Sometimes something has to give. Our plan for the day was two things: The Alpine Herd’sman Playground and making real swiss chocolate. We started off earlier this time but again we missed a few connections setting us back an hour with another hour until we reached the park. Imagine having parks so epic people took three train connections and a cable car to visit them. Now stop imagining and just watch the video.
We arrived in lauterbrunnen from Interlaken with intention of grabbing the currently docked train up to Wegen (one of the many “car free” cities in this area). Unfortunately, by the time we got our ticket the train had left and we needed to wait 30 minutes. It was there that we had to decide what to do. Cancel our chocolate making adventure without refund, or don’t go to the park. The kids won out, but in the end we all did. We sent off an e-mail to see if a refund was possible, I won’t hold my breath, and we waited for the train now free of any time restriction.
As we got up to Wegen we walked through the streets. The only cars around were worker vehicles everything else was foot traffic that we were apart of. We walked to the cable car and engaged in the Marble Runs that are strewn about the city and country and waited for ride up the massive mountain. It was hear that Bethany struck up a conversation with Brit, a fellow mom, as our kids had begun playing together. They were from Colorado originally and currently living in Germany. This ended up being an awesome blessing. We took the lift up the mountain and were collectively blown away at the sight.
By the end of the cable car ride our girls were best friends with their daughter Aspen and son Sanders and they ran towards the playground. Not that it had to be forced, but I love (1) how easily children make friends. (2) How it forces adults to start conversations that may have never happened and create lasting memories. We spent a couple hours up top chatting over German beers while our kids played amidst one of the most epically ridiculous sights I’ve ever seen. Words or photo don’t really do it justice, but watch the video, the views were amazing.
Around 3:30 the rain and thunder started and we figured being at a high point may not be advisable so we jumped in the metal cable car and… wait a minute… Well, we’re alive.
We said a reluctant farewell to our new friends, exchanged WhatsApp and headed down the mountain as our girls were not up for waiting around for dinner. We got the girls home while there was still daylight, SO MUCH POTENTIAL, did some preliminary cleanup for checkout, bath time, put them on their tablets and got ready for bed time.
While the girls were focused, Bethany asked me to come out to the patio like we did on our first night. It was again quiet filled with crickets, distant motor bikes and birds. We sat and talked about the next week, disappointments and unexpected joys over scotch and wine. It was very nice and I’m thankful she asked me to stop doing dishes to join her.
Goodnight.
