A reconnaissance mission

On the train.

Waiting in a train station.

Today I took multiple buses, several trains, and more than one cable car.  Successfully.  Even though the bus driver on my last ride home forgot to drop me at my stop.  I spoke up and he stopped halfway down the block and apologized.

I'm getting to be quite a pro.  

Mate and Howler snack before getting on the bus.

OK.  I am not going to tempt the fates by crowing too loudly.  But, I did have a good day managing my transportation.

I have to move out of my holiday apartment in Grindelwald on Aug. 31, but I can't move into my apartment in Zurich until Sep. 1.  That leaves one day in between where lodging must be procured.  I have a reservation back at the Hotel Jungfrau where I spent the first night of the vacation, but I was hoping to find something different since I had already seen that area.  Today was an errand to go to Gimmelwald and see if I could locate lodging for that one day.  I was successful!

A view from a terrace in Gimmelwald.

 Gimmelwald is a tiny little town and it is very traditional Swiss, harking back to less technological times.  The people who live there are very proud of their heritage and keep to the old traditions, even though life could be easier utilizing some modern conveniences.  

The gondola to get to Gimmelwald.

Rick Steves, travel guru, loves Gimmelwald. After reading about it myself, I couldn't wait to see it first hand.  It's all true.  

There was even a little shop called the Honesty Shop.  It is filled with souvenirs priced very reasonably.  But there is no proprietor.  There is a little box, a pen, and an envelope.  You are to write what you bought on the envelope, put in your money, and drop it in the box.  And no one is checking or is even around.  I found some really nice knickknacks for some lucky people back in America. And I was honest.  :)

I found a lovely pension and reserved a room for Aug. 31. 

The terrace at the pension.

Then I decided to have their hiker's daily special.  Today it was mushroom stroganoff over a bed of saffron rice.  The flavors were good.  The rice was a little al dente.  OK, it was somewhat crunchy.  But still edible and delicious.

I followed up the warming daily special with a fabulous apple strudel.  Yum!  It had whip cream AND ice cream.  Gotta love that.  :)

Then I headed back down the hill on the cable car gondola.  My apologies to those with fear of heights, but I thought you might enjoy the view from within the cable car.  :)


I came across this sign the other day.  It was at the end of a road that everyone could drive on, up the mountain.  Then, there was a place that only bicyclists, buses, hikers and Swiss cows are allowed to pass.  I rode a bus right into the area.  The allowed speed limit is 30 km.  I wonder if a cow has that speed in its legs?  ;)

I also think it is funny that a racy, spectacular BMW, with all its class and style and speed, cannot go where the cows can.  I just think that is something to comment on.  :)

Good night!