European Adventure Part Four: Lauterbrunnen

LAUTERBRUNNEN, SWITZERLAND

5.23.15 - 5.25.15

I should probably warn you... there will be a lot more pictures on this post than on the last one.  Because it was the only small town on our trip, Lauterbrunnen valley was my favorite.  (I wasn't going to pick a favorite because they were all so different, but people kept asking... so this is it!)

This was the view from the balcony outside my window.

Now add spring mountain air on a breeze, the soft sounds of cowbells, and you're about there. 

The cows all had cowbells ... and every sheep wore a bell ... and all the goats had bells, too!

I loved the bells.

Staubbach Falls is the "signature" waterfall for Lauterbrunnen valley ...

but only because it is the most prominent of 72!

As you can tell from the picture, Lauterbrunnen is definitely a valley.

The sheer cliffs on either side create the perfect Swiss retreat.

We took a train ride to the mountain Jungfraujoch. 

Although we did not expect the overcrowding at the top,

the views on the way up and from the observation platforms at the top were beautiful.

At the top, one was surrounded by snow-heaped mountains.

Yes, we are above the clouds.  

God blessed us with great views before the clouds enveloped the mountain in early afternoon.

Caroline, Mom, me, Dad

Here we are on top of Jungfraujoch!

(Doesn't Dad look like a Swiss mountain guide in his bright coat?)

There was just one chapel in Lauterbrunnen, visible from the opposite side of our hotel balcony.

Lauterbrunnen had the most beautiful cemetery I've ever seen.

Each headstone had its own flower plot, and every one was meticulously well-kept.

There was even a little station with tools for gardening.

More than aesthetics, the cemetery had a serene feel, as if the presence of the Lord was there.

Me, Caroline, Mom, and Dad at the top tram station.

We took a tram from Lauterbrunnen up the mountainside ledge to Grütschalp

to start our loop hike in the Alps foothills.

It. Was. Perfect.

This was part of the path we walked.

The views into the valley were beautiful, too.  (Can you see the buildings?)

Swiss people decorate every available ledge.  It's lovely.
This was from a building in Mürren, the town at the end of the upper ledge on our hike.

Our tram back to Gimmelwald swung over the ledge ... to this view.

Notice the parachutes in the field behind me.  We watched at least half a dozen land.

All at once, the sun broke through the overcast afternoon onto the falls.

We followed a path alongside the stream much of the way back.

It was about 3 miles through scenery like this to get back to our hotel.

I found another example of Swiss decor on our walk.

This was one of the two main roads through the valley.

It was so hard to say goodbye to Lauterbrunnen.
While it reminded me of my Appalachian mountains, it had its own distinctive feel.
I am immensely grateful for the two days we spent here!