Leaving Switzerland. Flying Swiss is the only way to go with kids.

May 31

We knew this day was coming but but tried to forget that it was. Maybe that's because we, I mean I, don't want to go back to work. Or maybe it's because I don't want to leave Switzerland. Don't get me wrong, I've missed my family and will be glad to be reunited with them. I know that D and J started missing mommy about 3 days ago as they both told me so.

We knew last night before going to bed that we needed to be at the bus stop at 7am in order to catch the train that went to Zurich without having to change trains. Well when dealing with 10 people and their luggage, not to mention three Alphorns and a violin. It was quite comical to see us all at the bus station. The bus driver just smiled as she approached the stop. I will try to get a picture to post of us all at the stop from one of my sisters who took a picture. 

So we get everything on the bus and take up the back part for prams and handicapped individuals. It's also meant for large items and luggage. People sort of avoided us on the bus, which was okay because it made life easier for us. 

At the Thun train station all got off the bus with all of our stuff. Then we made our way with everything to track 2. As luck would have it the train before the one we wanted had not showed up and so when I looked up to see the board on the station track to find out what section of the train was 2nd class it said A and B. Since I was dragging 2 bags at ~48 lbs each and an alphorn in a long travel case with other goodies inside at a weight of ~40 lbs I wanted to be first in. We had hopes of getting the bicycle car as it has tons of room for luggage and stuff. 

Well as I parked myself, happy that I'd gotten my stuff there and hadn't lost any of my children (especially since they are ferrying chocolate) grandma comes running towards us and says we're in the wrong section. That's when I realized my mistake that I explained above, wrong train equals wrong section. So I collect my luggage, alphorn and kids as do my siblings, and make my way towards the other end of the track as grandma hastily returned to grandpa and their stuff. We get down there and grandma says she was wrong, and that from the best information they can get, the car we want (bicycle) on the train we want is back where we had been. 

So we began the exodus to the other end of the station. This must have appeared comical to those around the station watching us go from one end of the platform to the other and back. Anyway, as we're going back down the train before the one we want pulls into the station and J starts to flip his lid but he's behind me and I can't really hear what he's saying over the rolling luggage wheels and station noise. I'm not worried about him doing something dumb since we're on the platform opposite from where the train was loading. So I slow down and he catches up to me and is freaking out because he thinks that's our train and we're going to miss it. I explain that it is not our train and that the train we want to be on is the one that will pull in after this one leaves. This pacifies him and we get to the end of the platform. 

Our train rolled in and we were practically in front of the bicycle car. We threw all the stuff in the car and found seats. Somebody upstairs loves us. There were literally 3 people in the downstairs seat section and only 1 bike. The bike and its rider departed a few stops down the line and we practically had the downstairs part of the train car to ourselves during commute. We are loved. 

Next was checking in with the airline. Swiss had emailed me yesterday saying they'd checked in D and J but not me. So I tried last night but it wasn't happening. I could still see my seat assignment and knew I was on the flight. Now I know it's because I was selected for additional security screening. 

Anyway the seats are the ones I reserved in November and periodically checked to make sure no changes were made unless I made them to a better seat. So I went to the kiosks, scanned each passport and indicated one checked bag for each of us. Then we made our way to the baggage drop off counter with grandma. Keep in mind she's traveled with this long Alphorn case many times and this is my first. My tickets were purchased before Swiss increased the oversize baggage handling fee. So we get to the drop off counter and I put the alphorn on and he clears it for weight and has me take it off. Then I put each of the suitcases on and they clear weight. He passes them back and then asks if we've taken the Alphorn on Swiss before. We reply that we have and he asks, "Have you ever been charged for it?" My answer was, "Nope, never been charged." Because I've never been charged for it. He starts to go into how the oversize fee is so much and grandma says that for tickets purchased after January 1, 2013. He looks around and at us and the Alphorn and says "I'm not going to charge you." ... Yep we're loved. The whole reason I was the one bringing the alphorn back was because my tickets were purchased before the fee increase. 

We got into the airport and did last minute shopping and got brunch. I changed the cell phone plan to bare minimum since they can't cancel the line until the end of June. Oh well, what's 15 CHF? The plan was 90 per month but since I got the last 2 weeks it was prorated to 40. So I got a 90 plan for 45. All the data I and the rest of the clan needed!

We made it just fine through Swiss security, except D was "randomly selected" for a pat down. We waited for aunt Catherine to get through the security and go with her. Aunt Catherine reported that it was just fine. Later when we got to the gate we found out that we had to go through USA passport control.  The drill is fill out a paper for each individual, have boarding pass and passport in hand. Stand in line and wait for them to decide if you are still wanted. Oh yeah now I'm randomly selected for security screening. So I'm asked to step aside, I ask if I may bring D and J. I'm told I can and then I'm told to have a seat and wait. So I take off my backpack and set my personal bag down and sit down with the kids. We wait and wait. Then I'm summoned. I report and am asked to take a  seat. I do so and then he asks if I have any carry on luggage. I should have said no, but I didn't think and said "yes, I left it with my children."  He asks me to retrieve it, so I did. Then he rifles through it and at the end notices that it's a flight bag (loaned to me by grandma and grandpa) and asks if I'm part of the crew. I simply said, not this crew. To which he said, "oh, your wife?" I said, "not here".  Not sure which conversation he was in or I was in. Ultimately I was summarily dismissed and given back my boarding pass with a new little security sticker on it. 

Of course our plane was late/delayed for some poor individuals who were coming from another delayed flight. We board the plane and wait for those poor souls mentioned earlier. Then take off is delayed due to heavy traffic caused by the delayed flights. Once again we finally taxi to the runway and the engines rev up as we pick up speed J's grin gets bigger and bigger. I have to throw a quick props out to D for letting J have the window seat again. I had set it up so that she'd have the window on the return flight, but she declined. I even tried for them to switch half way through the flight. Still no go.

Once air-bound the stewards made sure they were treated like royalty. They got their meals the same time as 1st class. They also got toys and bags before the meal. They're on cloud nine.

Here's their meal. 

About 20 minutes later my food came. Here's what it looked like. 

Don't get me wrong. It was tasty and I ate it all. I even helped myself to the stuff that D and J didn't want. It was all good. 

Here they are enjoying their meal and a movie, Rio I believe. 

J's finally cooled off enough. He's serious, he's got his hat on. 

The movie system crashed and it started to reset. Apparently they crashed before the reset took effect. 

It looks like they've made up the time in the air. As I'm writing this the onboard airplane system is stating that we'll touch down on time. Of course I still get the joy of clearing customs. Fingers crossed all goes smoothly. 

Last day, trip to Trümmelbachfälle and Wengen - Manlichen

May 30

So now we're all packed after yesterday, right?  More to come on that. But for now the weather is better for the destination than it was yesterday. So we head out about 9AM for Trümmelbachfälle. Think waterfalls, about 13, that you can hike into and around. Not to mention that the views of the Öberland valley are spectacular.

On our last train before getting on the bus with all the other tourists we found the mail car. "Why?" you ask. Because all the other tourists and commuters had taken and packed all of the other seats and cars.  This car was the runt that no one wanted but us. As you can see the kids didn't care and wasted no time getting a game of the Great Dalmuti going. 

Now on to the wonders of Trümmelbachfälle. Here's what you see as you approach the entry and pay point. 

FYI - they only take cash and the souvenir shop outside of the entry too. But it has the lowest prices on any souvenirs! 

With our fee paid, up we went. You can ride an elevator up and then hike up some to see some falls and then hike down to see the others. We opted to walk up and then down to grab the elevator back down. I will confess that I was a bad father/tourist and did not note which fall the pictures are of or that the children are standing in front of. With that disclaimer out of the way here we go. 

See the rainbow from the mist kicked up by the massive volume of water moving in this fall. Noise wise it sounds like a jet engine at full throttle on a southwest flight when sitting in the back on take off. 

 

Here are the kids enjoying it. 

This fall was interesting because it had what appeared to be a tree stump in the middle of it. We were unable to determine if it was the remains of a tree that had been felled and gotten washed into the fall.  Or if some insanely crazy individual had gone in to cut it to minimize the risk of it falling on tourists. I tend to think it was the former, but there was a branch with green leaves attached to the stump that was occasionally visible.  

I believe this one is called Corkscrew falls. 

This is a little closer shot.

Here's one that J wanted to be photographed with. Sorry for the white washout streak on the left. 

Here's a shot of D as we waited for the elevator to take us down. How many waterfalls can you spot falling into the valley?

Here's a picture of the three of us. 

I was able to go up a couple steps and get this 360 degree picture.

For the interactive version click here.

Then we grabbed the elevator down. This is the view down. I'll try to post the video of it. 

Here's a picture of D in her element. I think she much prefers this to wet, damp cold tunnels with noisy waterfalls. 

Here's a 360 degree image so D can go back any time. 

For the interactive 360 view click here.

Next we got our souvenirs, thank you to grandma. Then it was back on to a bus to go back to the train station and catch a train to Wengen. Once in Wengen we caught a sky tram that runs on cables and takes you up about 3000 feet in elevation change in about a minute or so. It's quite impressive given that there is only one tower between the terminals. 

This is the view from below. 

You can't even see the upper terminal because it's in the clouds being snowed upon. 

Here the kids are boarding the car and ready to go. We only had about 4 other individuals join our journey up. 

Once on board the operator came on board and got out journey underway. No safety announcement, just check the instruments and pushed a button and we were off. Check out this picture of J. I think he was enjoying it. Thanks to BUSD that is homework he has on his lap! Grrrr. 

D was wandering around the car checking out the views. While making the ascent and talking with the operator we discover that they has been closed yesterday due to severe weather, wind and snow. We were also informed that closure rarely happens as this aerial tram has these orange triangle structures that keep the cables from getting twisted. The outer two cables are guide cables and the middle cable is the pull/push cable. As one car ascends the other car on the opposite side descends.  While we are talking about this the car goes over the one tower and releases off. Naturally the car gently swings a little, like a ski lift does. People's natural reaction kicks in and they get startled. The operator says not to worry, it happens all day long. I then asked, "It never gets old, does it?" He simply grinned and said, "Nope".

Anyway we arrive at the end and disembark and start our hike to the top of the mountain. It should say something when you notice that the snow-blown path end and there is a rope and avalanche fences on either side, but we kept on walking. Liz and D turned around and headed back to the tram terminal. We kept going to the North Pole. Seriously this is a sign post telling how far and in which direction to head to reach certain mountains in the Alps. Normally during this time of year the snow is mostly gone and things are in bloom. 

We'd paid our money and wanted to see the view. Here's a picture that summarizes what we should have been able to see and what we saw. 

Well we'd reached the summit amid mild snowfall and we had chocolate cookies (think Hits) to eat. Not to mention the boys were having fun in the snow. 

Here's J loving it. 

Just as we were about to leave the clouds parted in the valley on the other side of the mountain. Here's what we saw. 

Here's a panoramic to try to give some perspective. 

And another. 

Here's J and I, not my best look, but not a complete photo bomb either. 

On our hike down we saw these flowers that didn't get the memo that spring had not begun. Matter of fact today's paper, Friday May 31 talked about some ski resorts that were reopening due to the fact that snow is still falling!

Here's J coming down the path. 

Getting closer

And closer, with a snowball. Run with fear!

If you know J you know that he loves snow. He was geeking out about the icicles and ran under them and was shouting, "Ahh. Icicles, I'm gonna die!" and kept repeating it. 

Then a little more snow time. 

Then we met up with Liz and D at the terminal. While boarding the weather cleared allowing these shots from the terminal.

What the kids looked like on the ride down. 

Then we got to the bottom and could actually see the top terminal where we had been. Can you find it?

Here's what we saw as we took the train from Manlikchen and made our way back to Steffisburg. 

So about being all packed. Yeah, not really. We got back to the house with instructions on how to prep dinner since grandma and grandpa still were tying up loose ends in Bern. Liz was already packed, but Catherine and I were not. So Liz was kind enough to take on dinner prep while we packed, and packed we did. By the time grandma and grandpa got back Catherine was all packed and bags weighed. I had one bag packed and weighed, but wasn't sure how much room I needed and if I had all that I was taking back for grandma and grandpa. Anyway I finished packing and got to bed by 11pm since I didn't do the blog. I'm doing it at 35k feet above sea level. 

Prepacking, brockis and the temple

May 29

Today the weather for our planned outing didn't cooperate. So we decided to make sure we all, including the missionary couple, had enough luggage to return the possessions back home. We figured we'd need another suitcase or two. They are cheapest at a brocki, think thrift store. So we ventured out to several without the missionary couple. We actually went to four of them in the same day.

The reasoning of the group (Catherine and I) was to see what all needed to be packed. Of course we still needed to finish shopping. Number one on the list was a 2.5 kilo bag of Cailler miniatures at 29 CHF, a real deal. But that deal requires a trip to Otto's which is out by the temple. We had no way of knowing whether or not they would be in stock and we really didn't want to drag a suitcase or two all over if we weren't going to need them. Good plan, right? Of course. 

Well Otto's happens to be a quick walk from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Bern temple, so we stopped by first. Walked past the temple apartments, and saw the stake center and then understood why they rented a hall for stake conference. It's a lovely building, but a bit on the smallish side. Anyway, before I get more sidetracked here are pictures of the kids and some with their cousins at the temple. 

At the entryway. 

With that done we headed to Otto's and found the chocolate and some other goodies. Made our purchases and got on a train back to downtown Bern to hit some Brocki shops. We'd already been to 2 in the morning with little success. The Brockis had what we wanted but wanted more for them than we were willing to pay. So after a train and a tram ride lugging our loot around in a large shoulder bag we arrived and found what we wanted within the range of what we were willing to part with.

Then we threw everything we'd purchased at Otto's and nested the newly acquired luggage in the largest one purchased at the brocki. Thankfully it had wheels! We made our way back on the tram to get to the train station so we could walk to what has been deemed, " the knife store". It's real name is Messer Klötzli Bern AG at Rathausgasse 84 in Bern. It is a fantastic place with sharp instruments galore, from scissors in the shape of the Eiffel Tower to panoramic bread knives of the Swiss Alps. So we went in and did our shopping and then caught a train and bus back home. 

On our way back Catherine had told the kids that they could have a pastry if they found a shop. Not much a problem in old downtown. So they were overwhelmingly successful in their task. Pastries were purchased and brought home as train seating for the return was limited. 

J chose a chocolate pastry/cake. He devoured it and these were the only pictures I got. 

Now the finger licking begins. 

Granted it was about an hour after he'd already devoured two full size swiss bratwursts along with a healthy helping of Rosti. D also enjoyed the Brats and ate the Rosti, but not as voraciously.