubach Falls
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 Trummelbach Falls
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Tuesday, May, 24 5.71 = 104.1 mi
→ Interlaken → Spiez → Visp → Zermatt!
Photos | Map
- 09:00 Lauterbrunnen: Train to Interlaken Ost $93.47
- 09:40 Interlaken Ost: Train to Spiez
- 10:00 Spiez: Train to Visp
- 11:03 Visp: Train to Zermatt
- 12:00 Zermatt: Arrive
- 12:24 Zermatt Coop: Pot Sal, Roll, Choc Croissant, Apple Strudel, Fanta $9.45
- 14:00 Zermatt: Check into airbnb 7 nights $1,236.42 (Map)
- 14:42 Zermatt: Cable Cars to Furi, Trockener Steg, Glacier Paradise $113.20
- 15:30 return to Trockener Steg for photos
- 15:50 return to Zermatt airbnb
- 16:30 Zermatt Coop: Chickens... $50.47
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 Our first view of the Matterhorn up close-ish
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 Zermatt from Trockener Steg
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Wednesday, May, 25 7.1 = 111.2 mi
Soak up Zermatt, Hiking
Photos | Map
- 12:44 Zermatt Coop: Chickens... $32.43
- 15:40 Zermatt: Walk to Gornergratbahn Bridge
- 20:00 Zermatt: Walk towards Matterhorn
- 19:25 Zermatt Coop: 2 Fanta $3.03
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 Our Airbnb is in the center
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 Zermatt
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Thursday, May, 26 7.22 = 118.42 mi
Gorner Gorge, Furi, Hiking
Photos | Map
- 09:50 Zermatt: Walk to Gorner Gorge
- 10:50 Walk to Furi
- 11:40 Continue on to Hangebrucke
- 13:53 Gondola back Furi to Zermatt $13.55
- 15:47 Zermatt Coop: Rolls, Choc Croissant, Burger, Grapes, Fanta $21.63
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 Matterhorn Morning
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 Alan Codkind was right
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Friday, May, 27 11.66 = 130.08 mi
Gornergratbahn, Riffelsee, hike to Tasch
Photos | Map
- 08:05 Zermatt: Train Gornergratbahn $115.34
- 08:52 Riffelberg: Walk to Riffelsee
- 10:52 Resume Gornergratbahn, then return to Zermatt
- 12:22 Zermatt Coop: Chicken, Roll, Choc Croissant, CranApple, Choc Beurre, Chips $31.73
- 15:20 Walk to Tasch
- 17:15 Tasch: Train to Zermatt. $8.56
- 17:34 Zermatt Coop: Pot Sal, Yogurt, Fanta $9.17
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 Russell's bucket-list photo
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 Riffelsee
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Saturday, May, 28 9.49 = 139.57 mi
Trockener Steg, hiking
Photos | Map
- 09:09 Zermatt: Cable Car to Trockener Steg $75.44
- 10:30 Trockener Steg: Cable Car to Furi
- 10:45 Walk back thru Zmutt
- 13:30 Zermatt: Gelateria Vorrei - Ice Cream $14.67
- 17:00 Walk North thru Zermatt
- 18:31 Zermatt Migros: Pizzas, Veg, RB, Choc Beurre $18.07
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 from Trockener Steg (visit 2 of 3)
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 from Trockener Steg
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Sunday, May, 29 6.95 = 146.52 mi
Sunnegga, Hiking
Photos | Map
- 12:00 Zermatt: Walk to Sunnegga Funicular
- 13:00 Zermatt: Funicular to Sunnegga $27.24
- 13:45 Walk back via Findelbach station
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 from Sunnegga
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 walking from Sunnegga back to Zermatt
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Monday, May, 30 4.78 = 151.3 mi
meet family in Andermatt, return to Zermatt
Photos | Map
- 08:15 Zermatt: Train to Visp $152.98
- 09:25 Visp: Train to Brig
- 09:20 Visp Coop: $3.77
- 09:55 Brig: Train to Andermatt
- 12:22 Meet family in Andermatt
- 12:30 Return to Zermatt with Family
- 14:30 Visp Coop: $11.11
- 17:44 Zermatt Coop: Chickens, Choc Croissant, CranApple, Veg $34.15
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 the party of 9
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 another fine evening
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Tuesday, May, 31 7.74 = 159.04 mi
Gornergratbahn, Riffelsee
Photos | Map
- 08:20 Zermatt: Train Gornergratbahn $114.87
- 08:55 Riffelberg: Walk to Riffelsee, Rotenboden
- 11:15 Rotenboden: Resumed Gornergratbahn, then returned to Zermatt
- 12:30 Zermatt: lunch Walliserkanne $71.00
- 13:58 Zermatt: WEGA Nishinaga - TShirt, Magnet $22.82
- 14:10 Zermatt: Walk to Gornergratbahn Bridge
- 18:00 Zermatt: Check into airbnb 1 night $170.94 (Map)
- 18:40 Zermatt Coop: Roll, Apple Strudel, Choc Croissant, Yogurt, Fanta $7.00
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 hiking in Riffelberg
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 Riffelsee
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Wednesday, June, 1 4.48 = 163.52 mi
Trockener Steg, → Visp → Spiez → Interlaken
Photos | Map
- 09:40 Zermatt: Cable Car to Trockener Steg $75.26
- 11:00 Trockener Steg: Cable Car back to Zermatt
- 12:02 Zermatt Coop: Roll, Choc Croissant, Apple Strudel, Fanta $6.43
- 12:05 Zermatt: Train to Visp $88.30
- 13:00 Visp Coop: $5.70
- 13:20 Visp: Train to Spiez
- 14:00 Spiez: Train to Interlaken West
- 15:00 Interlaken: Check into airbnb 2 nights 9 people $1,548.98 (Map)
- 16:29 Interlaken Post Coop: Chicken, Roll, Yogurt, Grapes, Beurre, Chips, AppleJ $25.14
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 final visit to Trockener Steg
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 view East from Trockener Steg
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Thursday, June, 2 9.24 = 172.76 mi
First Cliff Walk, Eiger Express, hiking
Photos | Map
- 07:01 Interlaken: walk along the Aare
- 09:23 Interlaken West: Train to Interlaken Ost $14.00
- 09:35 Interlaken Ost: Train to Grindelwald
- 11:06 First: Cliff Walk. $104.51
- 13:50 Grindelwald: Coop Lunch. $9.77
- 14:20 Grindelwald: Train to Grindelwald Terminal
- 14:30 Grindelwald Terminal: Eiger Express
- 15:30 Eigergletscher: Train to Kleine Scheidegg. $86.95
- 15:55 Kleine Scheidegg: Train to Lauterbrunnen
- 16:30 Lauterbrunnen: Train to Interlaken Ost
- 18:06 Interlaken Post Coop: Chickens, Roll, Fanta, Vanille-Stange 78g $16.74
- 18:30 Interlaken: Gelateria BELLA CIAO - Ice Cream $11.96
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 final visit to First Cliff Walk
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 enjoying the Eiger
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Friday, June, 3 7.41 = 180.17 mi
→ Spiez → Kandersteg, Hiking
Photos | Map
- 09:00 Interlaken: Walk family to train
- 09:02 Interlaken Post Coop: $2.04
- 10:20 Interlaken: Train to Spiez $14.42
- 10:54 Spiez: Train to Kandersteg $13.16
- 11:20 Kandersteg: Walk to airbnb Hotel Alfa Soleil 2 nights $336.94 (Map)
- 12:25 Kandersteg: Walk to Volg market for lunch. $7.26
- 12:45 Kandersteg: Walk to Gondola, too cloudy
- 13:00 Kandersteg: Walk North until too rainy
- 17:00 Kandersteg Coop: Pot Sal, Roll, Apple Strudel, RB, Grapes, Choc Beurre, Fanta $24.65
- 17:30 Kandersteg: Walk to Allmenalp Cable Car
- 18:20 Kandersteg Coop: Yogurt $1.15
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 our Airbnb in Interlaken
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 Kandersteg
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Saturday, June, 4 7.72 = 187.89 mi
Oeschinensee, Allmenalp, hiking
Photos | Map
- 09:00 Kandersteg: Walk to Gondola $31.39
- 09:30 Oeschinensee: Walk to Lake
- 01:00 Oeschinensee: Soft Serve $12.00 cash
- 11:45 Return to Hotel
- 12:04 Kandersteg Coop: $15.52
- 12:30 Walk to Allmenalp Cable Car
- 13:00 Cable Car to Allmenalp $31.39
- 14:00 Return on Cable Car
- 14:05 Walk back to Hotel
- 14:26 Kandersteg Coop: Pot Sal, Roll, Apple Strudel, Fanta $8.15
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 Oeschinensee (recommended by a youtube video)
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 Allmenalp looking towards Oeschinensee
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Sunday, June, 5 5.95 = 193.84 mi
Hiking. → Bern → Olten → Aarburg
Photos | Map
- 08:11 Kandersteg: Walk North in Kandersteg
- 09:50 Kandersteg: Shuttle to station
- 10:15 Kandersteg: Train to Bern $46.04
- 10:54 Bern: Train to Olten
- 12:12 Olten: Train to Aarburg
- 12:15 Aarburg: Walk to Holiday Inn 3 Nights $416.55 (Map)
- 13:10 Aarburg Coop: Fanta, Hornli, RB, Hsam, Roll, Yogurt $25.74
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 Kandersteg Arch
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 Kandersteg Station with car train
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Monday, June, 6 8.61 = 202.45 mi
Daniken, Bally Park, Hiking
Photos | Map
- 08:50 Aarburg: Walk to Station
- 10:00 Aarburg: Train to Daniken $14.24
- 10:20 Daniken: Walk to Bally Park
- 11:20 Daniken: Return to Aarburg
- 11:25 Olten Coop: $12.09
- 17:11 Oftringen Coop: Roll, Fanta, Hornli, Grapes, S&S Chick $24.17
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 Art installation over a road tunnel exit in Aarburg
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 Bally Park Hängebrücke
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Tuesday, June, 7 8.31 = 210.76 mi
1100 stairs
Photos | Map
- 08:40 Aarburg: Walk to 1000er Stagli
- 09:20 Aarburg: Climb 1000er Stagli
- 10:00 Aarburg: View from Kanzeli (rain starts)
- 10:30 Kanzeli: Return to Aarburg (rain ends)
- 11:20 Aarburg: Return to Hotel
- 12:16 Oftringen Coop: Chickens, Choc Croissant, Choc Beurre $20.25
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 1100-ish stairs, 32 minutes
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 View from Kanzeli
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Wednesday, June, 8 4.99 = 215.75 mi
→ Olten → Zurich → Holiday Inn
Photos | Map
- 08:33 Aarburg: Walk to Station
- 08:55 Aarburg: Train to Olten
- 09:03 Olten: Train to Zurich $35.10
- 10:00 Zurich: Train to Rumlang $7.02
- 10:20 Rumlang: Walk to Holiday Inn 1 Night $149.35 (Map)
- 12:20 Rumlang: Shuttle to ZRH for Covid test. $39.23
- 13:59 Rumlang Migros: $6.26
- 17:45 Rumland: Walk to McDonalds. $32.21
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 View of ZRH from covid test center
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 Rumilo Brücke
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Thursday, June, 9 4.72 = 220.47 mi
→ Chicago → Denver → Parker
Photos | Map
- 06:40 Rumlang: Shuttle to ZRH (Zurich)
- 07:20 ZRH: Meet up with Family
- 09:30 ZRH: Swiss flight #6 to ORD (O'Hare Chicago) $273.84
- 12:20 ORD: Search for flights to DEN (Denver)
- 15:00 ORD: Big Bowl: Orange & Sesame Chicken $17.87
- 16:45 ORD: American Flight #1387 $85.64
- 18:46 DEN: Landed!
- 19:49 Home!
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 Our ride back to Chicago
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 On board
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Summary
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Russell would go again in a heartbeat.
Denise had a great time, except for many of the conveyances which caused motion-sickness.
Russell's favorites (in order):
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Russell's Anecdotes:
I have always disliked AT&T and Verizon. But, the poison I've chosen is AT&T.
Since Denise is on Verizon, we've increased our chances of having coverage on our road trips.
I knew that even travelling to Canada opens you up to outrageous data/roaming charges, especially if you don't make arrangements first.
I went to the AT&T wireless website and poked around.
They have a "International Day Pass" for $10/day with unlimited voice/text/data (max of $100 per billing month.)
It seemed too good to be true.
I clicked on "Add It".
So, we went to the local AT&T store.
I described what I wanted.
The rep said: "Have you heard about our $10 international plan?"
I said: "Yes, but your website does not like me.
I provided my phone # and he looked me up.
He said: "Your current plan is too old. If we change you to a newer $20 cheaper plan (and add free texting) you can have the $10 international coverage.
He was right!
My phone worked flawlessly all over Switzerland (thanks also, Swisscom) and I paid $10 per day (max of $100 per month for each of two billing months.)
We wanted to travel by train from Interlaken to Spiez to Kandersteg.
The line in the ticket office was stagnant.
The only self-serve machine spoke German.
I could not figure out how to enter a destination such as Kandersteg.
But, there was a list of nearby stops, and one of those was Spiez.
I selected Spiez and then tried to tell the machine that I wanted two tickets.
I apparently told it that I wanted two additional tickets, as three were dispensed.
Only 4.30CHF each, so no big deal.
I planned to buy the Kandersteg tickets in Spiez as I knew their machines were trilingual.
On board the train to Spiez, I showed my three tickets to the conductor and told my story.
He gave me a voucher for 6.00CHF.
At Spiez, I went to the ticket office and purchased two tickets to Kandersteg with a 6.00CHF discount.
Spiez Bahnhof has a nice view of Thunersee and Spiez seems like a nice place to visit.
Which train passes to get?
There's no easy answer, but the half fare card seems important.
$134 ($142 as of 2023-07) each for 30 days.
In Luzern, we bought the Tell Pass for Luzern.
$343 ($371 as of 2023-07) each for 10 days and it gets you to Interlaken.
We think full fare would have been $532.
In Interlaken, we bought the (no longer offered) Top of Europe Pass.
$309 ($205+122 as of 2023-07) each for 6 days and a free ride to Jungfraujoch.
We think full fare would have been $642.
As of 2023-07, Jungfraujoch is purchased separately for $122 with 1/2 fare card.
For Zermatt, Kandersteg and Aarburg we just paid 1/2 fare when we wanted to go anywhere.
We spent $638 in those locations.
We think full fare would have been #1276.
We spent about $1,400 each for travel within Switzerland.
Two fifteen day Swiss Travel Passes would have cost $860 ($1010 as of 2023-07) each but then we have to add about $200 for Jungfraujoch and some cable cars would be just half price.
The traveling we did had a full fare price of $5,200 and we spent $2,800 saving $2,400.
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