Wengen, Switzerland

Aug. 2, Mannlichen walk to Kleine Scheidegg; Lauterbrunnen to find Wendy's cache

 Friends Lynn and Kevin have to leave today; it's early morning and they're off.  
This trip falls into the best vacation category. 

 Reality: we have dirty clothes to wash this morning.  We get started before 7 a.m. to free us up for the day.

I'm amazed that for all the visitors to Wengen, there are two washers and one dryer for public use.  What's everyone else doing with their dirty clothes???

Mannlichen is clear.  Plan is to walk to Kleine Scheidegg, an easy walk.  Then take the bus over to Pfingstegg gondola to ride up the mountain to the toboggan at the top.

 The horn players are at Mannlichen!  The perfect setting.

 Mary and Jim.  Sister and brother--best friends.

 That Irish setter in the background reminds me of our dogs, long since.

 Some homes are still dressed for Swiss Day, yesterday's major holiday.

 We walk over to the train station to catch the train for Lauterbrunnen, and every step is a challenge.  We are seriously tired from all the hiking these past two weeks.

 What a cool fountain.

 In Lauterbrunnen, we are on the hunt for Wendy's cache.  She left the first clue in our hotel in February when she was here skiing, for us to find during our summer vacation.  We hope to get the second clue from where she camped.

 Alas, the second clue was lost in the owner's new office, but Mary had backed up the hunt by asking Wendy to email her the clue, too.  It's a cute map she drew.  We're on the trail, to pass the playground, cemetery, and aim for Staubach Falls.

 It's here somewhere.  After 10 minutes of the three of us searching, we're starting to walk away, disappointed, when we find the cache. 

 It's a treasure--a sweet letter from Wendy along with some cash for a treat.  Wish Wendy and Jack were here with us. 
We walk to the train station and take the train up to Wengen in time for 6 p.m. dinner.

 Chestnut soup.  Yes, yummy.

 Chickory mango salad. 

 Vegetarian main course of eggplant cordon bleu, friend potatoes, broccoli with almonds.

 And the regular main course is pork cordon bleu.   All yummy!

 Fun with talking snapdraggons.  Flowers come from Terese's garden outside the dining room window.

Finish with raspberry mousse.  Mit rahm as usual! (with whipped cream) 
This is our last dinner here.  Not having to plan where to eat and what to eat every day has added hours to our vacation fun every day.  We're gonna miss this!  On to Geneva tomorrow.  With clean clothes to last the next week.