19 May Stechelburg, Switzerland

   Here we are in "cow country"-just kidding!  It is really beautiful here and we awoke to a crisp, clear  morning with blue sky and not a cloud in sight.  The mountains just outside our windows are majestic.    

   Today is tram day.  We ate eggs directly from the chicken and soft boiled, also fresh cheese, all which is so very good.  We took a back path; a trail leading to the tram along the small, rushing river.  Wild flowers are everywhere, cows graze, waterfalls roar, it is and idyllic setting for sure.  You might know I am not so keen on trams and heights, but I am here and I am doing it, plus John really wants to go.  So we purchased our round trip ticket for $69 each (I really don't know if this is Euros or CHF [Swiss Francs]) but the usual price is $99. so it is a bargain this early in the season.  We make  four stops and switch trams four times to climb to over 10,000 feet at the top, which is Schilthorn. We started the ride at the station in Stechelberg, about .5 miles from our hotel.  The next stop is Gimmelwald, then Murren, then Birg, and finally arriving at the highest point Schilthorn.  There is a trail where the adventurous can hike this but it is only open from Murren and below as there is too much snow above that point. We were able to see the specific three mountains in the area but not all at the same time.  While at the top we see a film that surprisingly focuses on a 1967 James Bond 007 movie that was apparently filmed here.  Since I am not James Bond fan I never did figure out the name of the movie.  We decided to have a cup of coffee in the restaurant while we waited to see if the clouds or fog clears for better views.  The restaurant revolves like the Space Needle in Seattle, so that was fun.  We had the signature dessert to go with our coffee, a little flaming dish with very strong liqueur of some sort.  Whatever it was, it was good.  We stayed for a full revolution but the clouds didn't clear so we headed down.  Again on the way down we had better views than from the top.  We got off in Murren and walked around the lovely little town.  This town also seems to be the jumping point for the hang gliders, definitely not interested in trying that!  After a walk around and picture taking we went back to the tram and rode back to Stechelberg and walked back to our hotel. 

   Now it is about 3:30pm and we decide we will rearrange our suitcases and leave one backpack on the bus for the remainder of our stops.  When we get to Paris we will contact the timeshare and see if we can leave one of our bags there while we go south to see the cousins and Provence area.  I don't think it will be a problem, then we will also know our way back upon our return.       

   Dinner was at 7pm and another huge meal with soup, salad, main course, and dessert.  We are stuffed, headed back to the room to pack and be ready for 7:45am departure to France tomorrow morning. 

   On a sad note Kim and Adrian, new friends on this tour who are from Australia, will be departing tomorrow.  Their first grandchild was born early with many problems and though they have stayed on for most of the days things look very bleak now and they are heading home.  Please pray for little Lucas Adrian and his healthy survival and that they can arrive home to be with their daughter and son-in-law when they are most needed.