Ackersand to Murren

The laptop is giving me problems today so there'll probably be mistakes in the post that I can't fix. It's most frustrating but it is what it is.

After perhaps the poorest night's sleep so far (this is getting old), we packed up to head out to our next stop. Many businesses are closed on Sunday - including hotels. We were the only people in the hotel when we "checked out." No staff. Just left the key on the front desk. It was very strange. 

Dave had booked a room in a chalet in Murren which was about two hours away - mostly through mountains and some valleys. The actual distance between the two places probably wasn't that far but travel just takes time here - which is fine because the scenery is breathtaking. The switchbacks today were - wow! At one point we had to board a train since the road continued on the other side of a mountain. Dave had bought the ticket online but the QR code that we received didn't work at the train station. An impatient person behind us thought honking his horn would "help". I had to get out of the car and have a attendant scan the code. More on this experience below.

About 1 pm, we stopped in a Lidl (grocery) store to get some lunch. Sitting on a bench in a park (which I don't think people do here as we got some strange looks), we ate a sandwich (meat, pickle, and a slice of hard boiled egg) and drank milk. I drink skim milk at home. That's not an option here. Most of the milk is 4%. It's like drinking cream. Dave loves it. It's sweeter than our milk. Perhaps all of the lush grass the cows enjoy?

We weren't super clear on how to get the cable car station - the only way to get to our B&B - so we used What's App to call our host. Dave was quite delighted that this worked. After packing a couple of bags to take, and forgetting a few key items I later found out, we boarded the gondola. Two stops later we were in Murren. A short walk and we were at Chalet Fontana - our B&B. (I should mention the parasailers that were jumping off of the mountains/cliffs and landing at by the cable car station. While the views and experience would be incredible, there's no way either of us would do that!)

Up until this point, it had been another beautiful, warm, sunny day. The rain that we had expected several days ago, finally arrived. We're literally in the mountains here so the clouds and the rain hid the peaks that are right outside our bedroom window. We really hope it clears up so we can see what must be an amazing view.

The grocery store is literally across the street from the B&B. We got a couple of things for supper. I had oatmeal and tea - simple but it was so good. There's a kitchen here so we can make our food rather than having to eat out all the time - which is refreshing and much cheaper.

By 7 pm were we tucked into our very cosy, tiny room - about 8' across and not much longer - for the night. It was raining and we were so very tired. The tiredness is a combination of lack of sleep and the altitude. We're hoping for a good night's sleep tonight and some rain free time so we can explore this truly unique spot tomorrow.

One thing I learned today: The colored eggs at the grocery store are colored to indicate that they're already cooked. Fresh eggs are brown or white.

One new thing I experienced today: Taking a train ferry. In order to get to Murren, we had to board a train with/in the car just like you would a ferry. The vehicles were parked in single file on flat bed rail cars with a Quonset type roof. The 15 minute ride was entirely through a tunnel in a mountain with almost no light. It could cause claustrophobic people a lot of stress.

Most powerful moment of the day: The majestic waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen - a town in valley in the Alps with very steep, shear cliffs. The waterfalls start at the top and cascade/plummet to the valley floor where most of the water gathers into small, but very swiftly flowing creeks (they actually have rapids). The color of the water is hard to describe - a white/gray/green - but very beautiful. And it's ice cold.

 One pleasurable experience: Taking a gondola up to Murren (5,374') where we'll stay in an authentic Swiss home in the mountain.: