To day we took the train from Wengen back down into the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Our tour guide led us along the main street of the village, which soon became quieter as we arrived in the countryside. Straight ahead were amazing view of the Jungfrau, clothed in white, due to all the snow that fell yesterday. Along the way we saw the Stabbach Waterfall, apparently, the prettiest and highest in Switzerland. It reminded me of Norway.
We crossed over a rushing stream and took a break in a charming restaurant, where I ordered a decaf cappuccino and a sandwich, for later.
After that we took a brand new gondola up a cliff face to go to the tiny village of Mürren, a car-free village in the Bernese Highlands. “Brand New” means that it didn’t bump over the supports, so you have a smoother ride. But it also means that it is faster, and much more vertical. We all had to stand together in the large car, which was vaguely circular. So I made sure to stand so that I couldn’t see the cliff-face, (we were rushing up it at a nearly vertical angle) but instead enjoyed the view of the Lauterbrunnen down below, plus the tiny waterfalls to the side.
We had lunch in Mürren, and, as it was a clear day, I spent time taking pictures of the jaw-dropping views. I thought I didn’t need my winter coat in Mürren, but I would have felt better if I’d had it. Instead, I wore my usual leggings, hiking boots, long-sleeved tee and a woolen tunic I use for travel. It wasn’t quite enough.
After an hour or so, we got back in the gondola to go down to Lauterbrunnen. Going down was a bit more hair-raising than going up, for the gondola went much more slowly, and perhaps because of that swayed a little. However, it took only six minutes for us to get down. As we approached the roof of the building, to sink oh-so-slowly into it, the chap next to me remarked “We made it.” And that is when I realized I was not the only one feeling nervous.
