Swiss Alps: Interlaken and Grindelwald

Tags

alps, cheese, chocolate, eiger, foudue, grindelwald, interlaken, switzerland

We’ve watched the weather forecasts all week hoping to find an acceptable day to visit the Swiss Alps just 90 minutes away.  The last three days have been thunderstorms and today was supposed to be cloudy but dry.  So, we headed to Interlaken with some fresh pastries for breakfast.
 

Breakfast in France

 

We arrived in Interlaken just after noon and having bought the required vignette (road tax/vehicle registration) for 40 francs (~1 dollar = 1.09 francs) at the border.

 

Sherrie had researched a good restaurant for fondue in the town and it did not disappoint.  We enjoyed both cheese and chocolate fondue.  The kids shared weinerschnitzel and fries.  While the weather was nice when we arrived giving us some beautiful views of the lake on our drive into town, it began raining hard when our food arrived. But the rain didn’t make our fondue lunch any less delicious.
 

Sherrie enjoying cheese fondue in Interlaken, Switzerland

 

Isabella, Aurelia, Sherrie, and Lucas enjoy chocolate fondue at Interlaken, Switzerland

 

Lucas enjoys his chocolate fondue

 

Aurelia enjoys her chocolate fondue

 

Isabella and Aurelia enjoy their chocolate fondue on banana dippers

 

After lunch the rain lessened a bit and gave us a chance to walk through the town a bit and back to our car.  On our way through Interlaken, we had to stop for some Swiss chocolate!
 

Swiss chocolate from Interlaken

 

Swiss truffles from Interlaken – the flimsy plastic will not protect you from my stomach!

 

Walking through Interlaken with the Alps in the background

 

We moved on hoping the weather would break further into the Alps and we may even go above the weather as we continued.  So, we headed to Grindelwald, probably the best place to see the Alps and where most of the cable cars go up onto the peaks as well as find nice hikes.
 

The drive was very nice as we headed up into the peaks and over rushing rivers and through pastures situated on the sides of these amazing crags.  It was very beautiful.
 

The valley around Interlaken, beautiful pastures and fields surrounded by tall peaks

 

Houses on the hillsides alongside high cliffs driving from Interlaken to Grindelwald

 

Unfortunately, the weather only got worse when we arrived at Grindelwald.  However, the clouds cleared for about 15 minutes to see the peaks show through.  But, the webcams showed that the there was zero visibility at the top – not worth the $200 trip on the cable car. However, the short view of the peaks and the surrounding beauty of the valleys and countryside were worth it.
 

The Eiger peeking out of the clouds at Grindelwald

 

The view of the valley below Grindelwald

 

We decided to head back but possibly take a different route to see different scenery.  However, the weather and traffic was bad delaying us forcing us to head back on the fastest route instead of the most scenic.  On our way back the weather got even worse and there were several flashes of sideways lightning.
 

An amazing granite cliff face along the road from Grindelwald

 

We stopped at a rest stop with a restaurant for dinner – not our optimal choice, but available.  The food was decent but, as everything in Switzerland, very expensive.  The Burger King Whopper meal was listed for 14.90 francs!  More than $15!
 

Receipt for dinner at the rest stop ~ $58. Everything is more expensive in Switzerland

 

$15 for a whopper meal at a Swiss rest stop

 

When we arrived back in Colmar there was a small presentation of traditional Alsacian dance and music.  We stayed for about 10 minutes (it was very late) and enjoyed the show.
 

Traditional Alsacian dancers and music in Colmar

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Metz, Lorraine Valley, and Strasbourg

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cathedral, France, lorraine, metz, petite france, strasbourg

This morning we began again with fresh baked goods Sherrie picked up at the patisserie – danishes, pain au chocolate, and brioche.  We headed to Metz to explore the Lorraine region and more of central France.

The Lorraine is nearby the Alsace and is filled with rolling hills and farms growing sunflowers, corn, hops, and cabbage.  It was raining at first during our drive but cleared up when we arrived at Metz.

We parked at the cathedral and first tried to enter the covered market, but found the door frustratingly hidden – or it was closed.  Either way, we found a restaurant on the cathedral square which looked appetizing.  Sergio had the plat du jour (chicken fillet and pasta with mushroom sauce), Sherrie had pasta carbonara, and the kids shared gnocchi with tomato sauce and a ham and mushroom pizza.

Lucas and Isabella sitting down for lunch at Metz

The plat du jour of chicken and pasta with mushrooms

The cathedral was a classic example of gothic architecture.  It was heavily damaged during World War II and some of the scars are still visible in new stonework, artillery damage (conspicuously left un-repaired), and beautiful stained glass by contemporary artists – such as Marc Chegall.

War damage on the cathedral

Metz cathedral

We then headed down to the river and Metz’s many bridges to explore the city.  It was beautiful in a unique way and the river and bridges added much to it’s allure.  As with many of these cities which have seen the ravages of war, the mix of 20th century buildings nearby medieval structures reminds us always of the devastation these places and people saw.

Metz

Metz and the river

Temple Nuef in Metz

Metz

Metz

Metz with river buildings and cathedral

After a nice walk through the city we headed to Strasbourg for dinner as it was on the way back to Colmar.  Strasbourg is well known for “petite France” which is an area of the old city which still maintains its medieval character and many of the original buildings.  We parked a bit further than intended but it was a blessing as we were able to walk and enjoy more of the city and the water front.

Walking the waterfront in Strasbourg

We found a nice Alsacian restaurant and had a great dinner by the river.  Sergio had some wonderful duck with mushrooms and scalloped potatoes, Sherrie had Salade Strasbourgeoise (cheese, lettuces, and sausge), while the children shared a plate of ham and potatoes.  We finished the meal with ice cream and some great creme brulee.

Dinner in Strasbourg

Aurelia eating her ice cream in Strasbourg

The walk back to the car was great as we got to experience a little of Strasbourg at night with the medieval buildings lit up and everyone out to dinner.  It was a nice day exploring some of central France and some more of Alsace!

Isabella, Lucas, and Aurelia playing on the bridge lights in Strasbourg

Old town bridge in Strasbourg

Strasbourg at night

Isabella, Lucas, and Aurelia playing in Colmar on our return

German Black Forest

Tags

black forest, cuckoo clock, Germany, nubach, triberg, waterfall

This morning we felt normal again after the long drive and some rough nights.  We got ready and headed over to the nearby patisserie for breakfast.  We picked up brioche, pain au chocolate, danishes, and croissants and ate them in the car.

Patisserie in Colmar

Isabella and Lucas at the patisserie

As is our normal travel plan, we establish a general area to explore and something to do and see where it takes us. Today we decided to explore the famous Black Forest region of Germany and buy a cuckoo clock – something we’ve wanted since we visited Germany the first time.

Some internet searching led us to Triberg as the best place and the name of a couple of stores with a good reputation and prices. We wanted to buy something that we liked and would last, not just a souvenir.

Alsace and Colmar are right on the border with the Black Forest and took 90 minute drive to Triberg. We drove through some amazing scenery: distinctive houses, small towns, rivers, lush pastures, and of course, thick and dark forest.

Stream in the black forest

Isabella, Aurelia, and Lucas near a stream in the black forest

As the home of the Brothers Grimm, Gummi Bears, and almost all modern folklore, it didn’t disappoint. It was easy to picture Heidi, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, and other stories in this quiet place.

We stopped at the recommended “House of 1000 Clocks.” They really did have a lot. The kids behaved very well as we choose a wood cutting scene with a house. http://hausder1000uhren.de/about.php?lang=en

Our new cuckoo clock

Sherrie, Isabella, Lucas, and Aurelia with our new clock

Rebecca, from Kansas, helped us and recommended a great restaurant in nearby Nubach.

We had a traditional German lunch with weiss beir, jeger schnitzel, spatzel, potato pancakes with applesauce, currywurst, and chocolate cake.

Weissbier

Jeger schnitzel

Afterwards we went into Triberg to see Germany’s highest waterfall and hike in the Black Forest. The waterfall and nature hike were wonderful. The red squirrels are famous, and you bring peanuts to feed them, but we only saw two squirrels running quickly up the hills.

Isabella and Lucas at the waterfall

Lucas, Isabella, and Aurelia in a tree during our black forest nature walk

The town of Triberg from the waterfall area

We then walked through the town to window shop but there was nothing of interest. However, we did visit a wood carver’s shop, Oli’s Schnitztube, where a carver was building a clock and they had amazing and unique clocks. If we hadn’t had already purchased earlier, this would have been the place. If you’re interested in a cuckoo clock, our woodwork in the black forest, go here. http://www.olisschnitzstube.de

Cuckoo clocks at Oli's

Lucas in Triberg

We then headed back to Colmar and picked up some good pizza at the Italian restaurant next door.

Eating in the hotel room

Colmar and the Rue du Vin

Tags

Alsace, canal, Colmar, food, France, grapes, market, Rue du Vin, vineyard

After a late arrival last night we woke up at 0900. Actually Lucas, in his role as family alarm clock, woke everyone up with a, “everyone get up, it’s sunny!”

Good morning Colmar

Aurelia, Isabella, and Lucas watch the town awake from the hotel window

After adding some money to the parking meter we had a nice breakfast in the hotel courtyard.

Isabella and Lucas enjoy breakfast in the hotel courtyard

We then ventured out to explore Colmar. It was raining, but we made the best of exploring this picturesque Alsacian town. It had several markets, a canal system, a cathedral, and is filled with renaissance buildings.

Exploring Colmar

We explored the markets filled with wonderful foods like cheeses, meats, fruits, and pretzels!

Covered market

Covered market

Pretzels in the covered market

We also walked the canals and through the winding streets of the old town. On the way we had to stop and sampled fresh macaroons: pistachio, raspberry, chocolate, orange, rum raisin, and original.

Colmar buildings

Street in Colmar looking towards the cathedral

Macaroon place. She is embarrassed I photographed he snacking on them. I would too!

Our last stop was the old town hall and cathedral before going to lunch at for traditional Alsacian fare.

At lunch

Lunch menu

Alsacian pizza with ham, onion, cheese and creme freche

Sergio's lunch of baked potato, ham, and mushrooms in a hollandaise

Our hotel

We went back to the hotel to dry off and decided to explore the surrounding wine region by travelling the Rue du Vin. This amazing road traverses the vineyards and through the small wine making towns which really show the character of the area.

Alsace wine region: vineyard and hill towns

Alsacian grapes

After returning, we had a nice dinner of meats, melon, roast chicken, and scampi.

Isabella, Lucas, and Aurelia heading back from dinner

Onto Alsace!

Tags

Alsace, Colmar, Eurotunnel, Folkstone, France

We left for Colmar, France in the Alsace region this morning.  Another trip to France was our family present to Sherrie for her birthday.

It was an early start but we still got out late. Fortunately, there was a fault with the trains and the Eurotunnel was running late.  Our 11:06 departure ended up being 14:50.

However, the delay gave us an excuse to get out to get lunch and the kids played on the playground. A good way to break up a 10 hour drive and enjoy one of the few 80F degree days in the

Eating lunch at the Eurotunnel station

Isabella playing at the Eurotunnel playground

Lucas playing at the Eurotunnel playground

Aurelia at the Eurotunnel playground

Waiting for the Eurotunnel train

It was basically a marathon driving session lasting over 15 hours with various stops to rest, stretch, and of course, coffee.

Coffee

Isabella, Lucas, and sleeping Aurelia at a gas stop

We did pass through Champagne and watched the hillside villages with acres of vineyards roll by.

We arrived at Colmar at midnight and was greeted by a familiar sight! As it happens, the designer of the Statue of Liberty was born in Colmar and this replica, exact in it’s dimensions but smaller in scale, was a gift to Colmar from the United States.

Our beautiful hotel room

Travel time: 15 hours 30 minutes
Gas cost: 195 euros
Tolls: 49 euros
Miles: 643