Lauterbrunnen 13 May - 16 May

Saturday 14 May

At the sound of pounding on the door dad and mum woke up. Will had set his alarm and we jumped out had a shower then breakfast and armed with coats umbrella lunch and most important, Cameras!
We walked to the little station of Lauterbrunnen. At 6.59 the little train pulled out of the station and headed uphill. We were very skeptical as to whether or not the weather would be good for a good view when we got up there. This was the early morning train and cheaper than the next rides but we thought it was worth getting up for.
The morning was absolutely beautiful, whereas it had been raining a bit through the night. We passed through Wengen, then got up to Kleine Scheidegg. There we had to change trains, and wait for the next train to take off. This was more luxurious but both trains had heating under the seats. We stood near the windows and took photos left right and centre.

At Eismeer we were let out for 5 minutes then again at another station Eigerwand, and again there were beautiful sights to feast on.
Amazingly the train was tunneled right through the rock of the mountain, and the station at the top was also right in the heart of the mountain. We got out and made our way into the building at the top of Europe.
After a cup of hot chocolate we feasted our eyes on the beautiful scenery. Amazing, awesome, wonderful beautiful scenery, which is impossible to do justice to with words. Took the lift to a lookout called the Sphinx and could see far in all directions.

Ow our hands were freezing, so cold! Then we went down the lift and through a long tunnel and outside onto the snow and our eyes had to adjust to the glare. We walked some distance along a path, and took photos. The sun was shining and we felt warm but then we turned the other way and the wind cut right through us, soo very cold. Soon after we went back in and once again our eyes had to adjust.

The other side of the building also had an area where we could walk outside near the Swiss flag. From there we could see the top of the Jungfrau. Due to the warmer weather and the sun on the snow it was also very icey. Mum slipped and fell and she reckons her hand hurt for the rest of the day!

Next we went tot the ice palace where figures had been carved from ice. Once again we made lots of pictures. By then it was 11.30 and we were ready to go down again. The train ride down was once again magnificent.
We walked back to our little chalet at Camping Jungfrau. After a bite to eat and a rest, Will and mum drove to get some shoppings. Dad had to have a rest, and then we booked a ticket for the Trummelbach Falls.

 These waterfalls (10) in all, tumble from a great height in a series of corkscrews and thunder down to ground level, 20,000 litre per second. It's terribly noisy inside the rock caverns. While we were there it started raining.
We were so pleased and thankful that we had gone up the Jungfrau mountain in the morning and conditions had been so good for us. The Lauterbrunnen Valley is so beautiful with many waterfalls everywhere.

Sunday 15 May

How wonderful to have lovely sleep in. We woke to the sound of rain, and the waterfalls pouring from the top of the mountain cliffs, tumbling hundreds of meters down to ground level.

After breakfast we listened to a beautiful sermon from Rev Bouwman about Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira. We had coffee and lunch, then skyped with Thomas Emily Hannalee and Steven. Will and Krista also had a talk with us. Great to hear all the voices once again. So clear, so close, still so far away. But we are happy and thankful that they sounded happy and all is going well.

We took a trip in the car to Grindlewald, another valley nearby, also very beautiful. It was raining a bit. The river from there is called the Black Lutschine, and the river from Lauterbrunnen is called the white Lutschine. We could see why, the rivers are actually that colour.

We followed the road into the Lauterbrunnen valley and on to the Schilthorn cable cars. There we had a walk  and saw another beautiful waterfall. Also hang gliders were in the air having been dropped from helicopter. That must be a huge thrill ride and we, due to the distances being so deceptive, thought occoasionally they were going to crash into the rock face!
Once again it started raining and we made our way home, had a cup of soup, oh and courtesy of dad baked beans through our soup! Mind you it didn't taste too bad..., and listened to a sermon from Rev Hart, about Matthew 5:4. Blessed are those who mourn for the shall be comforted. Beautiful sermon. We had pizza for dinner, then looked outside. And saw that it had been snowing on the mountains. Beautiful!!!!

We are all blown away by the beauty of this place. If we ever come to Europe again we think we would want to come here.