Tuesday, Aug. 9: Montreux, Switzerland

To reach Montreux we make six train transfers from Wengen, which make the journey feel very short in time.  
 





























 









 Snacks help.






 

We are in the wine grape-growing region now, and the vines line up along the gently rolling slopes as the train whizzes along. 

 
















Montreux feels like France, looks like France.  It's lovely in it's own special way, quite different from the Bernese Alps region.  

The immense Lake Geneva stretches beyond the horizon--making a beautiful reservoir for the setting sun later today.

It's a short walk from the Montreux train station to our hotel, the Tralala, located in the old town. 
 

Cobbled streets wind around and I swear they're too narrow for cars let alone a bus.  But a public bus stops directly across the street from our hotel, opposite an ancient and huge wine press.

 Tralala Hotel focuses on famous musicians and has a kitchy decor.   

 Welcoming drink.

Our room is overlooked by Carlos.

 Room with a view.

 Lakeside walk.

 And around old town, too.

 St. Vincent's church.  Ancient, but don't have much info on.

 Bathrooms!

 Old wine press.

 In-room mini-bar price--$7 for the teeny can of Pringles.  We resisted.

 Goodnight, Montreux.

August 8: Isenfluh Walk

We're tired, it's true, but this is our last chance to walk around the Berner Oberland region.  Jim's done his usual great research, and we're heading off to the opposite side of the Lauterbrunnen valley from Wengen--to Isenfluh.

We find the 'wanderweg' near the tram lift, and head out on this wide, paved path from Lauderbrunnen uphill to Isenfluh.  The path says no vehicles, but one does come by and then turn around when the path narrows.

 It's warm!  Jim zips off his leggings to convert to shorts, and the calves trot over to check out his calves.

 

 More firewood art.  And an ancient broom.

 Schynige Platte is clear right now.  Maybe we'll get the chance to experience it like that, next trip.

 The mountain stream that becomes the Falls into the Lauterbrunnen valley.

 The spinning seeds helicopter down on us when the wind blows through the trees.  Amazing--the design is just like the base jumpers' parachutes.

 Isenfluh at last.

 We take the tram across a big gap, saving us several miles of extreme up and down hiking.  $8 Swiss Francs each--about $11 for a 5-minute trip across the chasm.  Worth every cent.

The guy tells us how to open the door when we reach the top.  And in case of emergency, pick up the phone.

 We fly across the chasm.

 And then we continue our walk.  Now we're headed for the 'down' tram--at Grutschalp, a few miles away.  We rode the Grutschalp tram a few days ago when we walked in the opposite direction to Murren and back.

 Enough uphill already.

 A special rock, thought to have been spiritually important to the early people, the Celts.

It's been looking sunny till now.  Sky darkens.  Drops fall slowly, then it pours.

 Huddled under trees, we stay mostly dry, and decide to make it our lunch stop.

Rain out there, dry under here.  

 Drops linger on plants, but it stops raining and we're on our way again.

 A spooky uphill section.  The dropoff is sheer.

 After hiking up, we hike down.  Broad valley crossing a river.  Then uphill again.

 More mushrooms

The tram that will take us down to Lauderbrunnen, where we catch the train up to Wengen.  Lovely sight, my feet murmur.  Today, another great walk.  I miss the Alps already.

Tomorrow, it's on to Montreux at Lake Geneva.  I will attempt to dream in French tonight, to activate my latent and minimal language skills.